How to Make Netflix Better by Changing a Few Settings

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services available. There are plenty of others, including Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, plus a bunch of niche streaming services. But Netflix still ranks despite shrinking the size of its catalog by half in recent years.

Whether you are brand new to Netflix or have been using it for several years, there are a few settings you can change to make Netflix even better. And by delving into the Netflix settings you can create the perfect Netflix experience for you and your family.

To access your Netflix settings on the web, just head to Netflix.com and sign in to your account. Then, click the arrow next to your profile at the top and select Account. Et voila, let the customization begin!

Create Multiple Profiles

If more than one person in your household uses the same Netflix account, multiple profiles can come in handy. This is especially helpful if you allow your children to watch content on Netflix.

Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Manage profiles. You can also jump to this area quickly by clicking the arrow next to your profile (as above) and selecting Manage Profiles.

Click Add Profile and enter a name. If you mark the checkbox next to Kid?, only movies and television shows available for children aged 12-and-under will be available. Hit the Continue button when you finish.

You will now see the new profile displayed alongside your other options, and can switch between them.

Set Up Parental Controls

To ensure that your child can only access content that you approve of, you should enable the Netflix parental controls. Scroll down to the Settings section and click Parental Controls. Enter your password when prompted and then create a four-digit parental control PIN.

Next, adjust the PIN protection level by choosing the age groups or using the slider. You can also enter titles for specific shows to require a PIN for playback, regardless of maturity rating.

Click Save at the top when you finish.

Now, if a user profile tries to access content outside of the level you set up, they will be prompted to enter that PIN.

Adjust Playback Settings

At the top, you can enable or disable autoplay using the checkboxes. These settings let you control whether or not you want the next episode of a series or previews on all your devices to play automatically.

For quality and convenience, you can adjust the data usage-per-screen and autoplay options. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Playback settings. You can then choose from the default video quality, low quality, medium quality, or high quality. That default setting can be one of the annoying things about using Netflix.

When you finish, click Save.

Customize the Subtitles

If you enjoy watching Netflix in another language using subtitles, you can completely customize their appearance. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Subtitle appearance.

Here, you can choose the font style from seven options including “Casual” and “Block,” and can pick a color as well. You can also select a text size from small, medium, or large.

You can then add a little flair to your subtitles with four different shadow options for the text along with the shadow color. Finally, you can select a background and window color if you like. As you experiment with each of these options, the sample at the top will change automatically for you to review. When you finish, click Save.

Update the Communication Settings

You can stay up to date with the exact types of Netflix news and details you want via email. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Communication Settings.

You can then mark which emails you would like to receive, such as updates on new features, newly added content, special offers, and helpful surveys.

You can opt to receive text messages by adding your phone number. And you can use that number to access and recover your account if necessary.

When you finish, click Update.

Decide Your List Order

If you would prefer to decide the order of shows and movies in your list, you can change this easily. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Order in My List. Then, mark the Manual Ordering radio button and click Save.

You can then rearrange content in the My List section rather than having Netflix recommendations at the top.

Now, just click My List in the top navigation. Then, just drag and drop content in the order you want it. You can also click Move to top on any piece of content and that TV show or movie will pop to the top of your list. Or just click the X to remove an item completely.

Find Hidden Genres

You may not be aware of this, but Netflix has a slew of hidden categories just waiting for you to discover.

For instance, if you choose the “Action” genre when browsing, you can scroll down to see sub-genres such as “Action Thrillers” and “Action Comedies”. However, there is also a hidden category for “Mind Bending Action Sci-Fi and Fantasy”.

Maybe you love the “Horror” genre and often browse the “Cult Horror” sub-genre. However, there is also a hidden “Vampire Horror Movies” category for those looking for a specific creature feature.

A handy website for accessing these hidden categories is Netflix Hidden Codes. You can browse through the list or enter a keyword into the search box. Click on one of the options and you will see options for that sub-genre open directly on Netflix.com.

Change Your Mobile Netflix Settings

There are a few settings that can be customized on Netflix for Android or iOS. Open the app on your device, tap the More button, and select App Settings. Keep in mind that settings vary depending on your device type.

On iOS, you can then adjust the data usage options. By default, Automatic is enabled, but you can change it for playback on Wi-Fi Only, Save Data, or Maximum Data.

In addition, you can control the video quality between Standard (faster with less storage) or Higher (uses more storage).

On Android, you may notice an additional setting for Allow Notifications. You can enable this option and receive alerts for new content, suggestions, or other types of Netflix notifications.

Download: Netflix for Android | iOS (Free)

How to Make Netflix Work Better for You

These simple adjustments can greatly improve your Netflix experience. Plus, if you share your account with others in your home, everyone can benefit from these changes to the Netflix settings. And if you change your mind, you can easily revert Netflix back to its defaults.

As a bonus, we offer up something you might not have considered, with an article explaining how to learn a language watching Netflix.

Image Credit: REDPIXEL.PL, Ellegant via Shutterstock.com

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