The Netflix Secret That Will Change How You Watch Shows

Ever been in the mood for a certain type of show or movie? One that’s maybe a bit outside your comfort zone; or something you don’t normally watch so the Netflix algorithm never suggests it? Well, if you don’t want to miss out on some potentially cool titles, here’s a list of the hidden Netflix codes that the company doesn’t bother advertising.

All you have to do is copy and paste a code for whatever you want to watch at the end of this URL: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/. Peaky Blinders got you in the mood for some more crime dramas? Add 10499 at the end for some crime thrillers, or 31851 for a night of gangster movies.

Plenty more codes where that came from – just follow the link in the beginning. Of course, depending on where you live, some of those codes might yield an entirely empty list. No worries; there’s an easy solution for that too. More details below.

Why Don’t All Netflix Codes Work?

Technically, they do. However, certain titles won’t appear in your region, all thanks to Netflix’s irritating geo-blocks. Blame it on the greedy TV and movie studios that impose these limits in the first place. In any case, such geo-restrictions cause some categories to be completely empty, leading people to believe the hidden Netflix codes don’t work.

A quick and reliable solution to that is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to switch to a different location. This will unlock all Netflix titles in the area and “fix” those previously empty categories.

How Do VPNs Work, Exactly?

Well, any online service out there can detect your real life location (country, city, ZIP code) by reading your IP address. Use a VPN, however, and your real IP is masked and replaced with a different one, based on which server you use. If you live in the EU and find your Netflix library a bit lacking, you can always connect to a VPN server in, say, Canada for way more content.

Then again, going for the largest Netflix libraries isn’t always the best choice. For example, hit comedies like The Office or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are only available in the UK. Other shows may be playable in one region, but only partially. Rick and Morty’s fifth season is currently available only in Japan, Australia, India, Israel and the Netherlands.

It’s a bummer, but thankfully most VPNs that work with Netflix have huge server networks spread across the world. You can always hop from library to library to find new stuff, or look up where your favorite shows are streaming online.

Prevent Bandwidth Throttling with a VPN

As a neat side bonus for Netflix users in the US, VPNs can prevent your Internet provider from throttling your bandwidth. If you weren’t aware, researchers at Northeastern have discovered that ISPs slow down streaming on Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and other platforms. Remember when ISPs promised that this totally won’t happen? Shocking, we know.

Thankfully, VPNs encrypt your traffic, making it impossible to read by any eavesdroppers – whether it’s hackers or your Internet provider. Basically, the latter can’t tell whether you’re streaming Netflix, downloading games off Steam, or listening to lo-fi beats while studying. They can’t exactly slow down what they can’t see. Not without risking a lawsuit or two, at least.

Do All VPNs Work with Netflix?

Sadly, no. Netflix are doing their best to ban all VPN traffic from their platform – same as any other streaming provider out there. Free VPNs are the most affected, as they can’t afford to keep buying up new IP ranges for their users. Most of the money they make (usually by selling user data, FYI) goes towards operational costs. “Free” isn’t as free as you’d think.

Even on the off chance that you find a free VPN works on Netflix, don’t expect much of a smooth streaming experience. Whether it’s because of data caps, bandwidth throttling, or the small number of overcrowded servers, free VPNs and video streaming simply don’t mix.