Are you facing issues with the Netflix app on your Windows 11 PC? You’re not alone. Sometimes users may encounter problems with the Netflix app not working properly on their Windows devices. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of watching your favorite show.
There are several potential reasons why the Netflix app may not be functioning correctly on your Windows system, including internet connectivity issues, outdated app versions, or problems with system settings. In this article, we will explore various troubleshooting methods to help you fix the Netflix app not working in Windows 11.
How to Fix Netflix App Not Working in Windows 11
Here are some common reasons why you may be experiencing issues with the Netflix app, as well as possible solutions to fix them. Let’s discuss them one by one to address the Netflix app not working issues on Windows 11.
1. Restart Your Computer
The first and foremost step you can take if your Netflix App is not working is to restart your PC. If any small issues are causing the app to misbehave or not work fine, a simple restart can fix them.
To restart your Windows 11 PC, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button.
2. It will open the Start Menu. From the Start menu, click the Power button.
3. Then select the Restart option from the context menu. Your PC will automatically power off and restart.
4. After the computer restarts, relaunch the Netflix app and check if it’s working.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
A stable and reliable internet connection is required for streaming content on Netflix. If your internet connection is slow or intermittent, it can cause the Netflix app to malfunction. Netflix typically recommends a download speed of at least around 3-4 Mbps for standard definition content and approximately 5 Mbps for HD content.
To fix this issue, ensure that your computer is connected to a stable and reliable internet connection. Open a web browser and visit a few websites to check if your internet is working properly.
If your internet connection is slow or unstable, consider resetting your router or contacting your internet service provider for assistance. Alternatively, you can visit speedtest.net or fast.com to check your internet speed.
3. Check if Netflix Servers are Live
Sometimes, the issue may not be on your end but with Netflix itself. Check if Netflix servers are live by visiting the Netflix Help Center or DownDetector website to check if there are any reported issues with Netflix servers. If the issue is on Netflix’s end, you may need to wait until they resolve the problem.
Here are the steps you can follow to check the downtime:
1. Open any browser and visit the DownDetector website.
2. Now, in the search bar of the website, type Netflix and press the enter key.
3. Here, the DownDetector tool will display the current status of the Netflix service in your region.
If the Netflix servers are up and running, there might be issues with the Netflix app on your system. Follow the steps below to fix it.
4. Force Restart Netflix
Force restarting the Netflix app can be a useful troubleshooting step when you encounter issues with the app not working on Windows 11. It can help in clearing temporary glitches caused by minor software issues.
Force restarting the Netflix app is like giving it a fresh start. It can help when the app is stuck in a problematic state, such as not responding to any inputs or not loading content properly.
To force restart the Netflix app, follow the following steps:
1. Close the Netflix app completely by clicking on the (x) icon.
2. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select Task Manager from the power menu.
3. In the Task Manager, click on the Processes tab on the right pane.
4. Then, look for Netflix processes, right-click on the Netflix app from the list of running processes, and click on the End Task button.
5. Relaunch the Netflix app and check if it’s working.
5. Update Netflix App
Sometimes an outdated version of the Netflix app can also lead to malfunctioning. Ensure that you have the latest version of the Netflix app installed on your Windows 11 device.
To check for available updates or to update the Netflix app, follow these steps:
1. Open the Microsoft Store and click on Library in the bottom-left corner to open the updates menu.
2. Click on the Get Updates button.
3. If any update is available for the Netflix app it will be visible here. Click on the Update button to install it.
4. After the update is complete, relaunch the Netflix app and check if the issue is resolved.
6. Check Netflix Screen Limit
Netflix allows users to stream content on a limited number of screens simultaneously based on their subscription plan. Netflix offers the following plans and supported devices at a single time.
- Standard with Ads – You can watch on 2 supported devices at a time.
- Standard – Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
- Premium – With this plan, you can watch on 4 supported devices at a time
This means that based on your plan if more than the allowed supported devices device tries to stream Netflix, it will show an error.
