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Level 1

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Netflix: "Unable to reach netflix.com"

I have a two Wifi only Ipads, 16GB. I have successfully watched several Movies and TV shows on the Netflix app. But sometime in the last few weeks the Netflix App has all but become useless. I am able to launch the app and browse, edit and add things to my queue. But when I click on the Play button it takes me to the "You're almost ready to watch" screen and tries to load the movie for a few seconds and then I get an alert: "Unable to reach netflix.com" and stops there. The movie never starts. I know that the app itself has been updated but I am 90% sure that I was able to watch things after the latest update. I have deleted and reinstalled the app, restored my Ipad back to defaults, tried on at least three different ISP's and have tried the same Netflix account on my second Wfi Ipad, and have tried my parents account on either Ipad with it never working

I have called Netflix, and they had me try a few of the same steps, with no success again. Now according to them "we have hit a brick wall, and Apple must have some security settings" that won't allow the Ipad to authorize to Netflix. Apparently it never shows up as an authorized device like my PC or my Xbox 360, both of which work flawlessly on the same internet connection.

I was directed by Netflix to contact Apple, which I tried and setup a return call. But when I got called back the next day I was understandably put on hold for a few minutes, but after ten minutes or so on hold it seemed like I was transferred and line rang and rang and rang literally for another ten minute before I hung up. Before I try setting up another "call back" any bright ideas?

Thanks!

Windows 7

Posted on Jun 25, 2010 9:11 PM

36 replies

CoachDJS

Level 1

0 points

Jul 7, 2010 10:14 PM in response to jedirulez

I have the same problem. However, I can't get mine to work anywhere. I run an airport extreme and airport express at home and can't connect. At work I have an enterprise hp system that is top of the line and it still doesn't work. And like others it once worked and just stopped. Was one of the reasons I got the iPad and now it won't work. Oh well, maybe I'll read a good book or watch something on ABC.

sohogirl

Level 1

116 points

Jul 8, 2010 12:55 AM in response to jedirulez

Did you try running a firmware update on your router? Since it works on some routers and not on others...You may have to setup the router again from scratch, run a firmware update and troubleshoot from there. What I hate about issues like this is that they come out of no where and have no logical reason for not working. If I had that issue, I would start with running firmware update, then setting up my router from scratch.

Whatever the solution, I hope it gets resolved soon and please post resolution here.

Good luck!

SG

Jul 9, 2010 3:03 PM in response to sohogirl

No firmware update on my dlink router, but did hard reset the router and started from scratch : NO GO ! this is so incredibly wierd.

Waymen

Level 5

5,722 points

Jul 10, 2010 12:05 AM in response to jedirulez

I've not had any problems with a Belkin-G basestation attached to my first generation Airport Extreme (Belkin provides G-only, Airport Extreme is setup for 5GHz N-only). The Netflix iPad app has also worked through a WiFi-enabled DSL modem provided by AT&T (although DSL speeds can be a bit slow for streaming video).

Jul 11, 2010 8:15 AM in response to jedirulez

I had the same issues. After a "hard" reboot of the iPad (hold the power/lock button), it worked! (16GB iPad and Linksys WRT54G router)

Message was edited by: fjsdofnsjgv

jedirulez Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 4, 2010 12:06 PM in response to fjsdofnsjgv

I have found a solution for this problem, at least it works for me 100% of the time and it is 100% reproducible. I went into my router and changed the DNS to use OpenDNS and it works flawlessly.
This solves the problem on both my Ipad and the new versions for the Iphone/Ipod Touch. Since the new version of the App was released recently for the Iphone I no longer got the "Unable to reach Netflix.com" error, it just flat out wouldn't play the movie. Changing my DNS has fixed this completely. I have no idea what could be going on with my provider's DNS, they have double and triple checked it without seeing anything that would cause it.
Like I said Netflix now works on all my iDevices (Ipad, Iphone 4, and Ipod Touch)
So if you are still having problems trying using OpenDNS, www.opendns.com

Thanks!

