Whether you are a resident of Portugal or you are going to be taking a vacation there, you will both have the same problem. You cannot access the United States version of Netflix. This is a shame, as only America gets access to the full catalog of content. This might leave you wondering how to watch American (US) Netflix in Portugal.
Luckily, we know a solution to the problem and this is to sign up with a VPN and connect to a server in the USA.
Yes, this is the way to gain access to the entire catalog offered by the streaming platform. Even better is the fact that it is simple to do as we are going to show you how.
Why Can’t Everyone Watch US Netflix?
The streaming platform is available in numerous countries around the world. The big question is – why are there different versions of content on the platform?
Well, it is all down to licensing restrictions. Networks and movie studios spend many millions on making TV series and movies and they only want to show them in certain countries. To make sure of this they license the content so it is only shown in the United States.
Overcome licensing restrictions with ExpressVPN >
Every country has a range of IP addresses and if the address of your device is not one from the states, the content you can watch is limited. So, how is it possible to watch American (US) Netflix in Portugal and access the full catalog of content?
Providers offer VPN services that allow you to connect to a US-based server. This provides you with an IP address in the states. When the site picks up your IP address when you visit it, it believes you are located within the United States of America and all of the US-intended content is unlocked.
How to Watch American (US) Netflix in Portugal
You now know why content is blocked and how to overcome this block. Now, we will show you the exact steps needed to do just that.
First, you need to choose a VPN provider and one that is superb for overcoming the geo-restrictions and streaming content in HD is ExpressVPN. However, other providers for overcoming restrictions include CyberGhost and NordVPN.
There are many reasons to choose ExpressVPN, including:
- They offer 3,000+ super-fast servers, with many in the USA.
- Servers are optimized for reliability and speed.
- They offer a huge range of apps for streaming on different devices.
- If you pay for 12 months, you get three months free and save 49%.
- All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost and NordVPN also have numerous servers with fast speeds and apps for a range of devices. All VPN providers offer plans that can be paid monthly or yearly.
However, the biggest savings are found on the yearly plans.
So choose your plan and sign up with your choice of provider.
Download apps
Your next decision is which apps to install. Providers offer apps and software for a wide range of devices and you are not limited. When subscribing to ExpressVPN, you can also share it with up to five family members at the same time.
With CyberGhost, the limit is seven and with NordVPN, the limit is six.
Once downloaded, you should install them onto your devices. Next, open up the app and sign in using the credentials created at the point of signing up for the plan.
Again, in our example screenshot below, we chose ExpressVPN but the process with CyberGhost, NordVPN, or any other provider will be similar.
When the installation is completed, you can find the icon left by the installation on your device. Click on it to open the app.
This is going to open up what is referred to as the dashboard of the VPN app. This is the part of the app that you will be using the most.
We chose ExpressVPN for this example but the apps of other providers should be very similar. When the dashboard first opens up, the large “button” will be ringed in red and this signifies that you are not connected to one of the VPN servers.
Connect to a US server with ExpressVPN>
Connect to a server
To connect, you need to click to the right of the server name on the icon and a dropdown box will appear. This is where you get to choose a server from the thousands of servers offered. In this case, you want the answer to how to watch American (US) Netflix in Portugal, so you have to choose a US-based server.
Choose the server, and then click on the button. The button should now be highlighted in green as shown in the screenshot below. It should also say, “Connected” under the button.
Your own IP address is now masked and has been swapped for one in the United States thanks to you having connected to the server.
You can now open up the streaming portal in your web browser or use the app. If all has gone well, you should have access to the full content offered in the United States.
Use ExpressVPN to access full US Netflix catalog >
Bear in mind that while a VPN is a great tool of choice to answer the question of how to watch American (US) Netflix in Portugal, it also offers many additional benefits.
These are all benefits that you can use on a day-to-day basis whether at home or abroad.
To find the best VPNs for Netflix, go visit this link: https://the-bestvpn.com/best-vpn-for-netflix/
A professional writer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since his youngest age, he loves everything related to internet, technology, fitness, games, and dogs! He joined our team in order to bring his deep knowledge in security services, among which VPN is of course a key component.
