21 secret Netflix settings I use to instantly upgrade my streaming experience

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Netflix has hidden settings that make it instantly more powerful.
• There are also cheat codes, buried toggles, and obscure features.
• Unlock more content and upgrade your experience – today.

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Netflix seems pretty straightforward and easy to use, right?

You open the app on your TV, phone, or laptop, scroll for 15 minutes to find something new to watch, only to end up rewatching the same comfort show, and call it a night. But beneath Netflix’s familiar rows of movies and TV shows lies a world of hidden settings, cheat codes, power-user shortcuts, and privacy controls that let you do way more than just binge-watch.

Also: This genius new Roku feature helps you find everything you need much faster – here’s how

Believe it or not, Netflix is a very customizable platform today. Below are my favorite tips and tricks every user should know.

1. Netflix codes

Netflix has thousands of micro-genres that do not show up in the main interface. These genre codes — aka, cheat codes — let you jump straight into new categories, like Classic Action and Adventure Films and Fantasy Anime. You can use free resources like Netflix-Codes or What’s On Netflix to find codes and discover obscure, hidden selections to add to your watchlist and view on any device.

1. Open Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Still in your browser, go to: netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX.
3. Replace XXXX in the URL with a code (example: 11146 for Fantasy Anime).
4. You can go to Netflix-Codes or What’s On Netflix to find more codes.
5. Browse the micro-genres and watch a title instantly from your browser.
6. Or add titles to your Netflix watchlist to view on any device.

Also: I used Netflix’s secret codes to quintuple my viewing options — here’s how

Browser extensions like FindFlix (Firefox) and Better Browse for Netflix (Chrome) can make it even easier to access Netflix’s micro-genres. Once installed, they add new browsing options to your home screen.

2. Find every Netflix Original with one word

Here is a simple trick I use often: Just type “Netflix” into the search bar to pull up every Netflix Original available in your region, including upcoming releases and live events. Bonus: You can also search “4K” or “HDR” to find titles in those specific formats.

1. Open Netflix (mobile, TV, or web).
2. Go to Search.
3. Type Netflix.
4. Browse Netflix Originals and start watching instantly.

3. Remove shows from Continue Watching

My Continue Watching row is basically a graveyard of movies and shows I never finished. You tell yourself you’ll get back to them, but some titles might not be for you, so they sit there haunting you. The good news is you can purge any title from that row.

Also: Every Roku user should know these 15+ shortcuts that unlock the system’s best features

• Mobile app: Open Netflix, go to Continue Watching, tap the three-dot menu under a title, and select Remove from row.
• TV app: Open Netflix, go to Continue Watching, press and hold the select button on a title, and choose Remove.
• Web: Open Netflix.com, go to Continue Watching, hover over a title, and click the X.

4. Delete titles from your watch history

Did you cheat and start a show without telling your partner? Better hide the evidence by removing it from your viewing activity. This wipes it from your history like it never happened and keeps your secret safe.

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account icon > Manage Profiles > Select your profile.
3. Scroll to Viewing Activity.
4. Click the hide icon next to the title.

5. Disable autoplay previews and next episodes

Some people think Netflix’s autoplay feature is a bit aggressive. I’m not one of them, but if you don’t like homepage trailers playing loudly as you scroll through rows looking for something to watch, you can turn them off for good. You can also disable episode autoplay, which is when Netflix automatically queues up the next episode of a series you’re watching.

Also: How I turned my cheap Roku TV into a piece of art (like the $3,000 Samsung Frame TV)

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account icon > Account.
3. Select Playback Settings.
4. Uncheck Autoplay next episode and Autoplay previews.

6. Lock your Netflix profile with a PIN

If you share your account with other people in your family, such as your kids, and want to make sure they cannot access your profile, mess up your recommendations, or see your watch history, you can keep it private by locking it with a PIN.

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account icon > Manage Profiles > Select your profile > Profile Lock.
3. Create a 4-digit PIN.

7. Kick devices off your Netflix account remotely

Netflix now lets you log out of individual devices, not just “Sign out of all.” This is great for exes, Airbnb TVs, or suspicious logins.

Also: Your Roku has secret menus and screens – here’s how to unlock them

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account.
3. Select Devices.
4. Go to Manage Access and Devices.
5. Click the drop-down and then sign out for any device.

8. Transfer your profile to a new account

Did password-sharing rules kill your ability to share your parents’ or a friend’s account? You do not have to say goodbye to the profile you’ve used in their household for the last decade. You can take it with you and keep your watchlist, history, and recommendations intact.

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to the Account icon.
3. Choose Transfer Profile.
4. Follow the setup wizard.
5. Note: Kids’ profiles cannot be transferred.

9. Stop Netflix from sharing your data with advertisers

Netflix has a strangely worded privacy setting that allows data sharing for advertising.

Also: Own an Apple TV? I changed these 12 settings to make the system run like new again

By default, it enables a feature called “matched identifier communications,” which means Netflix may share your contact information (like an email or phone number) with third parties to better match you across services and show ads on other platforms. If you want to limit how much “privacy-protected” data Netflix can share about you for marketing purposes, it’s worth disabling this setting.

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account icon > Manage Profiles > Select your profile.
3. Go to Privacy and Data Settings.
4. Toggle off Allow matched identifier communications and select Opt Out of All.

10. Download shows for offline viewing

Netflix lets you download movies and TV shows to watch on long flights, road trips, or anytime you do not have Wi-Fi. This one is pretty well known by now, but it is worth including here if you have not used it yet.

1. Open the Netflix mobile app.
2. Find a movie or TV episode with the Download icon.
3. Tap three-dot menu > Download.
4. Go to Downloads or My Netflix to watch offline later.

