Netflix is a game-changer. You know it, I know it, and the pay TV industry certainly knows it. The cord cutting trend is accelerating and study after study attribute the increased number of households without a cable or satellite TV subscription at least in part to Netflix.
While Netflix has changed the game for entertainment, we’re about to change the game for your Netflix experience with 10 tips and tricks you’ll wonder how you even lived without.
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Remove things you’ve watched from your history
This is the holy grail for many users, and yet they had no idea the option is there.
Have you ever watched something and you’d rather not have other people in your house know you watched it. Don’t worry, we’re not here to judge. We’re here to tell you that you don’t have to be ashamed anymore — you can simply remove the movie or TV show from your history.
On Netflix.com, hover over your name in the top-right corner and click “Your account.” Now scroll down to “Viewing activity.” Head over to the title you’re not exactly proud of and click the “X” all the way to the right. If it’s a show and removing one episode isn’t enough, you can then click the “Remove series” link that appears.
Test new features before they launch
Want to check out new features Netflix is testing before everyone else? Hover over your name in the top-right corner and click “Your account.” Now click “Test participation” under Settings. Click the toggle to on and, on occasion, you’ll get access to new pre-launch features that Netflix is testing.
God Mode
Netflix just rolled out a big redesign that helps fix those annoying carousels but if you really want to see Netflix’s titles presented in the best possible way on Netflix.com, you need “God Mode.” Our earlier post on Netflix God Mode will tell you everything you need to know.
Tell Netflix what you like
Don’t rely solely on your watch history for Netflix recommendations. After all, everyone has those guilty pleasures we’d rather not repeat. Instead, help Netflix recommend more fitting content by telling it exactly what you like.
On Netflix.com, hover over your name in the top right corner and then click “Your account.” Now scroll down to “Taste preferences.” There, you can indicate how much you like different themes, and you can also pick which genres you like and which ones you dislike.
Force high-quality streaming
By default, Netflix is set to optimize your stream based on the quality of your internet connection. If you only want to stream high-quality videos, hover over your name in the top right corner and then click “Your account.” Now scroll down to “Playback settings.” Click “High” and you’re good to go.
Flicksurfer
If Netflix’s recommendations aren’t enough and you want help finding new content to watch, check out Flicksurfer. The site lists all content on Netflix and lets you drill down by genre, and then you can sort by Rotten Tomatoes rating, IMDb rating, Netflix user rating, or a combination of all three.
Use your phone to watch, not a set-top box app
The Netflix experience on your smartphone is so much better than the experiences offered by set-top box apps or smart TV apps. Use AirPlay to stream content from your iPhone or Chromecast to stream from your Android phone. Then you can find content in that great mobile UI, and search using a keyboard instead of moving a cursor around a keyboard on your TV.
See everything you’ve rated, and adjust ratings
Are your Netflix recommendations not as solid as you’d like? People’s tastes change over time, so it might be a good idea to go back through the content you’ve rated and make some adjustments.
Hover over your name in the top right corner and then click “Your account.” Now scroll down to “Ratings.” Here, you’ll see everything you’ve rated and you can either make adjustments or remove titles completely.
Instantwatcher
Do you find it difficult to keep track of everything new that’s added to Netflix? Do you just want to see the most popular content? Or how about the most popular movies and TV series only among recently added content? Instantwatcher is the answer.
Keyboard shortcuts
Heaven forbid you have to move more than a few inches while you’re streaming the latest episode of Daredevil. Use these keyboard shortcuts to control playback:
Space – Toggle Play/Pause
Enter – Toggle Play/Pause
PgUp – Play
PgDn – Pause
F – Full-screen
Esc – Exit full-screen
Shift+Left arrow – Rewind
Shift+Right arrow – Fast Forward
Up arrow – Volume Up
Down arrow – Volume Down
M – Mute toggle
