Netflix Proxy Error (E106 / M7111-5059): How to Fix ‘You Seem to Be Using a VPN’ (2026)

You pick something to watch on Netflix and get a message instead: “You seem to be using a VPN or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.” Sometimes it comes with the code E106, and older guides call the browser version M7111-5059. It’s frustrating, and it can appear whether or not you’re actually running a VPN. This guide explains what the error means, how to tell which situation you’re in, and the fixes that Netflix and VPN providers publish, in the order that makes sense to try them. It’s based on Netflix’s help center and VPN providers’ support pages. We didn’t run our own tests for this page, so there are no success rates here.

This article contains no affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure and how we review. Updated: November 2026

What the Netflix proxy error means

Netflix’s help page for this error says the message appears because VPN apps or services “can make your device or network look like it’s connecting from somewhere other than your physical location.” In other words, Netflix isn’t confident about which country you’re in, so it refuses to play the title. The current code is E106. Many people still search for M7111-5059, which is the older code shown in web browsers. Surfshark’s Netflix troubleshooting page says the same fixes apply to both.

Why Netflix cares about location at all: its catalog is licensed country by country. Netflix’s Terms of Use says you may access content “primarily within the country in which you have established your account,” and that available content varies by geographic location. Netflix’s page on watching through a VPN adds that when you connect through a VPN, you may only be shown titles Netflix has worldwide rights to, and that VPNs aren’t supported for Live events or on an ad-supported experience.

How does Netflix decide a connection looks like a VPN? Netflix doesn’t publish its methods. NordVPN’s guide to false proxy errors lists the usual suspects: IP addresses already known to belong to VPNs or proxies (data center addresses are easier to spot than home ones), a mismatch between your IP location and where your DNS requests come from, and IPv6 traffic revealing a different location from IPv4. Treat that as a VPN company’s explanation, not Netflix’s.

Step 1: Check whether a VPN or proxy is active

Netflix gives a simple test. On a phone or computer on the same network as the device showing the error, open fast.com (Netflix’s speed test), wait for it to finish, click Show more info, and note the country next to Client. If that country doesn’t match where you are, Netflix says your device or network likely has a VPN turned on. You can also check your public address with our What is my IP tool.

Then branch: if a VPN is active, either because you turned it on or because something turned it on for you, go to the next section. If fast.com shows the right country and you aren’t using a VPN, skip to “If you’re not using a VPN” below.

Step 2: Look for a VPN or proxy you didn’t know about

Netflix specifically warns that some antivirus software comes with a built-in VPN that might be turned on. NordVPN’s guide lists other hidden culprits worth checking:

• Security suites. Antivirus or security apps with VPN or proxy features running in the background.
• Browser extensions. Privacy extensions that reroute traffic. Check chrome://extensions in Chrome or edge://extensions in Edge, disable them all, then re-enable them one at a time.
• System proxy settings. On Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. On a Mac, look under the network settings for Proxies. Turn off any manual proxy or script you don’t recognize.
• Work or school networks. NordVPN notes that office and school networks often route traffic through a proxy, which Netflix will block.
• Your router. Netflix’s own steps mention a VPN set up on the network, so check whether your router has a VPN client or a Smart DNS service configured.

Turn off whatever you find, restart the Netflix app, and try again. If you’re not sure how to disable a particular VPN, Netflix says you’ll need to ask the VPN provider, because its own support team can’t walk you through every service.

Step 3: If you’re not using a VPN at all

Getting the error on a plain home connection is less common but does happen. Work through these in order, and test Netflix after each one:

1. Restart your router. NordVPN suggests unplugging it for about 30 seconds and plugging it back in. That can give you a different IP address if your ISP assigns them dynamically.
2. Clear Netflix’s stored data. In a browser, clear the cache and cookies. In an app, Surfshark suggests deleting and reinstalling the Netflix app.
3. Check DNS settings. NordVPN says incorrect or conflicting DNS settings can confuse Netflix’s location check. If you set a custom DNS on a smart TV or streaming stick, try switching it back to automatic.
4. Try another network or device. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or open Netflix on another device. If one device works, the problem is a setting on the other one.
5. Reset network settings. Netflix’s next steps are to reset the network settings on the device with the issue, then restore your modem or router to its default settings. You may need help from the device maker or your ISP for these.

