It’s worth noting that if you side-load the older version instead of using the up-to-date one, you must disable the auto-updates for it.
#Use netflix with astrill in china android
So, if you can uninstall the Netflix app on your Android TV, do so and side-load version 5.4.1.
#Use netflix with astrill in china for android
I’ve tested with the Netflix app for Android TV only, and it seems that the hard-coded Google DNS servers have been added in versions newer than 5.4.1. Rolling back the streaming app to an older version A simple solution to a complicated problem. If the DNS servers are not reachable when the streaming app tries to use them, it will fall-back to the “working” DNS servers, such as those provided by the VPN service or the Smart DNS. This will make both 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 unreachable. Preferably both UDP and TCP traffic should be blocked, port 53 or any port.īlack hole routes: This might be even easier than firewall blocking, check on the router if it supports static routes and add two, for both 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 via the gateway 0.0.0.0. This seems to be the easiest fix, as long as you have a decent router which supports either firewall rules or adding static routes.įirewall blocking: If your router has a firewall, add two rules to block all traffic to the IP addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. The solutions Blocking Google DNS on router If it works, proceed to the solutions to make it work on your Android TV. Use the service on computer/Mac and check it on your browser. That’s a behavior similar to what is called “DNS leaks”.īefore you start, make sure that the service you’re using is actually unblocking Netflix and the other streaming services. Normally, it shouldn’t be a problem if the VPN service takes care of blocking or overwriting such DNS requests going to Google DNS, but what makes it even more interesting is that the specific DNS requests to Google DNS are by-passing the VPN connection. The problem is that streaming apps like Netflix have hard-coded DNS servers from Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and they are being used to resolve the streaming hostnames.
I was obviously not the first to face this problem so I’ve made a bit of research and gathered some working solutions. Yet on the Android TV device, I was getting the infamous proxy/unblocker detected error. The interesting part is that using the same VPN or Smart DNS service, the streaming was working fine on PC’s browser. The VPN connection being set directly on the Android TV using the VPN provider’s VPN app, the DNS servers from the Smart DNS service also set statically on the device. The tests were focused on streaming capabilities on Netflix, Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer when connected to a VPN, but also by using a Smart DNS service. Recently I’ve tested a few Android TV devices: Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV Stick and a no-name TV box running Android TV.