Get US Netflix In The UK: Watch US Netflix content on iPad, iPhone, Mac or Apple TV

Date March 30, 2016 Author Catherine Category Apple TV, Fire TV, TV, Video Tips

“How can I watch the US version of Netflix here in the UK? They’ve got some great TV shows over there that I want to watch, but they’re unavailable in the UK.”



Due to the way that international licensing works, Netflix has different catalogues of programmes and films in every country it operates in. For example, US Netflix users can enjoy more TV shows and movies on Netflix with less money than UK users. But don’t worry, here will show you how to watchAmerican Netflix shows and other content in the UK using a range of Apple devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV.

Why can pay less but get more choices on Netflix in US than UK?

Usually, the rules will be that you get more when you pay more. But why Netflix users in US can pay less for Netflix (the equivalent of £5.09 instead of £5.99) but get more movies and TV shows, and get the latest films and programmes long before they arrive in Blighty?

To be fair, this discrepancy isn’t really Netflix’s fault; mostly it’s because the US studios offer different deals to their domestic customers and the British government charges a higher tax rate than is levied in the US.

Fortunately, it doesn’t mean there is no way for Netflix fans in UK to enjoy the latest movies and more TV shows as same as US users. They can use a VPN or virtual private network to get US Netflix in the UK to watch US Netflix content on iPad, iPhone, Mac or Apple TV.

Is it legal to watch US Netflix content in the UK on Apple products?

When you watch US Netflix content in UK using VPN on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, what you actually do is trick Netflix into thinking you are currently in the US. So the point here is if the behavior goes against the terms and conditions you signed up to when you signed up with Netflix.

The Netflix terms and conditions explicitly state: “You may view a movie or TV show through the Netflix service primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer our service and have licensed such movie or TV show.”

So be warned that this is against the rules. But to our knowledge Netflix doesn’t check for people using this trick and hasn’t blocked any users from accessing US Netflix in the UK. Whether it’s legal or not to use a VPN is more of a grey area, and varies depending on local laws, but it’s hard to imagine anyone pursuing a case for copyright infringement. Indeed, many observers would argue that Netflix is technically broadcasting to the US, for which territory it obviously owns the broadcasting rights. 

How to use VPN to help you watch US Netflix in the UK?

When you assigned to your computer and goes onto the internet, you will have the unique IP address. You can check it by by opening Safari and typing IP Address into the Smart Search Field (Google will display your own IP address above the Google search results). Netflix can know where you are by checking your IP Address. With VPN, you can change your IP and fool Netflix that thinks you’re in America. 

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, works like a second internet sitting between you and the larger internet, your computer connects to the VPN, which then connects to the internet. You ask it for the website, it sends the website to you. The VPN itself can be based anywhere, but you want one that’s based in the USA. The VPN talks to Netflix, and Netflix thinks it’s talking to a computer inside the USA, and the VPN passes the show on to you.

There are some great free services out there that make it easy. Two in particular come recommended: Hola and Tunnelbear. 

How to get American Netflix in the UK: On Mac?

Note: Here is using the Hola VPN service and Hola doesn’t work with Safari, instead you have to use either Chrome or Firefox web browsers (we’re going to use Firefox). Here is how to use Hola to access Netflix:

1.Open Firefox and visit www.hola.org

2.Click Sign Up. Enter your email address and a password you want to use. Click Create Account.

3.Open Mail and look for a message with “Verify your Hola email address” as the subject. Click the link in the email address.

4.Click Get Hola, It’s Free.

5.Click Allow and Install Now.

This will install the Hola extension in Firefox. You will see it in the top-right displaying the American flag. This means that you are viewing from America. Now all you need to do is load the Netflix website, but stop! Netflix has been under increasing pressure to block Hola and other VPN services, and if you go to www.netflix.com it doesn’t work. There is a workaround: log into movies.netflix.com. For now this seems to work, but for how long we can’t say. Log into your Netflix.com account and browse as normal.

How to get American Netflix in the UK: Apple TV?

