How to Unblock Netflix on a School Computer: Solved (Guide for 2024)

Netflix is one of the most-used platforms for video content consumption among teenagers, so don’t be surprised if it’s the number one site on your school’s blacklist.

However, different methods exist to get Netflix unblocked at school or work. In this article, I’ll show you that getting around your school’s firewalls isn’t complicated and won’t require much time.

Why Is Netflix Blocked on My School Computer?

Many educational institutions use firewalls and other blocks on their WiFi networks to prevent access to sites like Netflix, which could distract students. So, you’ll likely have trouble accessing Netflix and other streaming services on your school computer.

Naturally, school authorities want their students to stay focused during classes. However, there’s no reason to limit their internet freedom when a particular task is done or during lunch breaks. Besides entertainment, Netflix has educational TV series that may be relevant to your studies.

Methods for Unblocking Netflix

Below are the different ways you can get past the restrictions imposed by school authorities:

• A safe and fast virtual private network (VPN) is the best tool for getting past geo-blocks and firewalls. It can hide your online activity and give you robust protection. Also, you can protect multiple devices at once using one subscription. Good VPNs offer money-back guarantees to let you try them risk-free.
• Another efficient method is the Tor browser. It uses open-source software and enables anonymous internet browsing by hiding your IP address and redirecting your traffic through various servers.
• A proxy can also access Netflix, but this method does not provide a secure internet connection like a VPN or the Tor browser.
• URL shorteners could also be used to unblock Netflix. This method is easy, but it won’t work if your school uses a heavy firewall.

I’ll cover each of these methods in greater depth below.

How to Unblock Netflix with a VPN

Unblocking any service from anywhere using a VPN is simple. Once you have a VPN subscription, you can download the VPN app on your device and then connect to a nearby VPN server. This will obscure your connection and activities and unblock services blocked by your school’s servers.

Choose the Best VPN to Unblock Netflix at School

Unfortunately, Netflix blocks many VPNs, so you need to find one that works with the platform and unblocks your local Netflix library.

Especially if you’re new to VPNs, take a minute to check the significant elements of a good Netflix VPN service so you can effortlessly unblock your favorite Netflix content.

• Security and Privacy: The VPNs I recommend have the best security measures to keep your data safe, like military-grade encryption. They also don’t collect any logs of your activities. A kill switch and DNS/IP leak protection can also help if an unexpected connection issue occurs, as they prevent data leaks and exposure.
• Servers: Since Netflix content varies from country to country, the VPN you choose should have servers in your location so you can unblock and watch your favorite shows. I can’t determine this for you, so you’ll need to verify that the VPN has local servers (if you’re in the US, you’re covered by all the options I provide). You can also take advantage of the VPN’s global network and connect to different countries to enjoy that country’s specific library. For example, Rick and Morty isn’t available on Netflix in the US, but you can watch it on Netflix UK.
• Speed: Your VPN shouldn’t have bandwidth limitations, so you don’t run out of data in the middle of a movie. You also want a VPN that offers fast and stable connections to stream in the highest quality and avoid buffering. The VPNs I recommend fulfill these requirements.

Best VPNs for Netflix

Here’s a list of my favorite VPNs for bypassing restrictions on your school WiFi and accessing blocked websites. These VPNs can unblock Netflix and many other streaming platforms, such as Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

1. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is my favorite VPN for unblocking a specific streaming platform. You’ll probably like it even more if you only need a VPN to unblock Netflix at school. CyberGhost gives you a list of streaming-optimized servers dedicated to unblocking a streaming service, and many of them are labeled with Netflix.

With 9,000+ VPN servers across 90+ countries, you can stream Netflix or any other streaming service without issues. I never had drops in quality while streaming with CyberGhost. Seven simultaneous connections are included, so you can even share your VPN subscription with family or friends or even split the subscription to save some money.

What’s more, CyberGhost gives you a generous 45-day money-back guarantee when subscribing to a long-term plan. There’s even a free seven-day trial for mobile and a 24-hour free trial for desktop.

2. ExpressVPN

Although ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN and best VPN overall, I put it in second place because it has more expensive subscriptions than the competition, which means it may be a bit less suitable for students. However, we consider it well worth the price. Thanks to its network of 3,000+ servers across 94 countries, I watched movies in the highest resolution on many different Netflix libraries.

