Netflix Hit by Widespread Global Outage, Millions Face Streaming Disruptions
Reported by Yelena Mandenberg, April 24, 2025, 18:58 ET
Global streaming giant Netflix is currently experiencing a significant service outage, leaving millions of subscribers around the world unable to access content, according to user reports and data from outage tracking website DownDetector.
The issues, which reportedly began around 2:00 PM EST, are manifesting for many users as the error code tvq-rnd-100 when attempting to log in or stream shows and movies. DownDetector data shows a sharp spike in reported problems, confirming the widespread nature of the disruption.
Impacted Regions Span the Globe
While the outage appears global, service interruptions are heavily concentrated in several major U.S. metropolitan areas, including:
- Boston
- New York
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Los Angeles
Beyond the United States, subscribers in numerous other countries are also reporting difficulties. Significant reports are emerging from the UK, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Dubai, and dozens of other nations, indicating a truly international technical fault.
Error Code tvq-rnd-100 and User Frustrations Mount
Netflix's own support documentation suggests that the error code tvq-rnd-100 typically points to a network connectivity problem preventing the user's device from reaching Netflix servers. Users often see accompanying messages like "Netflix has encountered an error" or "Retrying in [X] seconds."
Frustrations are boiling over online, particularly as the outage coincided with the premiere of a new season for the popular Netflix series "You." Many users took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment.
"Anyone else's Netflix down? I wanted to watch You," one user posted. Another shared, "My Netflix is down and I was in the middle of my episode of You."
Reports varied, with one user noting profile mismatches appearing before being kicked off the service entirely on multiple devices (iPad and Firestick). Another user, posting on a forum, mentioned contacting Netflix support and being told it was a "new problem" that the company was actively working to resolve. High wait times for customer service chat were also reported.
Interestingly, one user shared a potential, albeit anecdotal, workaround: "My problem was solved after changing the profile name." However, the effectiveness of this fix isn't widely confirmed.
Users are facing a clear disruption, a challenge testing the patience of many looking for entertainment. Overcoming challenges with a resilient mindset might be necessary while waiting for a fix.
Netflix Acknowledges Issues, Suggests Troubleshooting
Netflix has officially acknowledged the situation, stating: "While the service is not down in all countries, user reports indicate that some users in certain regions may be experiencing issues."
The company advises affected customers to attempt standard troubleshooting steps which might help overcome these technical obstacles:
- Rebooting the affected device (Smart TV, streaming stick, console, computer, etc.)
- Resetting the home network (modem and router)
- Logging out of Netflix and then logging back in
Context: Other Recent Tech Disruptions
Service outages for major online platforms are not uncommon. DownDetector also registered significant issues impacting OpenAI, particularly ChatGPT, starting around 3 PM EST and peaking by 6 PM EST on the same day. Additionally, grocery delivery app Instacart reportedly experienced glitches primarily affecting the shopper side of its platform across the U.S.
As of the time of this report, Netflix continues to work on resolving the widespread streaming issues impacting its global user base, who hope to soon unlock their full potential for binge-watching.
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