TV and streaming · Repair guide

How to fix Netflix not working

9 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Turn the TV or streaming device fully off, unplug it for 15 seconds, then plug it back in and try again. If that fails, restart your modem and router, then sign out of Netflix and back in.

What it means

When Netflix won't load, freezes or shows an error, the cause is usually on your side: the device needs a restart, the home internet has dropped, or information stored by the Netflix app has gone stale. Real Netflix outages are rare. Any error code on screen points to the cause and is worth writing down.

Common causes

  • The TV or streaming device needs a full restart
  • The home internet connection has dropped or is too slow
  • Information stored by the Netflix app needs to be refreshed
  • Weak Wi-Fi, or a hotel or shared network that blocks streaming
  • Out-of-date device software or Netflix app
  • A problem with the device itself, shown by some error codes
  • A rare Netflix service outage

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Check whether Netflix is downEasy

  1. On a phone or computer, open the Netflix Help Center and go to its Is Netflix Down? page. Netflix posts a notice there when streaming is interrupted.
  2. If no problem is listed, open another app on the same TV, such as YouTube. If that also fails, the problem is your internet, not Netflix.
  3. If Netflix works on your phone but not the TV, the problem is with the TV or streaming device. Keep going with the fixes below.

Why it helps: It tells you in a minute whether to wait or to fix something at home.

02Restart your TV or streaming deviceEasy

  1. Turn the device off. Make sure it is fully off, not in sleep or standby.
  2. Unplug the power cable if it has one.
  3. Wait at least 15 seconds. For a cable box, wait 3 minutes.
  4. Plug it back in, turn it on and try Netflix again.

Why it helps: A full restart clears temporary glitches that the remote's power button does not.

03Restart your modem and routerEasy

  1. Turn off the TV or streaming device.
  2. Unplug the modem and the router from power. If you have a single box from your internet provider, unplug that.
  3. Wait 30 seconds, then plug them back in.
  4. Wait 1 minute, then turn on the device and try Netflix. Some equipment takes a few minutes to reconnect.

Why it helps: Restarting the home network fixes many connection errors, including NW-2-5.

04Sign out of Netflix and back inEasy

  1. On the Netflix home screen, press Back on the remote to open the menu.
  2. If the menu is at the top, select your profile icon, then Get Help > Sign out > Yes. If the menu is on the left, go to the bottom and select Get Help > Sign out > Yes.
  3. If an error screen is showing, select More Details, then Sign out or Reset.
  4. If you can't find Sign out, press these remote buttons in order: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Up, Up, Up, Up, then choose Sign out, Reset or Deactivate.
  5. On Apple TV the steps are different: search the Netflix Help Center for signing out on Apple TV.
  6. Sign back in with your Netflix email and password and try again.

Why it helps: Signing out refreshes the information Netflix stores on the device, which fixes many errors.

05If you see an error code, look it upEasy

  1. Write down the code exactly, including any number in brackets, such as UI-800-3 (207003).
  2. Search for the code in the Netflix Help Center. Each code has its own page with steps for your device.
  3. NW-2-5 means the device took too long to reach Netflix, usually because of the internet connection. On the error screen, select More Details > Check your network to test it.
  4. UI-800-3 on its own means information stored on the device needs to be refreshed, or a network problem stopped Netflix from opening. Restarting the device and network and signing out and back in are Netflix's first fixes.
  5. If UI-800-3 is followed by a number in brackets, look up that exact code. For example, UI-800-3 (207003) usually points to a problem with the device itself, and Netflix advises asking the device maker for a software update.

Why it helps: The code tells you whether the problem is your internet, the app or the device.

06If you watch in a web browser, clear the Netflix cookieEasy

  1. This fixes the message Something's not quite right. Please try that last step again.
  2. In the browser's address bar, type netflix.com/clearcookies and press Enter. This signs you out.
  3. Select Sign In and enter your Netflix email and password.
  4. Try Netflix again.

Why it helps: It clears out-of-date information that Netflix saved in your browser.

07Improve your Wi-Fi connectionMedium

  1. Move the router closer to the TV or to a central spot, up off the floor and away from other electronics.
  2. If you are on hotel, dorm or apartment Wi-Fi, ask the network owner for help. These networks can be busy or may block streaming.
  3. A phone hotspot, satellite or slow mobile connection may not be fast enough for steady streaming.
  4. Test your internet speed. If it is slow, contact your internet provider and tell them the result.

Why it helps: Netflix needs a steady connection; a weak signal causes buffering, poor picture and connection errors.

08Update the device software and Netflix appMedium

  1. Roku: press Home, then go to Settings > System > Software update > Check Now.
  2. Fire TV: go to Settings > My Fire TV > About (or Device & Software > About) and select Check for System Update.
  3. Google TV: open Google Play Store, select your profile picture, then Manage apps & games > Updates > Update all.
  4. Smart TVs and other devices: look for a software update in the TV's settings menu, or check the maker's help pages.
  5. Try Netflix again after the update finishes and the device restarts.

Why it helps: Updates fix bugs and keep the device able to play protected video.

09If an error says the device has a problem, contact the device makerAdvancedBack up first

  1. Some Netflix error pages say the problem is with the TV or streaming device. In that case, Netflix advises contacting the device's manufacturer.
  2. Ask the maker to help you update the device's software first.
  3. Warning: the maker may then suggest a factory reset. This erases apps, sign-ins and settings on the device. Have your Wi-Fi name and password and your Netflix sign-in ready first.
  4. If nothing works, watch Netflix on a different device while the problem is sorted out.

Why it helps: Some errors come from the device's own software and can only be fixed by the maker or a reset.

Check it's fixed

  • A show starts playing within a few seconds without an error.
  • Video plays for several minutes without stopping to buffer.
  • Netflix opens normally the next time you turn on the TV.

When to get help

If other apps work but Netflix keeps showing the same error after these fixes, contact Netflix through the Help Center. If no apps work, contact your internet provider. Only use contact details listed in the official Netflix Help Center.

Questions

Is Netflix down right now?

Outages are rare. Netflix's Help Center has an Is Netflix Down page that shows a notice when there is a service problem. If nothing is listed, the problem is most likely your device or internet.

What does Netflix error NW-2-5 mean?

It means your device took too long to connect to Netflix, which usually points to a problem with the internet connection or home network. Restarting the device and your modem and router fixes it in most cases.

Why does Netflix work on my phone but not my TV?

Your Netflix account is fine, so the problem is with the TV, the streaming device or its connection. Restart the device, sign out of Netflix on it and check for software updates.

Why does Netflix say "Something's not quite right"?

Netflix shows this when something went wrong with the last step. In a web browser, Netflix's fix is to clear the Netflix cookie and sign back in.

Related fixes

Why is my internet not working?Check whether other devices are also offline. If they are, restart your modem and router and check your provider for an outage; if only one Why does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting?Restart your modem and router and move closer to the router to test. If only one device keeps dropping, forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network How to fix a Firestick that's not workingHold Select and Play/Pause on the remote together for about 5 seconds to restart the Firestick. If the remote doesn't respond, unplug tHow to fix a Roku that's not workingUnplug the Roku's power cord for at least 10 seconds, then plug it back in. If the remote works, you can instead go to Settings > SyHow to fix YouTube TV not workingRestart your TV or streaming device and your router, waiting 30 seconds before turning each back on. Then check your location in YouTube TV

Still stuck?

Paste the exact message to find the closest fix, or search it on Google, Microsoft, Apple, Reddit and YouTube.

Sources