You can watch US Netflix from the UK from your Mac to stream the Netflix show, and use AirDrop to send it to the Apple TV. Because Hola works via the Mac, if you try to sign in with the Netflix app on your Apple TV you will be sent back to the UK website.
Follow these steps to watch Netflix shows on your Apple TV:

1.Open Netflix.com using either the Hola or TunnelBear method.

2.Start playing a show.

3.Click the Full Screen icon in the bottom right of Netflix

4.Scroll to the top of the screen to reveal the Menu bar, click on the AirPlay icon and choose Apple TV.

Then the TV show will now start to play on your Apple TV. We think this is the best method, but if you really want to get your Apple TV to play American shows directly using the Netflix app on the Apple TV you can change the DNS settings on your router to those provided by your VPN service.

How to get American Netflix in the UK: iPad & iPhone

To watch US television or access other US-only services while based in the UK on iPhone & iPad, you need to install Hola app. Here’s how to install Hola on the iPad:

1.Download the Hola app from the App Store.

2.If you already have a Hola account, log in with your email and password. Alternatively, enter a new email and password and click Create Account.

3.The Hola app now walks you through installing the VPN settings on your iPad (or iPhone). Click Ok, Let’s Do It.

4.The app switches to Safari, which loads some settings, then switches automatically to Settings in the Install Profile section.

5.Tap Install.

6.If your iPad has a passcode lock, enter the four-digit code.

7.Tap Next, Install, Install and Next.

8.Tap Done.

After you installed Hola opp on your iOS devices to act as a VPN (virtual private network). It will be ready to steam movies and TV shows from America to your Netflix app on the iPhone or iPad.

How to Record Netflix Videos?

When you live in America but will travel to the UK, you don’t need to install VPN to help you watch Netflix shows on iPhone, iPad. You can choose to download some Netflix shows that are only offered to US users then watch them in the UK. But Netflix videos are a bit harder to download and only stream for a period of time, but like any other video sharing sites it can’t stop you from recording your screen. With Movavi Screen Capture Studio, you can easily capture Netflix stream and save videos to your desktop computer or laptop.

Step 1: Install Movavi Screen Capture Studio

Step 2: Locate the Netflix video you want to rip and launch the video recorder.Select Capture screen in the main window, when the program starts. Adjust the capture frame manually or choose an appropriate size preset from the Select Capture Area list, and position the frame over the video on Netflix.

Step 3: Click the REC button to start recording. The program will begin ripping your video within 5 seconds, so get ready to play it. Use the Cancel, Pause, and Stop buttons on the program’s control panel to manage the capture process. Windows users can press F9 to pause the recording and F10 to finish capturing. Mac users should press ⌥ ⌘ 1 to pause and ⌥ ⌘ 2 to finish capturing.

Step 4: Once the video has been recorded, you need to save it. Open the Save as list, click Video and audio, and specify the format you want to use to replay the video. You can also click Devices in the same list to choose from a variety of preset formats for different portable devices to convert the recording for your phone or tablet. Click Save.

How to convert recorded Netflix to iPhone/iPad?

When you downloaded or recorded some Netflix movies but can’t transfer them to your iPhone/iPad for video format/codec issue, you can use a video converter to re-encode the videos to your iPhone/iPad.

Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate <Mac version> is an all-in-one media solution. It can convert Tivo, WMV, TS, VRO, VOB, M2TS, ISO, MKV, AVI, H.265, AVCHD, etc video to any other popular video format/codec, like H.265, H.264, MP4, MKV, AVI DivX/XviD, WMV, 2GP. Or it can transform your video to iPhone, iPad, PS4, Samsung Galaxy Tablets, Surface Pro 4, Xbox One, Sony Xperia X Series, etc.

Step 1: Download and install it from the official site: http://www.multipelife.com/video-converter-ultimate

Step 2: Click “File” icon on the top of the interface to load AVCHD, MP4, MKV, AVI or WMV video to the software. 

Note: Batch conversion supported allows you to add more than one source video at a time.

Step 3: Hit on “Format” button to open the drop-down list to choose the format, device you want. For iPhone, iPad, you can get the output format from the corresponding profiles.

Step 4: Press “Convert” button to start to transcode Netflix video to iPhone/iPad.

Now, put the converted Netflix video to iPhone/iPad then you can watch US Netflix video in the UK when traveling.