Best Practices: Netflix in Windows Media Center
One of the best plug-ins for Windows Media Center is Netflix Streaming. While on the surface is should be straight forward to get this plug-in working there are a few things you can do on your HTPC and your network environment to ensure that things work smoothly.
1. Use an alternate DNS provider. Ok so this one definitely isn’t intuitive. If you are having trouble even getting the Netflix (or Internet TV) to show up and let you install, you should try changing your DNS (Domain Name Server). You can do this at the PC or Router level. I use OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220) but others have had issues with those servers and Media Center Netflix. You could also try Google’s DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4). Again, some have reported similar issues there too. Another option is to go to http://dnsserverlist.org/ and there will be a list of DNS servers to try out for your location.
2. Set up Netflix in Internet Explorer:
- Start Internet Explorer
- Go to http://www.netflix.com/
- Type- “http://WWW.Netflix.com/clearcookies” into the address bar and hit enter
- In IE, go to Tools – Internet Options
- Select the “Security” tab
- Select the “Trusted” zone
- Select the “Sites” button
- Remove all references to “Netflix” sites in all boxes
- Uncheck the “Require Server Verification…” box
- In the “Add” field- type- *.netflix.com then select the “Add” button
- Click Close
- Click OK
- Try Netflix in IE
- Once you have streamed a movie for a little bit, close IE
- Now launch Media Center and try Netflix
I had my Media Center set up for months and didn’t have an issue. Then recently, after Windows 7 SP1 (Service Pack 1) and an update to Silverlight I had problem where Netflix was working until I tried to watch a movie. Closing media center and simply going to http://WWW.Netflix.com/clearcookies in Internet Explorer then, still in IE, logging on to Netflix fixed my error.
Hopefully this will help others trying to troubleshoot Netflix in Media Center.
Update 03MAR11: There is an issue with IE9 and Netflix (I wouldn’t put IE9 on my HTPC but in case someone did) MS has a fix here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2512239
