Netflix Not Working? How to Know If It's Really Down

Let's imagine for a moment that someone recommended a movie to you, or you want to catch up on that famous chess series, and you discover that Netflix isn't working as well as it should... or it took an unexpected vacation. Once you've thrown a healthy share of insults into the air (!), you can follow this guide to check if Netflix is really down, or if it's a secondary problem.

Netflix, and the fragility of 'online'

Some online services may seem immortal, but they are far from it, and they dominate the news every time they go down. WhatsApp is one of the most relevant examples, with millions of users flocking to Twitter and Facebook each time it suffers a technical mishap. Google is not exempt from that situation either, although its dashboard helps us visualize any difficulty. Many gamers do not hesitate to dish out insults every time Steam goes into maintenance... and then Netflix appears.

After a long day, tired, you pick up your laptop... and Netflix isn't working. Is it the service? Is it your PC? Is it that damn router that hung up again? Is it the connection? Is someone on your network killing the bandwidth with a torrent download? You'll have to play detective a bit to find out, but today we've decided to accompany you through the process.

What can you do if Netflix isn't working?

Check the general service status

The first step is to go to the source, and Netflix offers a link in its help section that reports the general status of the service. Advanced descriptions are only available when there is a problem; otherwise, all you'll see is a checkmark in a green circle and the message “Netflix is working”.

Check download speed

Sometimes the problem with Netflix is not access itself, but the performance of its buffer. No movie or series can withstand a pause every five or ten seconds. If that is happening on your end, then you need to check your download speed, and a visit to Fast.com (also from Netflix) is more than enough.

And how does your router feel today...?

From a certain point of view, modems and routers are mini computers, and that means they can crash or lose stability over time. Recommending that you turn it off and on again is a cliché by now... but it works. The real problem is if that behavior repeats too often. Restarting a modem three or four times a day is not normal, and it probably needs a general reset, or why not, a direct replacement.

Is someone killing your connection?

Many users decide to share their Internet connection to reduce their monthly cost, but the available bandwidth is still limited, and if one element proves particularly demanding, Netflix will feel the impact. Some routers allow you to limit bandwidth based on IP numbers and MAC addresses, but the easiest thing is to negotiate so that those responsible take their foot off the accelerator...

Explore Netflix error codes

Yes, I'm afraid Netflix has many of those, and at first glance they are not very clear. However, Netflix's help section has more complete documentation. For example, error code NW-2-5 suggests a connectivity problem between the device and the service, while UI-113 and UI-800-3 indicate the need to “update the information” stored on the device. Each of these errors has a series of steps to follow depending on the affected device, and they are especially useful for consoles.

Call your provider

We have to be honest: ISPs don't really like their users using Netflix, and they prefer data consumption to go to their own internal services (thus making more money). Now, that doesn't mean they openly sabotage your access to Netflix, but there have been reported cases of throttling and specific caps for video streaming. Maybe there's something like that on your connection...?

Try another browser / reinstall apps / etc.

The most generic recommendation for the latter: If none of the above helped, then it's time to follow the classic ritual, logging into Netflix with another browser, or reinstalling its app entirely. Remember that some Smart TVs can lose their Netflix connection overnight, and it's only fixed with an update to the app... as long as the manufacturer offers support.

In summary

Discovering that Netflix isn't working is certainly unpleasant, but don't give up. It's likely that some of these points will help you at least identify the problem and find a viable solution. Good luck!