Download limits depend on your plan, and downloads expire after a set period.

11. Turn on Smart Downloads or Downloads for You

If you like downloading movies and shows to watch on your commute, try Netflix’s Smart Downloads feature. It automatically deletes watched episodes and downloads the next one for you. You can also try enabling Downloads for You, which lets Netflix download titles it thinks you’ll want to watch. Both features work on Android, iPhone, and iPad.

Also: I used 11 secret Fire TV remote shortcuts to unlock new features and menus

1. Open the Netflix mobile app.
2. Tap Account icon/My Netflix, then Downloads at the top.
3. Under Downloads, tap Smart Downloads and then set it up.
4. You can also adjust how much storage Netflix can use for automatic downloads.
5. Back under Downloads, tap Smart Downloads, and toggle Downloads for You on or off.

Note: You can also find the settings for Smart Downloads under Account icon/My Netflix > App Settings.

12. Reduce mobile data usage

Use Netflix on the go and off Wi-Fi? Then you know it can burn through data fast. Luckily, you can cap your data usage.

Also: I used 8 HDMI tricks to get the best performance from my TV – and most are free

Netflix offers four mobile data settings — Automatic (about 4 hours per GB), Wi-Fi Only (no cellular streaming), Save Data (about 6 hours per GB), and Maximum Data (up to about 1 GB per 20 minutes) — so you can balance video quality with data usage.

1. Open the Netflix mobile app.
2. Go to App Settings.
3. Select Cellular Data Usage.
4. Switch to Save Data or Wi-Fi Only.

13. Force Netflix to stream in HD or 4K

Watching online and wondering if you are actually seeing the highest playback setting available to you? You can adjust your settings to be sure. Netflix offers four data usage options — Low, Medium, High, and Auto — ranging from about 0.3 GB per hour on Low to as much as 7 GB per hour in Ultra HD on High, while Auto adjusts quality based on your connection.

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account icon > Manage Profiles > select your Profile.
3. Select Playback Settings.
4. Set Data Usage per Screen to High.

14. Customize subtitle appearance

Did you know Netflix subtitles can be reformatted to your liking? You can change the size, color, and more at any time.

Also: I used 11 secret Fire TV remote shortcuts to unlock new features and menus

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to Account icon > Manage Profiles > select your Profile.
3. Select Subtitle Appearance.
4. Adjust font, size, shadow, and background.

15. Try dialogue-only subtitles

Last year, Netflix introduced dialogue-only subtitles, a cleaner subtitle option that removes sound cues like “dramatic music” or “door creaks.” Instead, you only see the spoken dialogue, which makes subtitles less distracting. Right now, this feature is limited to English and appears mostly in newer Netflix Originals.

1. Start playing a show or movie.
2. Open the Subtitles menu.
3. Select the English subtitle option without “CC” in the label.

16. Use Audio Descriptions for narration

If you are blind, have low vision, or simply like listening to a show while multitasking, Audio Description is one of Netflix’s most helpful accessibility features. It adds a narrated voice track that explains what is happening on-screen between lines of dialogue, including facial expressions, movements, settings, and other visual details you might otherwise miss.

Also: Own a Fire TV? I changed 10 settings to make the system run like new again

Audio Descriptions are available across most Originals, and Netflix has expanded them to several newer movies and shows, too.

1. In Netflix search, type Audio Description to find supported titles.
2. Start playing a show or movie.
3. Open the Audio and Subtitles menu.
4. Select the AD (Audio Description) track, if available.

17. Use keyboard shortcuts on a laptop

Watching Netflix in a browser? Try using keyboard shortcuts to control your playback. Here are some useful ones:

• Space: Play/Pause
• Arrows: Skip forward/back
• F: Fullscreen
• M: Mute
• S: Skip intro

18. Share clips of your movie or show

Netflix has a feature called Moments that lets you save and share scenes like TikTok clips. It is only available on mobile, and you cannot create clips from live events, trailers, downloaded shows or movies, or Netflix games.

Also: How to clear your Roku TV cache (and say goodbye to slow performance)

1. Open the Netflix mobile app and start watching a title.
2. While watching, tap the screen and select Moments or Clip.
3. Set a start and end time. Clips can be up to two minutes long.
4. Tap Save.
5. Rewatch later in My Netflix, or share it with anyone.

19. Set reminders for upcoming shows

Netflix has a Remind Me feature for upcoming releases. It will notify you as soon as a title becomes available to stream.

1. Open the title page for an upcoming show or movie.
2. Tap Remind Me.
3. Netflix will send you a notification (or email) when it drops, and it will automatically add it to My List.

20. Request shows or movies to be added

Yes, Netflix has a request form. If enough people ask, a title may eventually show up. Fingers crossed!

Also: I replaced my bedroom TV with this $170 Roku projector and don’t regret it

1. In your browser, visit: Netflix Help: Request TV Shows or Movies.
2. Submit up to three suggestions.

21. Join Netflix’s feature test program

It’s fun to try experimental features before they roll out to everyone else. Netflix has a test participation program where you can do just that, but you need to opt in.

1. Go to Netflix.com in your browser and sign in.
2. Go to this page: https://www.netflix.com/donottest.
3. Toggle On.

How much does Netflix cost?

Netflix has three main plans as of January 2026, with pricing based on video quality, device limits, and extra members.

Plan	Price/mo	Quality	Devices	Extra Members
Standard w/ ads	$7.99	1080p	2	Yes ($6.99 to $8.99)
Standard	$17.99	1080p	2	1 add-on
Premium	$24.99	4K + HDR	4	Up to 2 add-ons

Does Netflix have a free trial?

Netflix currently does not offer a free trial in the US.