Did you know that you can watch every season of Friends on Netflix in the United States? Friends may have left Netflix in January 2020 and moved to HBO Max, but it is not completely gone. You can get ten seasons of Friends (and many other new shows) for free in 10 minutes or less! Here’s how to watch it live.
Most people are unaware that Netflix licences various shows in various countries around the world. While Friends is no longer available on Netflix in the United States, it is available in over 20 other countries around the world.
So, the question where to watch friends will get answered pretty easily through this article.
Availablity of FRIENDS on Netflix
Now the most important question arises, and that is – Is friends available on netflix or not? So the answer for this is , YES friends is available on netflix.
Where to watch friends if you are not in one of these 20 countries
All you need is a Netflix subscription and a VPN, or Virtual Private Network. For this article, I’m currently connecting to a server in Thailand via Surfshark or NordVPN to watch Friends.
The three-step procedure is as follows, which we’ll explain in more detail below:
- Step 1: Get and install a VPN service, such as Surfshark or NordVPN, that has servers in one of the countries listed above. (8 min) If you’re not tech-savvy, check out my video on how to set up a VPN.
- Step 2: Connect to the appropriate VPN server. You may need to try more than one, but it usually works on the first connection for me. (2 min)
- Step 3: Log on to Netflix and search for “Friends”. Have fun watching! (3 min)
That’s all! You could try streaming on HBO’s new HBO Max platform, but do you really want to start paying for ANOTHER streaming service?
You can use a VPN to access many different content libraries on Netflix (for example, new shows/movies) and begin binge-watching Friends episodes at any time.
Stream Friends from Anywhere on Netflix (3 Steps)
For those who want more information than the brief description above, here’s a more detailed breakdown of the three steps required to watch Friends on Netflix.
Step 1: Purchase and set up a VPN.
It’s possible you’ve never heard of a VPN before. Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be concerned about!
A virtual private network (VPN) is simply software that you install on your phone, tablet, or computer to encrypt and route your internet traffic through a specific server in a specific country. This may sound strange, but it essentially means that you can choose where you want to go on a map.
Netflix will read this “location” and then serve you content from that country that is licenced for that country.
There are hundreds of VPN services available today, but I would only recommend two for Netflix streaming:
- Surfshark (Recommended): This VPN has proven to be extremely dependable for streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. It’s even worked well for streaming Disney+ outside of the United States.
- NordVPN: I’ve been using this VPN for years to stream Netflix from anywhere in the world, and it’s always worked flawlessly.
Remember that both of these services have a monthly or annual fee, and there are many other good VPN services available besides what I’ve listed here.
I don’t mind paying because it allows me to watch Friends on Netflix while also providing me with a secure connection both at home and while using public WiFi networks.
Step 2: Connect to the Correct VPN Server
After you’ve purchased, downloaded, and installed a VPN on your computer or device, the next step is to connect to the appropriate server.
In this case, suppose you decide to look for a server in Thailand. In the screenshot below, you can see that I discovered and connected to the Thailand server on Surfshark.
As you can see, there are many servers to choose from (and many more that you could scroll down to find).
All you have to do is connect with one of them by clicking on it.
Step 3: Log into Netflix and Search for Friends
Before you log in to your Netflix account or open the app, make sure you’ve closed any browsers or apps that are currently open on your computer or mobile device. When the app restarts, this will allow it to reset your location.
After you log in to Netflix with the VPN connected, you won’t see any special notifications or indications that you’re connected in a different country.
The only difference will be the TV shows and movies available.
You’re obviously looking for Friends on Netflix, which you can browse or search for.
As long as you have a fast enough internet connection, you should have no trouble streaming the show using a VPN. It’s been amazing!
Why Is a VPN Required to Watch Netflix?
Netflix, like pretty much every other streaming service, licences shows and movies and because of this they have to restrict viewing for specific countries.
This is referred to as geo-restricted or geo-blocked content. It limits who can access content based on their geographic location. (www.sweet-factory.com)
Shouldn’t I have access to all content on a given platform as a paying customer? It only makes sense – and I believe we’re on our way to a world where geo-restrictions are no longer an issue – but for the time being, it’s a big deal.
- Amazon restricts content based on location.
- Hulu restricts content based on location.
Almost every streaming service you can think of has content restrictions.
The only way around these restrictions is to use a VPN or another technology known as SmartDNS to spoof your location. Consider it analogous to changing a car’s licence plate. The car hasn’t moved, but the licence plate now reads a different country.
Continuing with the analogy, Netflix only looks at your licence plate to determine your location.
The best VPNs for streaming content allow you to “change the licence plate,” so to speak, in addition to encrypting and securing your internet connection.
It’s simple to use and provides access to a wealth of additional content.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular belief, it is entirely possible to watch shows like Friends or Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Netflix. It requires an additional piece of security software and a few minutes to set up, but it is well worth it in the end.
Consider this: you can exchange approximately 15 minutes of work for access to over 5,000 minutes of Friends episodes! It really is that simple to change your Netflix region!
