I have 3 Panasonic DMP-BDT 220 Blu-ray players and all of them stopped connecting to Netflix at the same time. The continually gave the error message “Unable to connect to Netflix. Please try again or visit www.netflix.com/tvhelp”. All of my other devices (Xbox, PC, iPhone, iPad, LG TV, Apple TV) were still able to connect to Netflix. The Panasonic Blu-ray player would still connect to all other services (Vudu, Hulu, Amazon Video, Youtube, etc.) I selected the “reset settings” option in the setup menu and the problem persisted. After about a month of frustration, and reading about others with the same issue, finally I figured out there was an account access issue, but my player wouldn’t let me log out and log in again. Here’s how I fixed the problem.
Option 1 – Hidden Menu within the Netflix App to Deactivate your Device: this should work for any device as Netflix requires every manufacturer to include it. Please note that this does not deactivate your Netflix account itself, just your device, requiring you to log on again.
- Open the Netflix app on the device
- Once the app is open, even if it is displaying an error message, hit the following buttons on the remote: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, up, up, up, up, up.
- A system information screen will be displayed. You can deactivate the device in this screen.
- Exit the app and and then restart it. You should be prompted to logon to Netflix.
Option 2 – Deactivate All Netflix Devices: This should should also work for any device; the only draw-back is that it deactivates Netflix on every device you own and you have to re-logon again on each one. If the first option doesn’t work, try this one. Please note that this does not deactivate your Netflix account itself, just your devices, requiring you to log on when you next use them.
- Logon to your Netflix account through your web browser.
- Select “Your Account” in the upper Right corner
- Under the Settings section, select “Manage devices and computers”
- Select the “Deactivate” option
- Now open the Netflix app on your Blu-ray player
- You will get an error message that the device has been deactivated and that you’ll need to log on again.
- You may then get the same connection error message (I did on my Panasonic Blu-ray player.)
- Exit the Netflix app and start it again.
- You should now be prompted to logon to your Netflix account.
- Please note that you’ll have to log on to Netflix again on all of your devices, not just your problem device.
Option 3 – Factory Reset of the Panasonic Blu-ray Player: There are 2 different reset procedures for Panasonic Blu-ray players. The basic reset that is done through the setup menu on erases some settings; it does not clear the Netflix settings. To resolve the Netflix logon problem, you’ll need to do a full factory reset though a hidden service menu that is only displayed on the front panel of the player. Here’s the process:
- Note: this works on Panasonic DMP-BDT 220, DMP-BDT 320, and DMP-BDT 500 Blu-ray players. The procedure may be the same for other Panasonic models as well.
- Power off the player
- On the remote control, press and hold the following buttons at the same time for 5 seconds: [OK] [B ] [Y]
- “00 RET” will be displayed on the front panel
- Press the [Right] arrow button several times (should be 2 times) until “08 FIN” is displayed on the front panel
- Press and hold the “OK” button for 3 seconds.
- Wait about 10 seconds, then Power On the Blu-ray player
- You will now go though guided setup, and you’ll be asked for your Netflix username and password when you start that app. Please note that you will need to logon to all apps that you use on your Blu-ray player again, including your VIERA Connect password.
One of these options should solve your account access problem. Obviously, this problem is quite a pain for the user because none of these solutions are obvious.
Be careful when choosing a Netflix player:I purchased my Panasonic Blu-ray player because it could access all of the online content I wanted and it played DVDs and Blu-rays as well. I thought to myself, “why would I buy a Roku or AppleTV?” Well, now I know. The menu system on the Panasonic Blu-ray player is horrible and the software updates are problematic. It’s pretty good for playing discs, but there are much better ways to connect to online video streaming services.
If you still have problems, you may also want to try the suggestion on this page.
I was unable to connect to Netflix for a couple days with my Panasonic DMP-BDT220. I found Option 1 solution at a couple places but not option 2 and 3. I was fortunate to find your help page and was up and running having used option 2.
Big Thank you,
John
I’m glad you were able to fix it!
I’m disappointed with Panasonic. All 3 of my DMP-BD220s developed the same problem at the same time: when there was a software update required. Panasonic needs better quality control for their software updates.
Option 1 worked for us. Exiting the Netflix app, after deactivating, and then re-entering Netflix to enter user log-in information is a key step. Things didn’t work when user log-in information was re-entered at the first opportunity.
Thanks!
Thanks so much! Option 1 worked for me. You rock! I was just about to give up and buy another device. Warren
Option #1 worked for me too. When I read it I thought it was crazy steps. Thanks much.
Option 3 worked! Thank you so much!
