Is Netflix Down?

There may be nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a binge session of your favorite guilty pleasure and having everything freeze up! After furiously hitting your remote or tapping your screen enough times to wake the dead, you find yourself wondering: Is Netflix down?

The answer isn’t that easy.

Netflix probably isn’t down, but you need to find out for sure. Most reported outages of the platform don’t last longer than half an hour and are very infrequent. But you’re not going to wait around—and we’re here to help!

In this troubleshooting guide, you’ll be able to find out if the streaming service is actually down or if it’s some other issue on your end, like your device, your app, or even your connection. Let’s get you back to your Love is Blind marathon, shall we?

How to troubleshoot Netflix

Imagine being in a movie theater, and the screen goes dark just as you’re about to see the protagonist get his revenge. The whole place would go crazy, wouldn’t it? We won’t judge if you threw your remote control across the room or called your tablet things that would make a sailor blush. We’re here for solutions, and so are you. Sometimes Netflix experiences some downtime, and sometimes your device or internet stops the show. Let’s figure out which is happening now.

Check for a Netflix outage

Checking to see if Netflix is down is actually fairly easy. Netflix has a wealth of information and insight on its website. Just enter the error code that Netflix gives you into the help bar, and you’ll have answers and tips to resolve the issue in no time.

But, if you end up getting NW-2-5 or NW-3-6 as your error codes, it’s not Netflix—it’s you! See the steps below to find out if it’s your app, your account, your device, or your internet connection.

No outage? Try these steps next

If you got the error codes that point the finger squarely at your own reflection, then you’ve got some work to do. But, fret not, this doesn’t have to be as painful as you’re worried it will be. Here’s what you do when Netflix isn’t down, but you’re still not seeing any of your favorite shows:

1  Restart Netflix: Log out and back in to your account too.

2  Clear your cookies and cache: You can do this manually in your device’s settings.

3  Get updated: Download all the most recent updates for your app and device.

4  Restart your device: You were probably due for this anyway.

5  Disable VPNs: Netflix doesn’t play nice with some VPNs, so you may want to check to see if yours is the issue.

Check your internet connection

When was the last time you changed internet service providers? Do you know what speeds your current plan promises? You’re probably stuck on a very old plan that better serves your provider than it does your home.

Drop your zip code into the tool below. It’s free, you won’t get any spam follow-ups, and you’ll instantly get access to all the providers in your area. Seconds later, you’ll be connected to the best plans, speeds, and deals in your area. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it? It is. What are you waiting for?