Chromecast: Youtube yes, Netflix no

[gagarin700]

Hi All,

I received my CC 2 days ago and have only one problem with it - it doesn't play Netflix movies.
Youtube is flawless, works great, I can even share my Chrome browser screen but when I use my Netflix app on my tablet ot phone or do it in a browser (same for all devices) and click the 'cast' icon I get the red screen on TV with a Netflix logo and an ever rotating "loading" circle... and that's it. So seems like it starts the process but nothing happens.

Anyone having an idea? This really drives me crazy. Knowing that Youtube works (so shouldn't be a connection problem) but YT is what I'm not really interested in.

Cheers!

 

[johna2u]

Netflix app works fine with my Chromecast. Try clearing the cache or cache and data on the netflix app. The trouble could be on the Netflix side.

 

[April920]

Same here I have no problem with the Netflix app on my Chromecast

Sent from my T-Mobile HTC One

 

[mzanette]

Hi All,

I received my CC 2 days ago and have only one problem with it - it doesn't play Netflix movies.
Youtube is flawless, works great, I can even share my Chrome browser screen but when I use my Netflix app on my tablet ot phone or do it in a browser (same for all devices) and click the 'cast' icon I get the red screen on TV with a Netflix logo and an ever rotating "loading" circle... and that's it. So seems like it starts the process but nothing happens.

Anyone having an idea? This really drives me crazy. Knowing that Youtube works (so shouldn't be a connection problem) but YT is what I'm not really interested in.

Cheers!

Are you using some sort of IP tunneler/VPN settings to change your netflix region on your phone/tablet? The Chromecast DNS servers are built in to Google's 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4. so it'll always use those to look up content for the chromecast (and decide which region you should be getting).

 

[gagarin700]

Thanks for all the hints!
Cleaning the cache - well, the same sympthome on all the devices (phone, tablet and notebook) so that cannot be the problem IMO.

>Are you using some sort of IP tunneler/VPN settings to change your netflix region on your phone/tablet?
mzanette - that is the case actually! I'm using some strange stuff in order to let the beast work in my region. But why Netflix only and not the others?

>The Chromecast DNS servers are built in to Google's 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4. so it'll always use those to look up content for the chromecast (and decide which region you should be getting).
Oooh... understanding this is beyond my tech skills
Is there a cure for this problem?

Thanks!

 

[mzanette]

Thanks for all the hints!
Cleaning the cache - well, the same sympthome on all the devices (phone, tablet and notebook) so that cannot be the problem IMO.

>Are you using some sort of IP tunneler/VPN settings to change your netflix region on your phone/tablet?
mzanette - that is the case actually! I'm using some strange stuff in order to let the beast work in my region. But why Netflix only and not the others?

>The Chromecast DNS servers are built in to Google's 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4. so it'll always use those to look up content for the chromecast (and decide which region you should be getting).
Oooh... understanding this is beyond my tech skills
Is there a cure for this problem?

Thanks!

This is the issue then. The way Netflix works on your Chromecast is, the phone or tablet is actually searching for you. So for example, let's say you search for a show that's only available in the U.S....you find that show on your phone, and you tell Chromecast : "ok, go and stream this show for me.". Chromecast, because it's using the Google DNS servers, knows that your region ISN'T the U.S., so when it tries to look up said show, it'll say "sorry, not available in your country" and won't stream it. What I'm saying is, both the phone and the Chromecast have to be using the same Netflix region in order for it to work. Youtube works because it doesn't have that region limitation built into the videos.

There IS a way around it, to get the Chromecast to bypass the Google DNS servers, but you need to use some IPTables routing rules with your router, normally done by using a custom router firmware like Tomato or DD-WRT. If you want Netflix to work right out of the box, take off that fancy "strange stuff" you mentioned to get Netflix working in your region. You'll only get the Netflix content for your region in that case.

Hope I explained this well enough.

 

[gagarin700]

Hi mzanette,

thanks for the thorough answer! Frankly speaking I don't understand all but that's not your fault but the lack of my tech knowledge

> Chromecast, because it's using the Google DNS servers, knows that your region ISN'T the U.S., so when it tries to look up said show, it'll >say "sorry, not available in your country" and won't stream it.

