The recommendations you get from the Netflix algorithm aren’t necessarily bad. However, they can be pretty limiting, especially if you’re trying to diversify your tastes and watch something out of your comfort zone. Or if you’re in the mood for some specific niche for movie night – say, some good old campy comedies from the 2000s.
Fortunately, it’s easy to expand your viewing catalog by using some secret codes. ExpatTech list the hidden Netflix codes in one place, for easy access. Just follow the link, copy the code you want from the list, and paste it at the end of this URL: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/
Naturally, this means you can only use the codes in the browser version of Netflix. Sorry, app users. One workaround is to use the codes on your phone browser, then manually look up something from the results list on your smart TV or console.
And there you have it. Now you won’t have to rely on the vague categories on the Netflix homepage to find something new to watch.
One more thing, though. Depending on where you live, some of these categories will show up empty. Why? Well, it’s all thanks to Netflix’s pointless geo-restrictions. To be fair, it’s not entirely their fault, as TV and movie studios are the ones forcing them into geo-locking their third-party titles.
Luckily, you can easily unblock all those shows and get more out of your Netflix subscription. Scroll on for the details.
How to Get Even More Content on Netflix
It’s quite easy to get past arbitrary geo-blocks and see more shows and movies on your favorite streaming platform. Just use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and you can change your IP address to hop over digital borders and unlock a whole new world of content.
If you weren’t aware, your IP reveals your country and city (and sometimes ZIP code) to any online service you access. By using a VPN, your true IP is masked and replaced with one from the country you’re connected to. You can then browse Netflix content exclusive to the area, or even gain access to regional streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer or Hulu.
Take the widely acclaimed comedies The Office and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The only way you can watch these shows on Netflix is if you live in the United Kingdom. Or you could just connect to a VPN server in the UK and watch them at your leisure.
Do Free VPNs Work on Netflix?
We wish that were the case, but no – they don’t. Netflix has been blocking VPN usage for years now, and the VPN ban affects free providers the most. How so? Well, they simply don’t have the funding to refresh their IP address ranges.
Mind you, Netflix also bans sub-based VPNs. However, they can stay one step ahead by constantly acquiring fresh new IPs for their subscribers.
More importantly, you don’t have to worry about the usual dangers of free VPNs. Not only do most of them sell your browsing history to advertisers and other shady third parties, but many outright contain malware that could compromise your system. Even on the off chance that a free VPN will work with Netflix, it’s probably not worth risking your livelihood over.