How To Watch Friends in the US, UK, and Canada on Netflix

Are you itching for another Friends binge rewatch?

The iconic series was removed from Netflix in the US and Canada in 2020. It’s still holding up in the UK, though.

So, how can you still watch it on Netflix if you’re from the US or Canada?

In this article, we explain how to watch Friends in the US, UK, and Canada on Netflix, where it's available, and the best VPNs you can use to bypass Netflix’s geo-restriction to stream the series.

Let’s dive in.

How To Watch Friends on Netflix in 2022

Netflix regularly introduces new content to its ever-growing library of Netflix original movies and shows.

But it also hosts content that it doesn’t own. This means the company has to renegotiate contracts with networks, studios, and production companies to stream their media. When these deals fall through, your favorite TV show gets the boot.

That’s exactly what happened to Friends in the US– where nearly 50% of people prefer Netflix over any other streaming platform– in Canada and other countries.

But the TV series isn’t completely gone from the platform; All you need is the right VPN to make Netflix believe you’re accessing its content from elsewhere. 

Here’s how that works.

Every time you access Netflix, the site looks at your IP address to determine your location. 

Based on that, it shows you content that’s licensed to stream in your country. So, if you’re from the US, you’ll be offered the US library — which sadly doesn’t have Friends.

VPNs mask your real IP address and give you another one from its servers in different countries to make it look like you’re connected from that location. This essentially helps you bypass Netflix’s geo-restrictions – and watch Friends.

You can find more detailed instructions on how to unblock Netflix with a VPN here.

In What Country Is Friends On Netflix Available?

Here’s a list of Friends Netflix countries:

• The UK
• Australia
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Switzerland
• Israel
• Turkey
• Greece
• Belgium
• India
• Hong Kong
• The Philippines
• Malaysia
• Japan
• Singapore
• Thailand
• South Korea
• Lithuania
• Ukraine
• Russia
• South Africa.

Tip: The location of the server directly affects the speed of your connection. That’s why when choosing a server, you should look for the one closest to your location.

Is Friends available on any other platforms?

You can also stream Friends on other networks, including:

• HBO Max in the US.
• Amazon Prime Video in the UK.
• Crave in Canada.

Which VPNs Have More Servers in Those Countries?

If you’re looking to unblock geo-restricted content on Netflix (or any other streaming platform), you’ll need to find a VPN that has a lot of server locations.

As tempting as free services sound, they probably won’t work on Netflix – the company constantly keeps an eye out for connections with IP addresses that are known to belong to VPNs and DNS server location mismatches. 

The top paid VPN services know how to effectively jump Netflix’s hoops.

Here are some VPNs you can use to watch Friends on Netflix.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN services for a reason. It has worldwide coverage with 3000+ servers in 94 countries. 

The VPN unblocks all major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. What’s more, it’s consistently speedy, even when connecting to the farthest corners of the world. 

It supports up to five devices and works on:

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• Android
• iOS
• FireStick
• Android TV
• Roku
• Xbox
• PS4

The only downside is that, when compared to competitors, ExpressVPN is rather pricey.

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN services thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol. It has 5000+ servers in 62 countries and unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and even the notoriously tricky BBC iPlayer. 

The VPN allows six simultaneous connections and works on:

• Android
• iOS
• Amazon Fire
• Chromecast
• Roku
• Apple TV
• Xbox
• Playstation.

NordVPN also prioritizes security: It uses 256-bit encryption, and it’s DNS leak-proof. Its only disadvantage is that it’s not as user-friendly as other VPNs.

Surfshark

Surfshark is another top-notch VPN for streaming. It has 3200+ servers in 99 countries and can unlock Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and YouTube– and let you stream Friends on the Netflix platform.

Unlike most of its competitors, it does not limit the number of devices that can connect to it, which makes it an excellent choice for bigger households.

The app works on:

• Android
• iOS
• Chromecast
• Apple TV
• Roku
• Xbox
• PlayStation. 

On top of that, SUrfshark has an intuitive UI, offers military-grade encryption and uses RAM-only servers (which means it will automatically wipe all data when you switch it off).

That said, this VPN is a bit slower than its pricier contenders.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN has a free version (yay!), but it works its magic on Netflix only for paying customers. It can also work on BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. 

This open-source service has 1700+ servers in 64 countries, which means less coverage than other VPNs. On the plus side, the VPN has a strict “no logs” policy and does not sell your data to any third-party companies.

It supports up to ten devices and works on:

• Android
• iOS
• Windows
• macOS
• Linux
• AndroidTV
• Chromebook

Bottom Line

If you live in the US or Canada, you can still watch Friends on the popular streaming platform with a VPN that can go around Netflix’s geo-restriction. The TV series is no longer available there (so you won’t be able to see it if you connect to US or Canada servers), but you can still watch it on the UK and other servers.