If you have reached the screen limit, it can cause the app to stop working on additional devices. Check your Netflix account settings and change the plan if necessary.
Note
If you own a Netflix account, you can sign out from all the devices and again log into your account to start streaming.
7. Repair and Reset Netflix
Over time, the Netflix app files may become corrupted, leading to issues with its functionality. In such cases, repairing and resetting the Netflix app can help resolve the problem.
To Repair and Reset Netflix follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Windows Settings.
2. Click on Apps, then select Installed Apps.
3. Scroll down or search for the Netflix app from the list of installed apps.
4. Click on the three dots, then select Advanced options from the context menu.
5. In the Advanced options menu, click on the Repair button to repair the app.
6. If the issue still persists, you can also try clicking on the Reset button to reset the app to its default settings.
Note
When you reset the Netflix app, the app will log out. To use it again, you will need to log in.
8. Update the Display Drivers
Outdated or incompatible display drivers can cause compatibility issues while playing videos in the Netflix app. It is important to keep your display drivers up to date.
Here’s how to update the display drivers:
1. Press the Windows + R key to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit enter to open Device Manager.
3. Expand the Display adapters category, right-click on your display driver, and select the Update driver option from the menu that appears.
4. After that, you will get the Update Drivers window. Here, you will find two update options. Choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
5. Windows will automatically check and install the latest display driver update available on your Windows system.
6. After the update is complete, restart your computer and check if Netflix is working.
9. Adjust System Graphics Settings
Windows generally automatically decides the most suitable graphics settings for every App. But, sometimes few apps may not work very fine with the chosen settings. The good news is you can adjust the system graphics settings as per your needs.
Therefore, adjusting the system graphics settings may help resolve issues with the Netflix app graphics settings.
To change the Netflix graphics settings, follow these steps:
1. Open the Windows settings and move to System > Display.
2. In Display settings scroll down and select Graphics from the Related Settings section.
3. In the Graphics settings, scroll down the Apps list and locate Netflix.
4. Click on it and click on the Options button, this will open graphics settings for the Netflix app.
5. A pop-up menu will now appear, you can choose your desired Graphics preference from the options available. Windows also allows you to choose your graphics settings for Netflix, which will increase the performance of the app.
6. Once selected click on the Save button.
7. Finally, restart your PC for changes to be effective.
10. Reset Microsoft Store
Resetting the Microsoft Store can help fix issues with the Netflix app because the Microsoft Store is responsible for managing app installations, updates, and dependencies. When you reset the Microsoft Store, you essentially clear its cache and any temporary data that might be causing conflicts or hindering the proper functioning of apps, including Netflix.
Here’s how to reset the Microsoft Store:
1. Open Windows Settings.
2. From Windows settings navigate to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Scroll down and locate Microsoft Store from the list of installed apps. Then click on three dots corresponding to Microsoft Store and select Advanced options from the menu.
4. In the Advanced options menu, first click on the Repair button and then click on the Reset button to reset the Microsoft Store.
5. Restart your computer and try launching the Netflix app again.
11. Clear the DNS Cache
Clearing the DNS cache can fix Netflix app issues by ensuring that your Windows system has up-to-date DNS records. This helps the app connect to Netflix’s servers without errors, resolving network-related problems that might have been preventing the app from working correctly.
Here’s how you can clear the DNS Cache:
1. Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open the Start Menu.
2. Now, search PowerShell in the search menu. From the search results click on Run as administrator.
3. In the command prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
4. This will delete the DNS cache. Now, close the command prompt window and try launching Netflix again.
12. Change the DNS Settings
After clearing the DNS Cache, you can try to change it, Changing DNS settings can fix Netflix app issues by bypassing potential network-related problems. Using reliable DNS servers can improve the app’s ability to connect to Netflix’s servers, reducing buffering, loading errors, and other streaming problems on Windows 11.
To change the DNS settings, you can follow the following steps:
1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R.