If none of that works, Netflix says to contact your ISP. Before you call, run fast.com again and note both the Client country and your IP address. The ISP should confirm that both match the location and address assigned to your home. If they match, Netflix says the ISP needs to contact Netflix directly. If they don’t, ask the ISP whether your connection uses its own DNS servers and, if not, how to switch back. NordVPN adds that some ISPs share one public IP between many customers (carrier-grade NAT), so an address can be flagged because of someone else. Asking about that, or about a static IP, is reasonable.

Step 4: If you use a VPN on purpose

Netflix’s official fix is simple: turn the VPN off and try again. Before you troubleshoot further, check your plan. If you’re on an ad-supported plan, or trying to watch a Live event, Netflix says VPNs aren’t supported, so no server change will help.

If you keep a VPN on for privacy, for example on public Wi-Fi, and the error appears while you’re in your home country, VPN providers’ support pages suggest these steps:

• Use a server in your own country. Your account’s catalog is tied to the country where you signed up, so a nearby server in that country is the least likely to confuse things. NordVPN says Netflix blocks IP addresses, not accounts, so a different server in the same country may work when the first doesn’t. Surfshark also suggests trying a few servers.
• Run a DNS leak test. Surfshark says the proxy error can be triggered by a DNS leak, where your DNS requests go outside the VPN. Our VPN leak test guide shows how to check for DNS, IPv6 and WebRTC leaks.
• Clear the cache or reinstall the app, as Surfshark suggests, so Netflix isn’t working from stale session data.
• Restart the device. For smart TVs and game consoles, Surfshark suggests unplugging the device for several minutes. On a Fire TV Stick, our Fire TV VPN guide covers app setup and common fixes.
• Try the website instead of the app, another Surfshark suggestion, since they keep separate session data.
• Try another profile. Surfshark says Netflix can save the VPN detection to the specific profile you were using. If a different profile on the same account works, the flag on the first one should clear by itself within 24 to 48 hours, according to Surfshark.

If you want split tunneling so Netflix skips the VPN while everything else stays protected, the same approach we describe in our guide to VPNs blocking banking apps applies: exclude the Netflix app where your VPN allows it. And if you’re comparing providers for streaming at all, read our best VPN for streaming guide first. It explains why no VPN can guarantee Netflix access.

Related Netflix errors that aren’t the proxy error

Two other location errors often get confused with E106. Netflix’s E103 help page covers E103, “This title is not available in your current region,” which means Netflix can’t work out which country you’re in. Netflix’s fixes are to turn off a VPN if one is active, or, if you’ve recently traveled or moved, to sign out and back in. When you travel, Netflix’s travel help page says the catalog, downloads and even maturity ratings follow the country you’re in, so a missing title abroad isn’t an error at all.

FAQ

What does Netflix error E106 mean?
It’s Netflix’s code for ‘You seem to be using a VPN or proxy.’ Netflix thinks your connection looks like it comes from somewhere other than your physical location and won’t play the title until you turn off the VPN or proxy.

Is M7111-5059 the same as E106?
They show the same VPN-or-proxy message. M7111-5059 is the older code people see in web browsers, and Surfshark says the same fixes apply to both.

Why does Netflix say I’m using a VPN when I’m not?
Common causes are a VPN built into antivirus software, a browser extension or proxy setting, a work or school network that uses a proxy, custom DNS settings, or an IP address shared with or previously used by others. Netflix’s fast.com check shows which country your connection appears to be in.

Will Netflix ban my account for the proxy error?
Netflix’s help pages describe the error as a playback block and tell you to turn off the VPN or proxy. They don’t describe account bans for it, and NordVPN says the error doesn’t mean you’re banned.

Does a VPN work with Netflix on an ad-supported plan?
No. Netflix says VPNs aren’t supported on its ad-supported experience or for Live events, so turning the VPN off is the only fix there.

How long does a profile-specific proxy flag last?
Surfshark says Netflix can tie the detection to one profile, and that the flag should clear automatically within 24 to 48 hours. Netflix doesn’t publish a timeframe.

Related guides: Best VPN for streaming · VPN on Fire TV Stick · VPN blocking your banking app · How to check whether your VPN leaks