What really happens is, after starting a movie my phone (or whatever else) says "Streaming on XY", the red screen with Netflix logo appears on TV, the loading circle works and that's it. No messages, nothing telling me "not available in your region". I also get the Netflix screen "Play shows on your TV using phone, tablet or PC' but that's it.

> If you want Netflix to work right out of the box, take off that fancy "strange stuff" you mentioned to get Netflix working in your region. You'll >only get the Netflix content for your region in that case.

Well, in fact Netflix is not present in my country at all so I'm not getting anything here without the VPN magic (actually 'Hola' on mobile and Mediahint add-on on Chrome desktop version).

So basically, if I understood well, Chromecast is re-checking the region so it doesn't matter what my source (tablet, netbook) say?
If this is the case the only way watching the shows is connecting the notebook's HDMI with the TV
(Or figure out what "bypass the Google DNS servers, but you need to use some IPTables routing rules with your router, normally done by using a custom router firmware like Tomato or DD-WRT" means since as of now it's all Chinese to me

Thanks again!

 

[mzanette]

Hi mzanette,

thanks for the thorough answer! Frankly speaking I don't understand all but that's not your fault but the lack of my tech knowledge

> Chromecast, because it's using the Google DNS servers, knows that your region ISN'T the U.S., so when it tries to look up said show, it'll >say "sorry, not available in your country" and won't stream it.

What really happens is, after starting a movie my phone (or whatever else) says "Streaming on XY", the red screen with Netflix logo appears on TV, the loading circle works and that's it. No messages, nothing telling me "not available in your region". I also get the Netflix screen "Play shows on your TV using phone, tablet or PC' but that's it.

> If you want Netflix to work right out of the box, take off that fancy "strange stuff" you mentioned to get Netflix working in your region. You'll >only get the Netflix content for your region in that case.

Well, in fact Netflix is not present in my country at all so I'm not getting anything here without the VPN magic (actually 'Hola' on mobile and Mediahint add-on on Chrome desktop version).

So basically, if I understood well, Chromecast is re-checking the region so it doesn't matter what my source (tablet, netbook) say?
If this is the case the only way watching the shows is connecting the notebook's HDMI with the TV
(Or figure out what "bypass the Google DNS servers, but you need to use some IPTables routing rules with your router, normally done by using a custom router firmware like Tomato or DD-WRT" means since as of now it's all Chinese to me

Thanks again!

The fact that Netflix isn't available in your region at all would be a huge stumbling block for you. Like I said it IS possible to get the Chromecast to do it, but you would have to be fairly technical to set up your router to allow it. If you have any friends that know how to do this I'm sure they can hook you up.

 

[gagarin700]

Okey, thanks again for your inputs!
I think I'll use simple cable HDMI connection for now then will ask an IT guru friend to do some magic with my router.
Cheers!

 

[Gabriel Hamdan]

Sry but that has no sense...

Im having the exact same issue that people above... And the strange thing is that it simply was working fine...
It just stopped to work from nowhere... lol...

ANother funny fact... my CC is configured to Sao Paulo Brazil, Locale is deactivated... And My phone is the same way....

Please help us:'(

 

[nardaz]

yeah that answer really doesn't make any sense at all and actually isn't the case bc it would tell you, not available in your country. I am having the same issue when mine was working fine fir about two weeks and im here in AZ

 

[Sherry Hays]

That answer didn't make any sense at all. I live in western NC, got my CC in Dec and it worked fine until mid March 2014. I AM in the US. YouTube works fine but when I try to go to Netflix, everything appears to be fine, Netflix comes up, goes into a round swirl says "Loading" and simply never does and finally times out. This is annoying!!!

 

[rusty502]

Actually, mzanette's answer makes perfect sense, for the OP's problem, if your CC was working, and then Netflix stopped, you have another issue, clear Netflix cache on your device, reboot router, reboot CC.

 

[V Wilson]

Having the same issue here Sherry and no clue how to fix it!

 

[Ankit Maheshwari2]

So I had this issue. And doing the following has consistently fixed it for me.

1. Check your plan is it 4 screen UHD?

2. Are you sharing your netflix ID with someone?

3. Switch to 2 screen Standard HD plan. This works 99% of the time.

4. Switch to a different ID and don't share it with anyone. This work the other .99% of the time.

Cheers!