If you don’t mind its higher prices, don’t hesitate to get ExpressVPN, as it unblocks almost every Netflix library. It’s easy to install and use and offers an intelligent location feature to automatically connect to the nearest and fastest server. Plus, it has proprietary encryption technology called Lightway that improves its speeds.

ExpressVPN backs you up with a 30-day money-back guarantee and works on up to five devices simultaneously.

3. PIA

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another VPN well-suited for accessing geo-blocked content. It has the most extensive server network of any VPN. I was surprised that PIA is one of the cheapest VPNs, with long-term plans starting at $2.03 monthly.

PIA covers all US states, so it’s great for picking a local server and avoiding slowdowns from heavy internet traffic. PIA also offers servers dedicated to streaming, and I unblocked and watched Netflix US without hassle with the US streaming-optimized server.

Like ExpressVPN, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee to check the VPN’s performance on Netflix and decide whether to keep it or get a refund.

Should I Use a Free VPN to Unblock Netflix at School?

My quick answer is no. Although getting a VPN service for free can seem attractive at first glance, it works a bit differently. I always ask myself, is it possible to have a VPN with all those features, servers, and customer support for free? How will they profit or even cover the expenses of creating and maintaining such a service?

Unlike a paid VPN, most free VPN services have no privacy policy. It’s a bit contradictory since the purpose of a VPN is to keep your online data hidden. Besides that, you’ll probably get inconsistent speeds, bandwidth limitations, and a poor choice of servers.

I advise getting a premium VPN with proven performance and a strict no-logs policy. You can always get a refund after using a premium VPN for a while.

How to Unblock Netflix with Tor Browser

As I mentioned, a few different methods exist to unblock Netflix on your school computer without using VPN services. Tor is the most reliable option, as it protects your internet connection, unlike a proxy or a URL shortener.

Tor is easy to install. Here’s how:

1. Visit the Tor Project website’s download page

2. Choose the file for your device

3. Open the installation file and start the installation

4. When it’s done, click on Finish, and Tor will launch

5. Now, you can go to Netflix and watch your favorite content without restrictions.

To close Tor, click on the close button. All your data gets automatically deleted, so you don’t have to worry about your browsing history or account data. To use the browser again, launch Tor and click “Connect.”

Tor is completely free to use and doesn’t require an account. However, you can only watch Netflix on your browser. You can’t use Tor with the Netflix app.

How to Unblock Netflix with a Proxy Server

While a proxy server can be beneficial in bypassing restrictions on your school WiFi, not all will unblock Netflix.

Proxy servers work by changing your IP address to get past geo-restrictions. It would help if you used a proxy server with a server located in the country with the library you wish to unblock.

In my case, Netflix worked well with CyberGhost’s free proxy extension. I didn’t go through much hassle to install it. But it’s only available for Chrome and Firefox. To get the extension, follow these steps:

1. Go to CyberGhost’s website and click on “VPN Apps”

2. Under “Extensions,” you can find and choose between Chrome and Firefox

3. After clicking “Add CyberGhost to Chrome” or “Add CyberGhost to Firefox,” you’ll be asked to confirm your choice and that’s it

4. Now, you can open the extension and connect to one of the four servers. Go for the US server to access Netflix US, the most extensive library

If you can’t use CyberGhost’s free proxy extension or it doesn’t work for you, you can try searching online for other free proxy servers and giving them a try.

How to Access Netflix Using a URL Shortener

This is the easiest method to connect to Netflix, but it works the least often. Here’s how to do it:

1. Copy the URL you want to unblock

2. Visit a URL shortener website like TinyURL

3. Paste the URL to get a shortened URL

4. Now copy the shortened URL and paste it into your browser

Conclusion

Many educational institutions limit internet freedom to avoid distractions, so it’s common for students and employees to be blocked from accessing many sites. That especially applies to entertainment sites like Netflix.

Using a VPN like CyberGhost, the Tor browser, or a proxy, you can easily bypass restrictions and access shows on Netflix while staying safe online. A quicker solution is to use a URL shortener to get past your school’s restrictions, but depending on the type of blocks and firewalls, this isn’t guaranteed to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic: How To Guides, Streaming Services, Unblocked