Why does Netflix show fewer titles when my VPN is on?

Summary

Because Netflix can no longer tell which country you're in, so it may fall back to the titles it has licensed worldwide. Netflix's help pages say a VPN hides your region and leaves you with shows and movies "available to all regions globally." Your account's country doesn't change, and on the ad-supported experience or for live events, Netflix doesn't support viewing through a VPN at all.

What Netflix does when it can't place you

Netflix runs a separate catalog for each country, and it picks the catalog from where your connection appears to come from. A VPN routes your traffic through the provider's server, which, in Netflix's words, "can make your device or network look like it's connecting from somewhere other than your physical location."

Netflix's response is to hide region-specific titles. Its help center says that with a VPN "you may only be shown TV shows and movies Netflix has worldwide licensing for," naming Stranger Things as an example, and that you may need to turn the VPN off to see what's available in your own region.

The Terms of Use back this up. Section 1.5 says you may access Netflix content "primarily within the country in which you have established your account" and only where Netflix offers your plan and has licensed the content. A VPN provider's "works with streaming" badge doesn't change any of that.

The ad-supported plan and live events

Two situations are excluded outright. Netflix states that "VPNs aren't supported for watching Live events on Netflix or if you're on an ad-supported experience." On an ad-free plan you may still get the reduced worldwide catalog. On the ad-supported experience, the VPN connection itself isn't supported.

When Netflix detects a VPN or proxy, it may show error code E106 with the message "You seem to be using a VPN or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again."

Traveling is a different case

If you're physically abroad without a VPN, Netflix shows you that country's lineup. The selection of titles, audio and subtitle options can differ, titles in My List and Continue Watching may not appear, and some downloads on your phone may not play there.

The account country stays put in both cases. According to Netflix, "The country on your account can't be changed unless you move to a new one," and moving means canceling, waiting for the membership to end, and signing up again while you're in the new country. Until you do, you keep paying in the currency of the country where you signed up.

When Netflix still says you're on a VPN

The VPN may not be the one you think. Netflix points out that some antivirus software comes with a VPN that might be turned on.

Its suggested check uses fast.com, the speed test Netflix runs. From another device on the same network, open fast.com, wait for the test to finish, click Show more info, and look at the country next to Client. If that country isn't where you are, something on the device or network is likely running a VPN. If turning it off doesn't help, Netflix's next steps are to reset the device's network settings and restore the modem or router to its default settings. After that, your internet provider can confirm whether the country and IP address shown match the ones assigned to your home. Netflix customer service won't walk you through turning a VPN off, since the steps differ for every VPN.

Sources

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Written by Kaz (pen name). Published September 28, 2026. The facts above come from the vendor and standards pages listed under Sources. We have not used these products. Corrections: contact form.