Flushing your DNS is essentially clearing connection cached data from your system.
As we said before, cached data build-ups can make systems become confused and trigger connectivity issues.
Therefore, it makes sense why clearing this pile of outdated information can get rid of your Surfshark not working with Netflix issue.
Here’s how to flush your DNS on a Windows 10 PC:
- Launch an elevated CMD instance (with Administrator privileges)
- Type the commands below, and hit Enter after each one:
ipconfig /flushdnsipconfig /registerdnsipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewnetsh winsock reset
- Restart your PC
Once your PC finishes its boot sequence, you should connect to Surfshark and head over to Netflix.
As a side note, we suggest you pair this method with the one directly above.
If cached data is indeed the reason why you’re experiencing the Surfshark Netflix error, clearing it completely from your system should definitely help.
Last, but not least, if you’re using the Netflix Windows 10 app, you should uninstall the app and reinstall it to clear cached data.
- Disconnect from Surfshark VPN
- Go to Surfshark’s Smart DNS page
- Click the Get Started button
- Check if Surfshark detected your device’s IP address correctly
- Click the Activate Smart DNS button
- Copy the generated DNS addresses someplace safe
- Configure your Smart TV or console to use the Surfshark DNS addresses
Smart DNS is a great Surfshark feature that aims to unblock geo-restricted content on devices without native VPN support.
According to Surfshark, there’s absolutely no need to activate Smart DNS on your PC, or other devices that have VPN support.
However, if you want to give it a try, there’s no one there to stop you.
- Open Surfshark’s VPN client
- Disconnect from the VPN server (if necessary)
- Go to the Settings section
- Navigate to the Advanced tab
- Change the protocol to OpenVPN (UDP)
- Connect to an appropriate VPN server
- Check if Netflix is working
We’ll try to keep it simple and not overburden you with technical information.
To put it shortly, OpenVPN uses TCP and UDP, and UDP is simply better for streaming video content.
Using TCP may see a choke in your connection which could make Surfshark stop working with Netflix, and you can easily fix it by switching to UDP.
- Buy a new VPN subscription plan (we recommend Private Internet Access)
- Download the installer on your PC
- Install the new VPN client
- Launch the VPN
- Log in to your account
- Connect to a server of your choice (remember, US servers for US Netflix)
Private Internet Access is a great VPN service that can help you unblock a wide range of geoblocked content.
It comes with an impressive network of over 22,000 high-speed servers that you can quickly switch through if you notice any connectivity issue.
Check out PIA’s main features:
- Over 22,000 fast servers all over the world
- Strict zero-logging policy
- 256-bit military-grade encryption
- Built-in VPN kill switch
- PIA MACE feature that blocks ads and malware domains
- Private DNS on all servers
- Can unblock various geo-restricted content
- Works great with Netflix
Conclusion
If you notice Surfshark stopped working with Netflix, it’s usually not a big deal.
Simply switching the server you connect to should be enough to fix the issue in no time.
However, if that doesn’t work, we recommend you to try all of our suggestions.
We’re confident that you’ll find the one that does the trick in no time.
This post was written by Vlad Constantinescu and was first posted to WindowsReport