Shameless (U.S.) is an excellent adaptation of the original UK series. With amazing acting, a great soundtrack, and writing that keeps you glued to the screen, it’s no wonder the show got so many awards. And best of all – it’s available on Netflix, one of the best streaming platforms on the web!
Well, we say “available on Netflix,” but that’s not 100% true. Unfortunately, you can’t watch Shameless (U.S.) on Netflix anywhere you want. It’s only available in specific countries – the US, the UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia.
How do we know that?
It’s simple – we used StreamCatcher from ProPrivacy. It’s a simple online tool that lets you check Netflix libraries all across the globe.
Okay, so what’s your next move if Shameless (U.S.) isn’t available on your country’s Netflix library? See what other streaming sites or TV networks are broadcasting it?
No need to go that far – we’ll show you how to easily unblock Shameless (U.S.) and any other shows or movies you want in this article.
How Can You Unblock Shameless (U.S.) on Netflix?
Don’t worry – you don’t need to do anything too complicated. You actually have three pretty simple unblocking options at your disposal:
1. Use a VPN
VPNs are online tools that hide your IP address and encrypt your Internet traffic. That probably doesn’t say much, though, so here’s a quick look at how they help you unblock Shameless (U.S.) on Netflix:
- You use a VPN app to connect to a VPN server. The server should be in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, or Japan since that’s where Shameless (U.S.) is available.
- The two establish a secure connection between them.
- When you visit Netflix connected to the VPN server, the site will think your connection requests are coming from it.
- Because connection requests contain IP addresses, Netflix will only see the VPN server’s IP address. Your IP remains “hidden.”
All in all, you’ll be able to unblock any show you want on Netflix with just a few clicks or taps. Just make sure you pick a VPN that can actually unblock the platform. Don’t forget – Netflix is actually pretty good at detecting and blocking VPN IP addresses. If that happens to you, you’ll see the Netflix proxy error instead of Shameless (U.S.).
With so many VPNs on the market, finding the right one can be tough. The good news is Stream Catcher from Pro Privacy can make everything simple for you. When you use it to look up Netflix libraries all across the globe, the tool will automatically recommend the best Netflix VPNs to use.
2. Use a Proxy
A proxy is a server you use to hide your IP address from Netflix. It’s basically a middleman between you and the site since it intercepts and forwards your requests to it. So it basically does the same thing as a VPN – except it doesn’t offer powerful encryption.
A big difference between proxies and VPNs is that proxies can save web pages to their local cache. If you happen to request a Shameless (U.S.) web page that’s on the cache, the proxy can retrieve it without forwarding your requests to Netflix. What that means for you is that you’ll get faster load times. Of course, there’s also the risk that the proxy might deliver outdated content.
If you really want to use a proxy, stick to paid ones. Free proxies can’t really unblock Netflix. The site is able to block them very efficiently. Also, they’re usually very slow.
3. Use a Smart DNS
This is an online service that hides your geo-location by editing your device’s DNS settings and routing your traffic through different proxy servers.
Besides that, a Smart DNS also intercepts your DNS queries to Netflix. When it does that, it removes data that leaks your geo-location, and replaces it with information that points to a whitelisted location (the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, or Japan in this case).
Smart DNS services don’t offer encryption, so they don’t offer any privacy. On the plus side, that means you get to enjoy really fast speeds.
Which Unblocking Method Is the Best?
It’s hard to say because it all depends on your preferences, really.
But in our opinion, VPNs are the best option. Here’s why:
- Since they encrypt your traffic end-to-end, they stop ISPs from throttling your bandwidth (can be a problem when you binge Netflix too much).
- On top of helping you unblock streaming content, VPNs keep you safe from aggressive ads.
- Some providers have servers that double as proxies, and many others offer Smart DNS services too. With that kind of VPN, you get a three-in-one deal for just one subscription.
Why Isn’t Shameless (U.S.) Available on All Netflix Libraries?
Because Netflix doesn’t own the show. They just bought the right to stream it in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
In other countries, the copyright holder probably sold the licensing rights to other streaming sites and local TV networks. It’s more profitable for them than just selling all the rights to Netflix. Plus, they’d probably ask for an absurdly huge price if they were to do that anyway.
So Netflix can’t legally stream Shameless (U.S.) in other countries. If they were to do that, they’d butt heads with the sites or networks that bought the distribution rights. If that happened, Netflix wouldn’t just get some angry letters. They could actually get sued!
To avoid that, Netflix uses geo-blocking to make sure only users in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan can watch Shameless (U.S.) on their platform.
What does that mean?
That the site checks what your geo-location is when you visit it. It then uses that information to redirect you to your country’s Netflix library.
Did You Ever Have to Unblock Shameless (U.S.) on Netflix?
Or any other shows for that matter. If you did, what unblocking tools did you use? Were you able to unblock the content the first time you tried? Do you have any useful tips you’d like to share?
Please tell us your story in the comments below or on social media.
