If you’re one of the 195 million people who use Netflix, this article is perfect for you. We’ll show you some nice tips that will make Netflix more enjoyable than it already is.
So, let’s get started with tip #1!
1. Watch Shows & Movies Offline
Wait, what? You can actually do that?
Yes, it’s actually possible to download Netflix titles to your device, and watch them offline. That’s very helpful if you know you’ll be left without Internet access, or will have to deal with slow Internet speeds for a while (like when you’re traveling abroad and using airport or train WiFi).
To learn how to download Netflix titles offline, we recommend following the instructions in this FAQ article.
There are a few limitations, though:
- You can only do this on a few devices, though. Right now, this option is only available on iOS, Android, Fire OS, Windows 10 devices.
- Only some Netflix titles support this feature.
- Your downloads don’t last forever, so don’t start downloading everything you can on your device. According to Netflix, downloaded movies and shows last for up to seven days. Some of them might even expire 48 hours after you start watching them.
2. Use a VPN
VPNs are online tools that hide your IP address and encrypt your traffic. Here’s how they can make your Netflix subscription much more enjoyable:
- They stop Netflix from seeing your IP, which tells the site what country you are from. Without that information, Netflix can’t use geo-blocks to stop you from watching certain titles and movies. With a VPN, you could trick Netflix into letting you access the US, UK, or Canadian libraries, which have the most titles.
- By hiding your IP, VPNs also let you unblock Netflix on networks where admins block the site with firewalls – like at school, hotels, or in China.
- VPNs encrypt your traffic end-to-end. That prevents your ISP from knowing you’re using Netflix. That way, they can’t throttle your speeds whenever you binge content on the site for hours on end.
To find a good Netflix VPN, we recommend using StreamCatcher (https://streamcatcher.proprivacy.com/). It’s an online service from ProPrivacy that tells you what countries have which Netflix titles. On top of that, the tool also tells you what Netflix VPNs you should use.
Those suggestions are fully tested by ProPrivacy first to make sure they can unblock Netflix without any issues, and offer smooth streaming too. We tried them too, and can vouch for how accurate they are.
3. Use Netflix Codes to Find Obscure Titles
Netflix has excellent algorithms that recommend titles based on your preferences and location. That’s definitely nice, but maybe some of you want to check out some lesser-known shows and movies.
Are there any, though?
Most definitely. There are actually thousands of them. You just need to use Netflix codes to find them.
What are Netflix codes?
They’re basically short, random strings of numbers that are assigned to different TV show and movies genres. For example, 4922 is the code assigned to satires like Scary Movie, Year One, Johnny English, and Life of Brian.
And there are a lot of obscure genres. 1458 is the code for Wine & Beverage Appreciation, 26 takes you to the Mockumentary section, and 8195 will let you binge B-Horror Movies.
To use these codes, just add them to this URL: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/code. Just replace code with the, well, Netflix code. So that the URL would look like this if you wanted to watch B-Horror Movies: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/8195.
You can use this article from The Independent to find a huge list of Netflix codes.
4. Get Used to (Very Useful) Keyboard Shortcuts
Netflix has a user-friendly UI, and using it barely takes any time at all. But why not streamline your experience even more?
You can actually do that if you use a keyboard with a few shortcuts. We tested them all on Windows and they work well, but they should also work on Mac:
- Space Bar –With Space Bar, you can quickly pause and unpause the video.
- Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac) – These keys let you play the video without having to click the play button.
- The F Key – This is a very quick and convenient way to enter and exit Full Screen mode.
- The M Key – You can use it to mute the audio of a video. Very useful when you get an unexpected urgent call.
- Left & Right Arrow Keys – You can use them to rewind (left arrow) or fast forward (right arrow) 10 seconds in the video.
- Up & Down Arrow Keys – Use the up arrow key to increase the volume, and the down arrow key to decrease it.
- The S Key – Use the key to skip the intro of any TV show you’re watching.
5. Use Subtitles, Captions, and Audio Descriptions
Having trouble understanding what some characters are saying? Or telling what background noises you’re hearing?
No problem – Netflix lets you use subtitles, captions, and even audio descriptions. The site usually has tons of options that are region-specific. Here’s how to use them.
6. Improve Your Video Quality
Netflix has great video quality, but that depends on a few factors – namely your connection speeds and device’s battery life.
If your speeds are slow, Netflix will default to SD quality. And if your battery life is low, your device will limit how much power your apps use (including Netflix). Due to that, the Netflix app will run using lower video quality.
So do this to avoid dealing with low-quality videos:
- Make sure your Internet connection is strong. If you’re using WiFi, bring your device as close to the router as you can, get a WiFi range extender, or use a wired connection (through an ethernet cable).
- Keep your device’s battery high. Always charge it before using Netflix. Also, disable Low Power Mode (iPhone) and Battery Saver Mode (Android) to prevent your device from throttling your apps when the battery life gets a bit low.
What Else Can You Do to Make Netflix More Fun?
We’d love to hear your input too. What other tips and tricks should people know about to get the most out of their Netflix subscription? Please tell us about them in the comments below.
