Table of Contents
Introduction
There’s no better way to spend a Friday night than curling up in bed and binging your favorite show. I’m sure plenty of people have turned that into their weekly ritual since the ability to go out and hang with friends has become limited.
But what if I told you there was a way you could squeeze more out of Netflix? What if I said there were ten ways to do so? Today, let’s take a look at ten ways that Netflix subscribers, AKA you, can get the most out of Netflix.
10 Tips for Netflix Users
1. Use Netflix’s Profile System
Do you share your Netflix account with others? If you do, then you know the struggle of having your viewing recommendations ruined by the shows and movies your friends and family are watching while you’re not on.
Fortunately, users can prevent this from happening by taking advantage of Netflix’s profile system. Netflix’s profile system allows users to set up their own profile and continue watching their shows, all without messing with the recommendation algorithm of the other profiles. For example, someone watching Breaking Bad on their profile won’t interfere with someone else’s profile full of rom coms.
2. Customize Subtitles to your Heart’s Content
The past decade has seen many industries focus more on accessibility than ever before—this includes streaming services. And while Netflix’s search for accessibility isn’t perfect, they have improved their service to be more accommodating, starting with their subtitles.
Not only is it easy for users to enable subtitles—all it takes is a click of a button—but users can customize the subtitles until they’re perfect. The size of the text, the color of the text, if there’s a solid color background: Netflix allows users to adjust the subtitles however they want.
3. Take Advantage of Keyboard Shortcuts
Learning the keyboard shortcuts for certain tasks may seem like a pointless endeavor, but it saves quite a lot of time in the long run. Sure, using CTRL+V to paste may not seem faster than right-clicking and selecting “paste,” but it makes a big difference.
The same can be said for Netflix. You could use your cursor to click on everything, or you could streamline certain actions by using keyboard shortcuts. Fortunately, Netflix has a list of keyboard shortcuts posted in their Help Center. Glance over these keyboard shortcuts and try them out next time; I guarantee you won’t go back to clicking.
4. Use a VPN For Secure Viewing
The unfortunate truth about the Internet is that there are thousands of people who would love nothing more than to get their hands on your data. How they go about doing this varies, but if you’re ever on a public network and decide to open up an episode of Netflix, you’re leaving a trail for them to follow. So what can you do?
It’s simple: use a VPN for Netflix. A VPN encrypts any data you send out from your device. This encryption prevents your data from being stolen by cyber criminals no matter where you are. Plus, a VPN can even let you access shows and movies exclusive to other countries!
5. Install a Few Netflix Browser Extensions
Netflix has earned a reputation for being a polished, complete streaming service. Subscribe to it, and you won’t be taken aback by missing features or limited content. Nothing is perfect, however, and users have taken it upon themselves to add to the service via browser extensions.
There are a wide array of Chrome and Firefox browser extensions, from extensions that allow you to have viewing parties to extensions that add IMDB ratings in app. Just be careful when choosing an extension to download—not all browser extensions are well-made or even work!
6. Choose a New Show or Movie With Netflix Roulette
ReelGood’s “Netflix Roulette” was made for the Netflix users that frequently run out of shows to watch. All you need to do is visit the site, filter results by IMDB and ReelGood score (genre too), then start binging the show or movie that pops up—perfect for a Friday evening when there’s nothing to do!
7. Download Content for Offline Viewing
Netflix knows people use shows and movies to pass the time, especially when traveling, which is why Netflix allows for downloading content for offline viewing. Be sure to download a few episodes or a movie whenever you’re about to go somewhere without the Internet.
Keep in mind that HD downloads can take up a lot of space on your device, so plan ahead for that.
8. Limit Streaming Quality When on Mobile Wi-Fi
Despite advancements in the speed and quality of 4G and 5G, carriers still impose data caps in many parts of the world. These data caps limit what you can do with your mobile data and for how long. If you ever need to use mobile data, make sure you limit the quality of Netflix while on mobile networks in the account settings.
9. Disable Autoplay if Needed
Have you ever fallen asleep watching Netflix only to be woken up by The Office theme song randomly at 3 A.M.? It’s terrifying enough that you may want to turn off autoplay. Fortunately, you can!
Go into your account settings, and there will be a section dedicated to autoplay. Simply uncheck the box that asks if you want autoplay enabled, and you won’t have to worry about surprise theme songs!
10. Sign Up For the Right Subscription Plan if Sharing
Allowing multiple to use your Netflix account isn’t wrong…as long as you have the correct subscription plan.
The Premium subscription plan allows for four people to use your Netflix account at the same time. If you share your Netflix account with friends or family members, you’ll definitely want Premium. If not, you can go standard or basic.
Conclusion
Netflix is the titan of the streaming industry, and for a good reason. However, like mentioned earlier, it’s not perfect. But with these ten tips, you’ll be able to turn Netflix into a near-perfect application!
