Netflix has become Australia’s most popular streaming entertainment service by a wide margin. If you’re fresh to the service you might not realise there’s a wealth of useful options and shortcuts hidden beneath the hood. Here are some of our favourites — from manually adjusting the streaming rate to deleting your viewing history.
How to find Netflix’s original programming
Netflix produces a ton of original content, but finding it can be difficult if you don’t know the show names. Type “Netflix” into the search bar to see a complete list of Netflix originals, all in one place. (Our tip: Start with House Of Cards!)
How to quickly browse Netflix by genre
Have you noticed how certain movie genres don’t appear on the front page? To see more, click the row names on the homepage in your browser. This will bring up a full gallery of TV shows and films within that genre. (Fun fact: Netflix has tags for over 75,000 micro genres – and they all have a unique code.)
How to find Netflix 4K content
If you own an Ultra HD TV, type “4K” in the search bar to see a full list of TV shows and movies available in 4K resolution.
How to instantly play Netflix movies on PlayStation 4
Hitting the Options button on the PS4 controller while a title is selected will play the video directly, without viewing the detail page first.
How to change Netflix video quality
If you’re worried about data usage, you can manually adjust the streaming rate by hopping into Netflix’s secret menu. You can access it on the desktop by pressing Shift+Alt+Left Click, or on consoles using the Konami code. Alternatively, head to your Netflix account settings and choose Manage Video Quality and select one of three options. (If you want high-def to be your default, select High.)
How to eliminate Netflix buffering
You only need a minimum of .5 mbps to stream Netflix content, although 5 mbps is recommended for HD quality. If you find your program constantly pauses to buffer, you can manually adjust your streaming options in the aforementioned secret menu (see above). For smooth viewing, simply match up the playback with the buffering rate.
How to access Netflix subtitles
All programs on Netflix have the option to add English subtitles — handy if you’re watching a cockney movie or are hard of hearing. To activate subtitles, select the movie or TV show you want to play, head to “Audio & Subtitles” in the options panel then press Back once you’re done. Your movie will now play with English subtitles.
How to change Netflix’s subtitle appearance
You can change the colour and font size of subtitles to match your eyesight or personal style preference. To do this, head to Your Account and select Subtitle Appearance. You can tweak everything from colour and font, to the background and shadow appearance. (Pro tip: Watch Mean Girls with pink subtitles on a powder blue background.)
How to delete Netflix titles from your viewing history
If multiple people have been using your account (or you just want to hide your embarrassing movie selections), head to Your Account and under My Profile select Viewing Activity — here you can see all the shows you have recently watched and can delete accordingly. Handily, this also wipes the titles from Netflix’s activity log, so they’ll stop messing up your auto-recommendations.
How to watch Netflix overseas
If you’re planning an overseas holiday there’s a pretty good chance your account will continue to work like magic. You will also have access to all the titles available in that region while you’re over there.
Here’s a complete list of Netflix-friendly nations (deep breath): Aland Islands, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Belgium, Bermuda, BES Islands (NE), Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao (NE), Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland French Guiana, France, Germany, Greenland (Denmark), Grenada, Guadeloupe (FR), Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey (Baliwick of), Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey (Baliwick of), Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Martinique (FR), Mexico, Montserrat (UK), Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten (NE), St. Barthélemy (FR), St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin (Collectivity of), St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, The Turks and Caicos Islands (UK), Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
Keyboard shortcuts
If your Netflix viewing experience is connected to a keyboard, you can utilise various inbuilt shortcuts instead of struggling with a mouse or trackpad. Mute by hitting the “m” key. Go full screen by hitting the “F” key. Adjust volume with the up and down arrows. Rewind with Shift+Left arrow buttons and fast-forward with the Shift+Right arrow buttons. Check out this post for additional shortcuts.
Comments
20 responses to “11 Hidden Netflix Tricks And Shortcuts You Might Not Know Existed”
Is there a shortcut key to mark an episode/series/movie as watched?
Providing a rating doesn’t seem stop the item from appearing in suggestions….
I have so many titles that I stop at the credits that Netflix retains on my ‘continue watching’ list… so annoying! A ‘Mark as Played’ option would be awesome.
cant you just skip through the credits, that what i often do on kodi as its easier than stopping (plex however, annoyingly doesn’t handle it very well), of course kodi also treats if you stop near the end as fully watched.
KODI – if you go to the movie or TV show.. press “c” on the keyboard will pop up a menu and you can say “marked as watched” far quicker than watching credits 😛
i use the right click menu button to the same effect, but if the video is playing, its faster to press the left arrow or up arrow to skip past them as it has the effect of stopping and marking it as watched.
Nah, you just hit next episode and it goes straight in. Skips the intro and everything.
That may work if you want to watch the next ep (you have to stop at some point, and not always at the end of the season), although i dont know where that option is as i don’t use netflix, but it may not be available while watching on some platforms, and im not sure if it as OP wanted marks the currently viewed episode as watched.
secret menu?
“Hitting the Start button on the PS4 controller” – umm… What start button? 😛
Apologies, that should have read ‘Options’ button.
Netflix becomes so much more fun when you manage to change you region and access more content. Figured out how its done thanks to this https://goo.gl/CPlFl2
I frequently switch Netflix locations using PureVPN and it’s a hoot! After all, PureVPN helps me unblock all Netflix regional websites and gives me access to Netflix’s global library of 14,000 titles.
For example, I can watch Wolf of Wall Street on US Netflix, American Beauty on German Netflix and Blood Diamond on Finland Netflix, back to back, using my US Netflix account! xD
If you’re not using PureVPN already…..then what’re you waiting for?
Was waiting for your plug.
So switch to Netflix AU account. Be an extra vote in the screw Foxtel statistic, get it cheaper with the falling AUD, and still do your region hopping. Win win win!
I am ignorant, do you use your Australian Netflix account when using VPN or do you have a US Netflix account?
One Netflix account in Australia …. useable on world-wide Netflix. Increase your list of favourites at Netflix UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore etc; etc…… experiment is the key when you have a decent VPN with a long list of different countries.
Not waiting, using StrongVPN.
I have tried the Shift+Alt+Left Click and it does not work – tried on PC and Macbook.
Must be you, it works fine on all the browsers I’ve used.
Now it just needs an option for directors commentary and I can stop buying blurays for ever!