Netflix not working? Not sure if Netflix is broken? Here's how to find out!
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Netflix is an amazing service. If you're a "cord cutter" (see Television Cord Cutting) then it's like the 8th Wonder of the World and sort of your lifeline to the outside world of video entertainment. If Netflix stops working it can feel like you've just been stranded on an island without food and water. Yes, real first world problems we have.
So if Netflix stops working you really need to first know what the problem is. Is Netflix really dead or is there an issue with your Internet connection. As it turns out, there are solutions out there to help you figure that out easily.
Check Your Internet Connection
We've actually covered how to do this in our Netflix Launches Fast.com Speed Tester article but it's as simple as pointing your web browser (on your laptop, phone, or even TV browser) to Fast.com and waiting a few seconds. If you get a screen like the photo above then you've got an internet connection. Ideally you'll have at least couple dozen Mbps worth of download speed, anything less and you may have a low quality video stream.
Fast.com is great for getting a very quick, but not-so-accurate measurement. If you want accuracy there are far better speed testing options out there. One of the best is the SpeakEasy Speed Test, but you can also simply Google the word speedtest and Google actually offers one as well.
If you get slow speed test results or those websites won't even load, then you have an issue with your Internet connection in general. Try resetting your cable modem, WiFi router, and computers and try again. If it still doesn't work it's time for a call to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Check Netflix Status
If you're Internet is good and you can't connect to Netflix it's time to see if Netflix is having issues. There are a zillion (give or take) sites that offer this type of service. My favorites are DownDetector.com which even offers a handy Map View of places where Netflix is down, Outage.Report, and even the @NetflixHelps Twitter account in cases of a major outage.
If these sites aren't reporting a problem it's time to visit the Netflix Help Center and then to contact Netflix directly for help if needed.
If you're a Netflix fan like we are, you may also be interested in reading How To Stream Netflix In 4K Resolution, Best Netflix Shows You've Never Seen, and Roku 3 Streaming Device Review.
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