Sky TV glitch leaves furious viewers unable to watch Netflix and faced with the ‘red spinning wheel of death’ instead – here’s what to do if you’re affected

Angry Sky TV customers have slammed the broadcaster after they were left unable to watch Netflix due to a mysterious glitch.

The problem, which has been ongoing for several days, affects some viewers, but not all of them.

When trying to watch TV shows and movies on Netflix through their Sky Q box, they reported experiencing the ‘red wheel of death’.

Sky acknowledged the issue and said it is currently working on a fix.

“We are aware that some customers when launching Netflix will see a rotating red circle,” the broadcaster wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Frustration: When trying to watch TV shows and movies on Netflix through their Sky Q box, customers have reported encountering the ‘red wheel of death’ (pictured)

“We have the right teams working to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Although a fix is ​​not available, there are some solutions that viewers can try.

Firstly, and most obviously, those with a multi-screen subscription may be able to watch Netflix through the Sky Q Mini, Sky said.

However, if this is not an option for you, all is not lost.

This is because there is another potential trick that can get you access to Netflix through your Sky Box.

In a help forum on Sky’s website, a staff member at the broadcaster said that if people are having problems, they should first log in to their Netflix account via a webpage, before clicking ‘My Account’.

If you scroll to the bottom, there will be an option called “Test Engagement,” which customers should make sure is turned off.

“If you can advise whether this solves the issue for you or not, we can send this back to the support teams,” a Sky worker wrote on the forum.

But that didn’t stop people from turning to social media site X to vent their frustrations.

One user, @neilgreen2023, wrote: “Why does this happen every day?

“We’re paying for a service we can’t use.”

He accompanied his post with a photo of himself trying to access Netflix and encountering the “red wheel of death.”

Another customer, Nicky Layton, said she tried to reach the streaming giant via her Sky box and also got a “spin circle”.

In response to the Sky Q Mini workaround for Sky Multiscreen subscribers, Kevin Delaney wrote on X: “What if you don’t have multiple screens?” “Worst decision ever is getting Netflix through Qbox.”

Broadcast their views: Sky says it is working to fix the issue, but that hasn’t stopped customers taking to social media site X to vent their frustrations

Another customer, Edward Perkins, added: “Sometimes when I log into Netflix through Sky Q it takes a long time to load, sometimes I get disconnected and I end up going back to the main Sky Q TV menu.”

“Netflix works fine on my other devices like XBOX Series

Despite the backlash, one Sky TV viewer reminded customers that they can still access Netflix, just not through their Sky boxes.

“It’s worth noting that what you’re paying for is access to a service called Netflix,” they wrote on Sky’s help forum.

“Your login will work.” You have access to the Service.

“I understand how frustrating this can be, which is why I say stop trying to use it this way until it is fixed, which could take a very long time.”

They at least acknowledged the problem, which doesn’t always happen.

“Such problems are not easy to solve.”

Sky did not specify a time frame for fixing the issue, but insisted it had “the right teams working to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

What video streaming options are available to UK customers?

Netflix

price: £4.99 per month (with ads), £10.99 per month for the Standard version, or £17.99 per month for the Premium version

Hit offers:

Amazon Prime

price: £8.99 per month or £95 per year

Hit offers:

• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
• Boys

Apple TV+

price: £6.99 per month

Hit the offers:

• Ted Lasso
• For all humanity

Disney+

price: £4.99 per month (with ads), £7.99 per month for Standard, or £10.99 per month for Premium

Hit the offers:

• The Mandalorian
• The Simpsons

Now TV

price: From £6.99 per month (6 months) or £9.99 (flexible)

Hit offers:

• game of thrones
• Chernobyl

hayu

price: £4.99 per month

Hit offers:

• keeping up with the Kardashians
• Made in Chelsea

britbox

price: £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year

Hit offers:

• Spitting image
• Average murder

Prices are correct as of September 2023