It is generally frustrating when websites don’t open when you want them to. However, things become more difficult when you attempt to open Netflix, and it doesn’t work in Google Chrome. You can always try another browser, but you can also fix the problem. In this detailed guide, I will show you how to resolve the ‘Netflix not working on Chrome’ error. We shall first explore the common reasons for the error.
Causes Behind the “Netflix Not Working on Chrome” Error
The following factors may be causing the ‘Netflix not working on Chrome’ error on your device.
Internet Connectivity/Speed Issues
For all we know, the problem may not be with Google Chrome. If your Internet connection is experiencing issues or has slow speeds, Chrome may not load Netflix properly.
Extensions affecting Netflix
Third-party extensions you have installed on Google Chrome can affect how Netflix behaves on the browser. One of these extensions may also prevent Netflix playback.
Hardware Acceleration Issues
Hardware acceleration distributes resource consumption between the CPU and GPU to reduce the load on the former. However, the feature may cause playback issues with platforms like Netflix.
Outdated version of Chrome
Sometimes, platforms like Netflix do not work on outdated versions of browsers due to security reasons. You may be running an outdated version of Chrome, which could cause the problem.
Issues with the Netflix Server
While extremely rare, issues with the Netflix servers could also be the reason you are unable to open and stream Netflix on Google Chrome. In these instances, you will have to wait until the issue is resolved.
VPN/Proxy Configuration Issues
Chrome browser may be unable to open Netflix on your device because you are using a VPN or proxy system. In some instances, Netflix may flag certain IP addresses and VPN services.
Accumulation of Browser Cache
If you haven’t cleared the browser cache for a long period, the accumulation of junk can also prevent certain websites from working. If you have been streaming recently, it could be a reason why Netflix isn’t working.
How to Fix the “Netflix Not Working on Chrome” Error
Based on the reasons listed above, I have created a step-by-step guide to resolving the ‘Netflix not working on Chrome’ error. I recommend following these steps in the same order, as it can save you time and effort in the long run.
#1 Restart Google Chrome
The first solution is restarting the Google Chrome browser. On Windows, you can click the Close button and open Chrome once again. On Mac, however, you need to Quit the app from the Chrome menu. When you reopen Chrome, it should launch Netflix from scratch.
This step should resolve the issue if a temporary problem was causing Netflix not to work.
#2 Check Your Internet Connection and Speed
Next, verify that you have an active Internet connection and that it provides sufficient bandwidth for Netflix to function correctly. You can check whether other websites are opening. If they are, you can confirm that you have a working Internet connection.
You should also use a website like Speedtest.net to check the maximum speed of the connection. The speed must be over 3 Mbps, even when streaming in Standard Definition quality. If the speeds are less than this, you have found the reason Netflix isn’t working on Chrome.
#3 Check Netflix’s Running Status
If you have ensured that you have a solid Internet connection with sufficient speed, you should also check if Netflix is working.
- You can check the official Status Page on Netflix to see if everything is fine. This page will inform you whether Netflix is experiencing an outage anywhere in the world. If it is, you have to wait until the problem is resolved.
- Sometimes, regional outages can also hamper your access to Netflix. You can use DownDetector to check if any of those issues exist.
If you find that Netflix is working as it should, we can proceed with the next steps.
#4 Disable VPN/Proxy
You may be using a VPN connection or proxy server to access geo-blocked content. However, at times, you may be blocked from accessing Netflix on your Chrome browser. It may happen due to internal restrictions from Netflix, or because Netflix is unavailable through the VPN server you are connected to.
Either way, you can solve the problem by disabling the VPN connection or proxy. Doing so will connect your device to Netflix using the default IP address.
#5 Clear Browsing Cache
If you have been streaming via Netflix frequently, the accumulated cache can slow things down. Therefore, you should clear the browsing cache on Chrome.
- On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete and select “Cache” from the menu before confirming.
- On Mac, press Command + Shift + Delete to access the same menu and proceed with deletion.
This step will remove all sorts of browser cache on Chrome. As a result, Netflix will have to load all content from scratch.
#6 Update Google Chrome
You should also verify that you are using the latest version of Chrome. If not, features such as streaming may not work. Here’s how you can go about it.
Click the three-dot menu and choose Help > About Chrome. This page will automatically check whether your Chrome version is up to date. You should see the image shown above.
#7 Enable/Disable Hardware Acceleration
Platforms like Netflix use a feature called hardware acceleration for loading content. It basically splits the workload between your CPU and GPU. However, at times, this feature (or the lack of it) could cause problems on your Chrome browser.
Open the three-dot menu and navigate to Settings. Now, select System from the sidebar menu and check the status of an entry titled ‘Use graphics acceleration when available’. If it is enabled, try disabling it—and vice versa.
#8 Enable Protected Content
You should also check whether the browser has Protected Content Playback enabled. Here’s how you can do it.
Go to Google Chrome settings and navigate to Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings > Protected content IDs > Sites can play protected content.
If this option is disabled, DRM-protected content, such as that on Netflix, won’t work.
#9 Check for Problematic Extensions
Extensions you have installed on Chrome may also prevent Netflix from functioning properly. For instance, ad blockers may have a negative impact on performance.
Therefore, you should go to the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions. Here, you can see all the extensions you have installed. Check if there are any you don’t recognize.
You should check if the problem persists after disabling extensions, such as an ad-blocker. If it doesn’t, you need to disable the ad blocker.
#10 Use A Different Profile
You should see if the problem goes away when you shift to another profile on Chrome.
You can do this by clicking on the Profile icon and selecting ‘Add Profile’.
#11 Reset Google Chrome
If none of these steps help, you can try resetting Google Chrome. Doing so will restore factory-level settings.
You can do this by going to the three-dot menu > Settings > Reset settings > and then selecting ‘Restore settings to their original defaults’.
Wrapping Up
I hope this guide helped you restore Netflix access and playback on Chrome. The steps are easy; you simply have to follow them in the same order. If nothing works, however, you can always use another browser or download the Netflix app.
