Hooking Up Netflix to Uverse

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Watching movies and TV shows is one of the most popular things to do online, and Netflix reigns supreme when it comes to streaming video, accounting for 36.5 percent of all peak period downstream internet traffic in 2015, according to a Sandvine report. If you have an AT&T U-verse internet connection, now called simply “AT&T Internet," you can be signed into Netflix and ready to binge-watch on your favorite devices in a matter of minutes.

Choosing How to Watch

Netflix is available on dozens of devices, including computers, smart TVs, smart phones, tablets, game consoles, Blu-ray players and streaming players. If your device can connect to the internet, either with a wired connection or via Wi-Fi, chances are you can watch Netflix on it.

If your computer or device has an Ethernet port, you can connect a Cat5e or Cat6 cable directly from your device to your modem or router so it has an active connection to your AT&T Internet service. On wireless devices, you need to connect to your home Wi-Fi network through the device’s wireless settings. Look for a network that starts with “ATT.” If you changed the name of your network from the default when you set up your router, you need to choose that name from the list of nearby networks. Enter the password you set on your wireless router. Most Wi-Fi devices prompt you to save your password and connect automatically to your home network. If you choose that option, you won’t have to manually connect to your AT&T Internet and enter your Wi-Fi password every time.

Some devices have Netflix built-in, including some smart TVs and streaming boxes or sticks. On other devices, such as smart phones and tablets, you have to download the Netflix app from Google Play, the Apple App Store or the Amazon App Store. If you’re using a computer, you can navigate to the Netflix website in your favorite internet browser to watch.

No matter what device you choose, you must have an active Netflix subscription. Once you’re in the Netflix app on your device or on the Netflix website, enter the email you used to sign up in the username field and type in your password. If you don’t currently have a Netflix subscription, you’ll see an option to sign up for a free trial or restart your subscription if you had one in the past.

Using Multiple Devices

There isn’t a limit to how many devices you can have signed into your Netflix account, so sign in on all of your devices so you can watch on any of them. Netflix does limit how many devices can stream simultaneously on a single account, however.

On the most basic streaming plan, Netflix only allows users to stream to one device at a time and only in standard definition. Two other tiers are available to allow multiple simultaneous streams: one that allows two devices at a time and allows high-definition streaming and another that allows up to four devices to watch simultaneously in HD or ultra-high definition for titles that support it.

What to Do If You’re Having Trouble With Netflix on U-Verse or AT&T Internet

Some AT&T U-verse or AT&T Internet customers have trouble connecting to Netflix on different devices, typically due to a Domain Name System (DNS) server error. DNS servers are responsible for translating the URLs you’re familiar with, like netflix.com, into the numerical IP addresses your computer or device can read to access websites and online services.

If you’re seeing any type of connection error or DNS error message when you try to connect to Netflix with your AT&T internet connection, try configuring your network settings to use Google’s public DNS server.

Google uses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for its IPv4 DNS addresses. Its IPv6 DNS addresses are 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844. Write down your current DNS address before you change it so you can easily change it back if you need to.

If you’re using Windows, open Control Panel and click on Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, then right-click on your network and choose “Properties.” If you’re using Windows Vista, you’ll see “Manage network connections” instead of “Change adapter settings.” Next, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) on the list, then click on the “Properties” button. Click on “Use the following DNS server addresses” and type in the Google public DNS server addresses for IPv4 or IPv6 depending on what you chose, then click “OK.”

On a Mac, click on the Apple menu at the top left, then choose System Preferences. Click on Network and select your connection, then click on the “Advanced” button. Click on the DNS tab at the top, then click on the plus sign to enter a new DNS server. Make sure the Google DNS servers are at the top of your list because your Mac will try them in order. You can remove your old DNS servers completely by clicking the hyphen button next to the plus sign. When you’re finished, click on “OK” and “Apply.”

If you’re watching on an iOS device, like an iPhone or iPad, tap on the Settings app icon and select Wi-Fi from the list. Tap on the “i” next to your Wi-Fi connection, then the DHCP tab and tap on the DNS entry to edit it.

On Android, you need to go into the Settings app, tap on Wi-Fi, then tap and hold your Wi-Fi network until you see a pop-up menu. Tap on “Modify Network” in that menu and change the entries under DNS1 and DNS2 to either the IPv4 or IPv6 Google addresses and tap on “Save.” If you don’t see the DNS1 and DNS2 fields after you select “Modify Network,” look for an “Advanced” option and tap on it to see them.

Every device and operating system is slightly different when it comes to where you’ll need to enter Google’s DNS addresses, but you’ll typically find the option under “Network Settings,” “Internet Settings,” “Wi-Fi,” or something similar if you’re using Netflix on a smart TV or gaming console. Some devices, such as some Roku streaming devices, don’t have an option to change the DNS in the device settings.

If you’re not sure where to find the DNS settings for your device, consult your owner’s manual, the manufacturer’s website or the company’s customer service department. You may need to change the DNS settings through the network settings on your router if your device doesn’t have the option to do so.

Connection Speeds and Data Caps

Netflix recommends having an internet connection speed of at least 3 Mb per second for standard definition, 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for UHD titles. Many U-verse/AT&T Internet packages offer these minimum speeds, but options vary depending on your geographical area. Remember that you may not get your advertised package speed at all times, especially if you’re using multiple devices at the same time or using a wireless device while you’re far away from your router.

AT&T offers a speed test on its website at speedtest.att.com. If you find you’re having a lot of issues with Netflix buffering or giving connection errors, you may want to call AT&T to see if you can upgrade your internet package to a higher speed.

Most AT&T Internet plans have a monthly data allowance of 1 TB, though you can get unlimited data with the highest plan, the Internet 1000 Mbps, but this plan isn’t available in all areas. AT&T states that most customers don’t come anywhere near reaching the monthly data limit, but it’s something to keep in mind if you do a lot of downloading or gaming in addition to streaming through Netflix.

With a monthly data allowance of 1 TB, you can stream up to 400 hours of TV (in standard definition), plus stream an additional 200 HD movies every month. All of your online activities count toward your data allowance, and you can check your usage through your online account or the myAT&T app on a mobile device. DSL and AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet customers may have lower data allowances.

If you go over your data allowance during a billing cycle, you are charged an extra fee for using more data. As of August 2017, the company allows AT&T Internet customers two chances to go over their data allowances. Starting with the third billing cycle you go over, AT&T will start charging you extra.