2. On the test field, type ncpa.cpl and hit the Enter Key.
3. In the Network Connections settings, right-click on the current Network Adapter you are using and select the Properties option from the menu.
4. Now double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option.
5. First check the Use the following DNS server addresses options and then enter the following values –
- For Preferred DNS server: 8 8 8 8
- For Alternate DNS server: 8 8 4 4
6. Click OK and restart your PC. This will change your DNS settings.
This will fix the DNS issue that is causing the Netflix app to not work on the Windows system.
13. Reset TCP/IP settings
Resetting TCP/IP settings can also fix Netflix app issues by resolving network-related problems. It clears corrupted or misconfigured network settings, ensuring a clean slate for network communication. This can help the Netflix app establish a stable connection to servers, resolving streaming and connectivity issues on Windows 11.
To reset TCP/IP settings, follow the following steps:
1. Again open the Powershell as administrator.
2. In the command prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command:
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
3. Once the commands are executed successfully, restart your computer and check if Netflix is working.
14. Delete the MSPR.HDS File
The MSPR.HDS file is a digital rights management file used by the Netflix app. If this file becomes corrupted, it can cause issues with the app’s playback functionality. Delete the MSPR.HDS file from your computer, restart the Netflix app, and it will be regenerated.
Follow these steps to delete MSPR.HDS files:
1. Press the Windows + E button to open File Explorer.
2. Type mspr.hds in the search box in the upper right corner and hit Enter.
3. Now delete all files that appear in search results.
4. Once done, Restart your PC and again check if the Netflix app is working fine this time.
15. Clear the Temp Files Folder
Clearing the temporary files folder can help fix Netflix app issues by removing redundant and potentially corrupted files. These files can hamper the app’s performance and cause crashes. Deleting them frees up storage space and ensures smoother app operation on Windows 11.
Follow these steps to clear the temp file folder:
1. Click on the Windows icon to open the search menu.
2. Then, type File Explorer in the search bar and open it from the search results.
3. In File Explorer search %temp% in the address bar.
4. Now you will get a list of all temp files. Press Ctrl + A to select them all and click the Delete button to delete the temporary files.
5. After that, restart your PC again and check if the Netflix app is working fine.
16. Reinstall Netflix App
If none of the above solutions work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Netflix app. This is the last solution to fix the Netflix app not working issues on Windows 11.
To reinstall the Netflix app, you first need to uninstall it. Here is how you can do it.
1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I buttons.
2. Click on Apps from the left pane and then Installed Apps from the Apps menu.
3. Scroll down and find Netflix. Click on the three dots and select the Uninstall option.
4. The Netflix app will be now removed from your device.
5. Now, to reinstall the Netflix app on a Windows PC, open the Microsoft Store, search for Netflix in the search bar, and hit Enter.
6. After that, select the Netflix app from the search results.
7. Then click on the Install button to download and install Netflix.
Now, check again. To do this, open the Netflix app, and log in to the Netflix account, and it should work fine now.
17. Use Netflix on Browser
If all else fails, you can still access Netflix through a web browser on your Windows 11 device. for that, open your preferred browser, visit the Netflix website, and log in to your Netflix account to stream content. Once logged in, you can browse and stream a vast library of movies and TV shows directly from your browser.
There is no need for the Netflix app to watch Netflix content; you can do it using any browser on your system. However, some features are only available in the application, such as 5.1 audio channels, the download option, and more.
Conclusion
Dealing with a Netflix app that’s not working on Windows 11 can be a headache, but it’s not something that can’t be fixed. By following the troubleshooting methods outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the most common issues and get back to watching your favorite content. Remember to start with the basics, like restarting your computer and checking your internet connection.
If those don’t do the trick, move on to more advanced solutions like updating the app or adjusting system graphics settings. And if all else fails, you can always reinstall the Netflix app or use Netflix in your web browser as a last resort. With a bit of patience and persistence, you can overcome these Netflix app hiccups and continue enjoying your entertainment without interruption on your Windows 11 PC.