Option 1 worked, thanks for publishing this
With a DMP-BDT220: After about a week of it working, Netflix began to loop between the startup screen (the Netflix logo with letterbox bars above and below) and a blank page with a Netflix logo header and the entire screen gray. Both screen had the five white squares looking like it was trying to load. I tried option 3 and was able to get as far as the sign-in page, but it wasn’t taking any input to sign in. Netflix Customer Service walked me through option 1 with an assurance that they would reset the program at their end.
Followup: The problem was solved by a combination of Option 3 (above) and having Netflix reset my account. I had a problem trying to sign on to Netflix. While the account name field on the sign-on screen was highlighted, I couldn’t enter anything and so couldn’t sign on. Turns out you have to hit the “OK” button on the remote to select the highlighted field, at which point a keyboard pops up to enter user name and password.
Same issue as poster above me! Almost went thru the hassle of RMA’ing it before I ran across this page. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
If I do the first option, will the account deactivate or will it just log me off Netflix?
It will just log you off of all of your devices. It deactivates the devices, not the account.
Oh ok, thanks for the help it should work now.
I have a Panasonic ST-30, Can you help me? Does this technique help my same problem?
You won’t hurt anything by trying any of these methods.
This was so helpful. For the past 3 days I’ve been trying to get netflix working and talking with their helpline (which was worthless). After finding this it took us five minutes using the factory reset to get it up and going again! THANK YOU!
Tried netflix dissconnect and factory rest. Still VERY slow loading, and kills the movie about 5min. into
I can not connect to Netflix from my Vizio TV, I have tried the above suggestions but they did not work. It was working fine a week ago but now it says Unable to connect to Netflix. Please try again or visit netflix.com/tvhelp and it will not load. Any suggestions?
Up 5 times at end
Have a brand-new player and after starting Netflix, it gives the cannot connect message. It never once asked me to login or register. I’ve tried all of the above with no success. Any ideas? Thanks.
It sounds to me like you may not be connected to the internet. Go through the setting screen and make sure you are connected to your home network.
Turns out it was the unfortunate Netflix outage due to Amazon’s servers going down on 12/24. Everything worked the next day. :S
Thanks for the option 1 instructions! I bought this blue ray as an open box buy and the previous owner had logged himself onto Netflix, which the blue ray remembered. Needless to say his viewing history did not jive with my kids’ little eyes!
How about sound? I can connect, but the sound is garbled or muffled.
Option 1 worked for me, thanks
Have Netflix connected to my laptop (Dell) and LG Smart TV. Never had a problem with the lappy but the LG would show the unable to connect message every few weeks and has frustrated me to no end. Your solution 1 worked perfect for my situation and I appreciate your efforts in helping others. Cheers!
Thank you for your help! Option 1 worked for me.
I’m in the same boat too. Picked up the player open box at Best Buy and found the previous person had themselves signed into most of the paid services. Netflix is the only app that has this crazy deactivation. It reminded me of the old Conta code for 30 lives, ” Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.”
Option 3 worked for me, although on my box, ‘ok’, ‘yellow’ and ‘blue’ needed to be pressed and held after turning ON the player, not off. All works now. Thanks!!
For two weeks I have gotten this message, “we’re having trouble playing this title right now. Please try again later or select a different title.” What do I do
Thank You! I mistakenly loaded a firmware update on my BDT 220 and lost my Netflix connection. Option #3 worked flawlessly for me. You saved my Friday night!
I don’t have a Panasonic, but I tried Option 1 and when I get to the screen that has the Deactivation button on it, the remote won’t let be go up to select it. Any thoughts?
I bought my insignia Blu-Ray as an open box item at Best Buy. The previous owner was signed in an everything seems to be working. Will I get charged for this?
Hey, we use Netflix on our ps3. The past couple days (after we did an update) it signs into Netflix, shows the content and episodes, but then when I click on an episode it says “we’re having trouble playing this title. Try again later or select a different title.” Any chance this is because we are in Canada but have the American version? I tried option 1 but it didn’t work. For option 2, I’m not sure how to get to “your account” Also, would option 3 even be worth a try? Thanks!
So I had no luck with Option one or Two, OR three, until I tried Option Three with the power turned ON. Worked then. Strange, but thanks!
SO helpful thank you
I’m so sad and frustrated, my LG smart blu ray will not connect to netflix. I have tried all options above. None work
When I first started my blu ray, it connected and logged in just fine. All other apps work on the system, and netflix works on my other devices. What else can I do?? 
Thank you so much. After the latest firmware download, mine quit too. Really disappointed in this player. I also lost part of my menu. The apps are gone. Pandora, Facebook, Hulu plus. How do I get that back?
Yeah, Panasonic is horrible with their firmware. You best bet is to use Option 3 for a full factory reset.