Netflix is generally a smooth experience, but here’s how to solve the most common issues that come up for users while streaming video
There’s no denying that streaming video has made home entertainment a lot more convenient than it once was. The days when viewers were beholden to broadcast schedules and physical media are long gone. Now, consumers can watch whatever they want whenever they want, provided that one of the growing numbers of streaming content services has locked down a licensing agreement.
All of that said, for everything Netflix has given us (either directly or through competitor adoption) the world’s most popular streaming service isn’t perfect. Some of its issues, like those surrounding account sharing and content availability, aren’t solvable at the consumer level, but other common Netflix issues are. Netflix, like most user interfaces, is designed to be palatable to the largest number of consumers. The compromises which make it pretty good for anyone make it less good for everyone. Fortunately, many of the common problems you encounter while getting your binge on can be fixed with a couple of clicks. Netflix isn’t perfect, but it can become moreso with a few simple changes.Remove content from continue watching
The Netflix homepage is dynamic and customized to each individual user. While some recommendations are given to everyone, like the list of most popular titles, others are individualized to your tastes. One way Netflix figures out what to recommend is by keeping track of what you’ve watched so far. Rather than needing to remember what you’ve been watching and go searching for it each time, the „continue watching“ section of your home screen keeps everything in one centralized location.
Of course, it can become contaminated over time. You might start a show and realize you’re not connecting and abandon it. You might also live with other people who are watching things on your profiles and mucking up your list. Eventually, the show you actually want can become buried beneath a mountain of mediocre media. Fortunately, you can clean up your to-watch list fairly easily.
On a computer, you can remove a title by hovering over it and clicking „remove from row.“ On a smart TV, you’ll need to go to the show’s details page and remove it from there. On your mobile, you can remove titles by clicking the three dots and selecting „remove from row.“ If you run into trouble, make sure you have the latest version of the Netflix app, or you can remove titles manually by logging into your account through a web browser.Trailer autoplay
One of the most annoying parts of a binge session is figuring out what to watch. In a world so many choices (Netflix has thousands of movies and television shows, including more than a thousand original productions) choice paralysis is almost inevitable. This is why so many of us spend so much time looking for the right thing before we start watching.
The search can quickly become irritating thanks to the way Netflix automatically plays trailers anytime you linger for more than a second. It can be hard to think when an ad kicks on every few seconds and the only way to stop it is to scroll on. Except that isn’t the only way to stop it.
From a mobile device, open the Netflix app, select the profile button, and click Manage Profiles. Click on the profile you want to work with and look for the Autoplay toggles at the bottom of the screen. Finally, deactivate the toggle next to Autoplay Previews and select Done. From a TV, computer, or any other device, you’ll need to go to your account on a browser, navigate to the Parental Controls section, and find Playback Settings. From there, you can deactivate Autoplay previews. You may need to log out and back in, and refresh or update your app, in order for the changes to take effect.Next episode autoplay
Like most businesses, Netflix is always trying to maximize its revenue while minimizing costs. In practice, maximizing revenue means keeping customers and gaining new ones, something which is accomplished, at least in part, by user experience. Minimizing costs means only paying to deliver content when a user is actually watching something. Leaving Netflix running while you sleep costs them money and doesn’t really benefit you, aside from being the world’s most expensive night light.
In an effort to balance user experience with cost-saving measures, Netflix automatically plays the next episode of a show once the current one has ended, at least for a little while. After a few episodes, Netflix does a wellness check and asks if you’re still watching.
