Fix: Netflix Error S7361-1253 Won’t Let you Stream on Mac

Error code S7361 – 1253 occurs when Mac users are streaming media on Netflix. The TV series or movie suddenly stops before displaying this error. This problem is almost exclusively reported on Safari and is confirmed to occur on Apple PC, Mac Air, and Mac Pro. 

This particular issue is often reported on outdated macOS builds that are still using the old PRAM management system. However, you can also expect to see this error due to NVRAM or PRAM inconsistency, due to a conflict with a concurrently running media player.

Update: A corrupted account profile can also produce this error if you’re dealing with a mismanaged dependency. 

If you only see this error while streaming content on Safari, you are most likely seeing the error code S7361 – 1253 error due to a cache or cookie issue or due to an extension conflict. 

1. Update Mac OS to the latest version

This particular issue is way more frequent on older macOS versions (older than Sierra 10.12). As it turns out, this problem most commonly occurs due to the way older macOS firmware versions manage virtual memory. 

On devices with less than 16 GB of RAM, you can expect to deal with this issue as the PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) is improperly managed during high-speed video streaming.

Fortunately, Apple addressed this with Sierra 10.12 error and every other newer software release should ensure that this problem won’t return.

So if you’re still on an older macOS build for whatever reason, follow the instructions below to update to the latest version and fix the Netflix error code S7361 – 1253:

1. Click on the Apple icon (top left corner of the screen).
2. From the context menu that just appeared, click on System Settings or System Preferences.
   

   

   Note: If you went to System Preferences, click on Software Update. If you went to System Settings, go to General > Software Update. 

3. Once you’re inside the Software Update screen, the utility will automatically begin to scan for new software.
4. If a new update is available, you’ll need to click on the Update button to begin the installation. 

   

   Note: Depending on your macOS version, this button might be named Restart Now, Install Now, Upgrade Now, Update now. 

5. Next, you will be asked to provide your administrator password. Do so and wait until the operation is complete.
6. Wait until your Mac OS boots back up, then repeat the Netflix action and see if the S7361 – 1253 error is now fixed. 

2. Reset PRAM and NVRAM

If you’re experiencing the S7361 – 1253 error on a macOS computer and you already ensured that you’re running on the latest macOS version, you may have a problem with your NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory) or PRAM (Parameter Random-Access Memory).

Note: MacOS computers utilize NVRAM to store some settings data that can be retrieved quickly, whilst PRAM is used to store information relating to certain of your Mac’s fundamental components.

Most commonly, this particular error is indirectly caused by improper PRAM management as Netflix leaves a series of remnant data that affects the performance on Macs with 8 GB of ram. 

If this situation applies, you should be able to resolve the issue by resetting both the PRAM and NVRAM caches using the steps provided below.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Shut down your MAC in a typical fashion (Make sure you do a regular shutdown, not hibernation mode).
2. After completely turning off your Mac, switch it back on and instantly tap and hold the following keys when you see the initial screen:

   Option key + Command key + P key + R key

3. Hold these keys for more than 20 seconds. After this time has gone, macOS will appear to be preparing to restart; when this occurs, DO NOT release the four keys just yet.

   

4. Next, pay attention to the two beginning tones. After hearing the second tone, release all keys simultaneously.
   Note: If you experience this issue on a Mac with T2 Security chip implementation, you may resolve it by releasing all four keys after the Apple logo has disappeared twice.
5. Upon completion of the next startup, stream another piece of content from Netflix and see if the problem is now resolved. 

3. Close all other media players

As it turns out, this problem can indirectly be caused by a DRM issue facilitated by the fact that a different media player is using the same DRM protocol at the same time. If this happens, streaming will get interrupted and most commonly the browser streaming job (in this case Netflix) will get interrupted.

Note: Digital Rights Management (DRM) is software that authorizes the reproduction of copy-protected content. It is meant to prevent protected content from piracy and is utilized in both physical DVDs and instantaneously streamable TV episodes and movies.

To prevent this type of conflict from occurring, follow the instructions below to ensure that no additional media players are currently running in the background:

1. First, open YouTube, iTunes & QuickTime and go to the top-left corner of the screen and click on the Apple icon. 
2. From the context menu that just appeared, click on Force Quit. 

   

3. Next, bring forward any other media players that are still running in the background and repeat the same process (Apple icon > Force Quit). 
4. Quit Safari, then restart it once again before opening Netflix and checking if the issue is now fixed. 

4. Clear Safari Browser Cache & History (if applicable) 

If you only encounter the S7361 – 1253 error while streaming Netflix content from Safari and every other browser has no trouble streaming from other browsers, this might be a specific issue caused by a corrupted cache or cookie associated with Netflix.

If you deal with this issue, the first thing you should try is clear the specific Netflix cookie. You can do this simply by clicking on the dedicated Netflix clear cookies page. 

Note: This is a script developed by Netflix that will automatically clear the specific streaming cookies regardless of the browser that you’re using. Unfortunately, this script will not get rid of the cache data too. 

If you already clicked on the page above and the issue persists, follow the instructions below to clear the cache & history of your Safari browser:

1. Open the Safari app and make sure you’re not actively streaming anything.
2. Go to History and click on Clear history from the context menu that just appeared. 

   

3. Confirm the operation, then wait until the history data is cleared. 
4. Next, go to the ribbon menu at the top and click on Safari, then click on Preferences from the context menu.  

   

5. From the Advanced menu, click on the Advanced icon, then move all the way down to the bottom and check the box associated with Show Develop menu in menu bar. 
   

   

6. As soon as you do this, you will notice a new menu item inside the ribbon bar at the top (Develop). Click on it, then click on Empty Caches from the drop-down menu. 

   

7. Restart Safari and see if the problem is now fixed when you attempt to stream Netflix content.