Sep 6, 2010 9:41 PM in response to jedirulez

How do you change the router DNS to openDNS ? Thanks.

Grimzly

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2010 11:59 AM in response to jedirulez

I think this thread might be helpful to some.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=77831&postdays=0&postorder=asc&star t=0

Someone mentions "Netflix is poorly configured and the router was detecting a DNS-rebind attack, recently added to both OpenWrt and DD-WRT"

I was personally affected by this and wasted 5 hours figuring it out. Downgrading my dd-wrt firmware resolved the issue.

Anyone from Apple reading this thread should contact Netflix and have them look into this DNS issue.

Grimzly

Level 1

0 points

Sep 7, 2010 12:02 PM in response to Babalooooo

Using openDNS is simply changing your primary and secondary DNS server IPs to those listed on http://www.opendns.com/

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

You can also use Google's DNS servers which are:

8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/

Sep 9, 2010 3:40 PM in response to Grimzly

Changing the DNS finally makes Netflix work . Thanks!

figleef

Level 1

15 points

May 31, 2011 3:15 PM in response to jedirulez

I found this post when I had a simiar problem with Netflix. It would say "preparing" and then my iPad 2 was unable to connect. I went through the Netflix website troubleshooting guide and it told me I needed to install Microsoft Silverlight . . .

Because Apple Support was closed (it was late at night) I decided to work on it myself. I had lent my iPad 2 (NEVER DO THIS!!!) to a friend and he was fascinated by the Netflix App.

He looked at about 5 or 6 different movies - watched maybe 5 minutes of each. So when I went into my Queue page and clicked on "Show all INSTANT activity" the top five movies had been watched for just a few minutes each. I figured that MAYBE it was trying to 'resume' all these selections.

So I clicked on each movie my friend had 'sampled' (ON MY COMPUTER, NOT ON MY iPad as I couldn't get ANYTHING to play on my iPad) and let the movie start and then use the slider bar to fast forward to the end - watching the last 15 seconds so that it would say "You have just finished watching . . . ".

I did that for EACH of the five partically viewed movies.

And it worked! I was able to go back on my iPad and watch a movie!!!!

I am just adding this one solution in case other people lend their iPad and someone goes bananas with the Netflix App. It's not a particularly scientific fix but hey, it worked!!!

Aug 10, 2012 8:30 PM in response to jedirulez

You'll probably think I'm crazy, but here is what fixed the problem for me - I found that under my preferences, the time and date were WAY off from the actual date. I reset the time and date to current and it worked fine. Hope this helps! Thanks!

Danc3r99

Level 1

4 points

May 13, 2013 1:59 PM in response to jedirulez

I have wifi ipad. Unable to play movies or programmes. Keep getting error message saying 'unable to play this movie. Please try again later'. Have been trying for months. There was one exception...one movie played right through to he last ten minutes and then I think I may have had to pause it but it would not play last ten minutes no matter what I did..even closing app and reloading. Tried resetting ipad. Reloading the app. Everything I can think of.

Incidentally had same issue with the market competitor but do not have problems with iplayer etc.

Has anyone found a solution to this yet?

figleef

Level 1

15 points

May 13, 2013 2:58 PM in response to Danc3r99

Are you in the UK? Are you trying Netflix UK or Netflix US? Do you have a pretty robust wifi connection? IF you are in the UK I read that a lot of US films/TV shows are not yet available in the UK so it might be that every thing you pick is unavailable. Try something British and see if that plays. Are you paying the monthly fee? If iPlayer works, it is likely NOT the iPad. More info please?

Danc3r99

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2013 5:46 AM in response to figleef

Thanks for taking the time to reply!!

Yes I am in UK and as far as I know it is a robust wifi connection here in the hospital...spend all my time on ipad!

I have tried a mixture of films and programmes..some British. Yes I pay monthly fee :-(

Aside from that...I am due to leave hospital soon and cannot fure out how to open the sim card tray...do you know how to do that? I don't expect to use netflix on payg sim but for general use before router set up at home

Thanks

Netflix: "Unable to reach netflix.com"