Netflix Not Working? Error Codes, Fixes, & More

Ah, Netflix. Not that long ago, the streaming service made a splash as a disruptor in the video-rental industry. Now, Netflix is so ingrained in our lives that it’s disruptive only when it stops working.

Maybe the weather’s bad. Maybe you’re stuck at home, sick. Maybe you've finally been kicked off your parents' account with Netflix's new password-sharing rules. Or maybe you were just looking forward to a Sex Education binge. Whatever your circumstances, don’t despair! It’s relatively easy to fix many Netflix error codes. We’ll start with the basics and work up to the more complicated stuff.

There are a lot of possible Netflix errors, and we won’t cover them all in this piece. Netflix has dozens of articles covering different error variations that we simply can’t tackle in one go.

The good news: a lot of them are similar. As a general rule, when you run into a problem, we recommend trying the following:

• Check your internet connection.
• Disconnect your mobile device, TV, or computer, then reconnect.
• Sign out of your Netflix account and sign in again or reinstall Netflix app.
• Check your account settings.

Netflix very rarely goes down completely, as in—everyone is having problems accessing it. Here's a great pro tip on that, though. If you search Google for "Netflix down" you will almost always see reports from websites explaining what is happening and why there is a Netflix server problem for everyone. The same thing happens with major platforms and apps like Gmail and Facebook. So sometimes the problem is with the actual streaming media provider and not just one of the error messages below.

So we gave you one pro tip, here's an even better one: There's a website you can check that shows whether Netflix is up and running. Frankly, it's almost always green for all systems go. It is worth checking though if you are hankering to watch that brand new pulp thriller that just came out starring a famous actor. It's probably not that great but who knows? Maybe Brad Pitt will make it all work. If Netflix is down for everyone, the site will let you know.

One last tip here. If there's ever an extremely popular show or movie on Netflix and you are having trouble accessing, know this: So is everyone else. The servers might be overloaded. Sometimes, the best workaround for this is to simply wait until a day or time when not as many people are watching, such as later at night or in the morning.

Got it? Otherwise, let’s jump to some specific error codes you might be seeing.

If you’re watching Ozark and this error message pops up about Netflix not working, don’t panic. Either your internet’s not working correctly, or there’s data on your playback device that needs to be refreshed.

For this issue, Netflix recommends that you clear the app’s data and restart your playback device. Or, if the problem seems to be related to connectivity, you can restart your home Wi-Fi network.

If you’re watching on the Netflix app on a portable device, try moving around the house to see if you can get a better signal. And if all else fails, you can try a different internet connection, if it’s available, or restore your internet settings to the factory default.

Similar error codes: Error tvq-st-120, Error AIP-704, Error UI-400, Error 12001, Error 5403, Error 11853, Error 1011, Error 1012, Error 1016, Error -11800

Netflix Error Code 100 is associated with AppleTVs, iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. To fix this, try the following:

• Sign out of your Netflix account, then sign back in.
• Reinstall the app.
• Restart your iOS device.

Similar error codes: Error 1001, Error 10023-5009

If the basic troubleshooting steps we recommended at the beginning of the article don’t work, you’ll have to contact Netflix customer support directly at 1 (866) 579-7172.

Similar error codes: Error 1004

Like 0041, AIP-705 can go two ways. It can mean that your internet connection just isn’t up to snuff, or it can mean that there’s old information stored on your playback device.

If you can determine that your internet connection is stable, try signing out of Netflix and restarting your Blu-Ray player or smart TV. If you're signing in on your laptop, check to see if you need a software update.

You might get this error message if you have an Android phone or tablet or windows pc. It means that your Android device is having an issue with downloading Netflix content. You can try our basic troubleshooting steps, but in this case, they may not work. You’ll have to watch Love is Blind on your Xbox or laptop instead.

This Netflix issue pops up on Android when Netflix hasn’t received its payment. That doesn’t mean you did anything dishonest. The error could occur because your card’s expired, or because your bank or credit union wouldn’t release the payment, or because there was a problem with your billing address.

Check the payment method on your account. If everything looks good, you’ll probably have to reach out to Netflix and/or your financial institution to learn what’s going on.

The S7111-1957-205002 issue may pop up when you use Safari on a Mac. You can remove the Netflix data from the browser, or you can force-quit Safari and try again.

This issue is a Mac-specific browser error. The best way to clear it up is to visit netflix.com/clearcookies.

Netflix says that TVP-832 usually indicates an internet connection problem, not a Netflix issue. To overcome this issue, the company suggests trying some or all of the following:

• Disable protection software, such as VPNs.
• Restart your playback device.
• Sign out of your Netflix account, then sign back in.
• Check your internet connection and restart the modem/wireless router if needed.
• Connect your playback device directly to your modem.
• Change your connectivity settings back to the default.

Similar error codes: Error NW-2-5

If you get this error asking you to verify your age, it’s easy to rectify. It just means you created your Netflix account in an area where you have to be a certain age to view mature content. Go to netflix.com/verifyage to confirm that you’re not too young to watch Black Mirror.

This error indicates that your playback device is having a hard time “talking to” Netflix. To resolve this, try signing out of your Netflix account. If that doesn’t work, restart the device. And if that doesn’t work, you’re going to have to contact the device manufacturer.

When you get an Unexpected Error message, it’s usually because of the device’s browser. Per the error instructions, refresh the page and see if that fixes it. If that doesn’t work, try switching browsers.

Here’s a roundup of what we covered in this guide, all in one convenient table.

To no one’s surprise, we drew heavily from Netflix’s help center to create this guide. If we didn’t cover your error, try looking up the specific code in the help center.

Sick of Netflix? If you want to replace or supplement your popular video streaming service, we have some recommendations for you, like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.

If your Netflix errors are usually related to a bad internet connection, it may be time to look for a new ISP. Here are our recommendations.