Has your Netflix viewing time increased exponentially now that you're indoors almost all the time? I know mine definitely has. In the era of all-day binge-watching, let's look at Netflix like a Lego set that can be tinkered with. By using these Netflix hacks, you can further optimise and enhance your couch potato life!
Netflix Roulette
Do you find yourself sometimes wishing that there was a "random" button, so you don't have to settle on rewatching Friends for the 100th time after skimming over thousands of Netflix titles? Well, Netflix Roulette does that for you and more. You can filter by genre, movie or TV show, Rotten Tomatoes score and iMDB ratings to help the system hone the search.
Netflix’s hidden category codes
Netflix is known for its massive content library, and here's another way to help you narrow down and decide what to watch. Via a “secret menu” of sorts, users can view many detailed sub-genres that go beyond the usual Action, Sci-Fi, Drama genres. Check out all the category codes here, and simply key in your chosen code in this URL format to see the list of movies or TV shows under these sub genres: https://www.netflix.com/sg/browse/genre/(insert code here)
Host a Netflix party
Miss movie nights with friends by your side? Netflix Party is a Google Chrome extension that lets you sync up with other Netflix users, so you can watch a movie or TV show of your choosing together. You can even chat while the show is playing, using the platform's group chat function! Netflix Party is free, you just need a Netflix account and the Google Chrome browser installed on your computer or laptop.
Watch Netflix sideways in bed.
Another simple yet incredibly useful Google Chrome extension, Netflix Flip lets you rotate your videos sideways so you can watch extra comfortably lying on your side. "Streamer's neck" is actually a real thing for some people who binge watch in bed with their laptops, and Netflix Flip helps bid goodbye to neck pain!
Customize your subtitles
Love foreign films and TV shows? Then you probably rely heavily on subtitles. But even the heaviest Netflix binger might not realize you can actually make adjustments on the default Netflix subtitles! Color, size, font, and more all can be changed based on your preferences. All you need to do is go to Account > Profile > Subtitle Appearance, and voila!
Remove embarrassing titles
Maybe you don't want your SO to know you secretly finished Money Heist without them, or you'd prefer that your late night decision to watch a "bad movie" not interfere with Netflix's algorithm on your recommendations? Not to worry, because you can selectively delete your history! Head over to this page, where you'll see everything you've watched in chronological order, and you can proceed to remove anything you regret.
Be a Netflix lab rat
The Netflix tech team is always looking for new ways to improve the service by experimenting with new elements and carrying out A/B testing. If you want in on some of the new features before your friends do, you can opt-in to become a Netflix "lab rat" before the public roll-out occurs. All you need to do is go to Account > Settings > Test Participation and toggle it on.
Make sure you're optimized for HD and Ultra HD
Wouldn't it be embarrassing if the plan you're using includes HD or Ultra HD streaming, but you're not even using it? This is actually the case for many Netflix users who neglect to check their streaming settings – just go to this page to make sure you're always set up for HD viewing. Do note that if you're watching on your phone without an unlimited data plan, this will seriously destroy your data plan (HD videos use up 3-7GB of data per hour!). Opt for "Low" if you're watching without WiFi or on an unlimited data plan.