5 Netflix Settings You Need to Fix Now for a Better Streaming Experience
Netflix has become the go-to platform for premium content and binge-watching, but a few key default settings might be holding back your streaming experience. From preventing annoying autoplay to ensuring you're getting the best possible picture quality, taking a few minutes to adjust these options can make a huge difference.
This guide will show you five essential Netflix settings to fix now to improve your 4K entertainment, reclaim your privacy, and take full control of your account.
1. Adjust Data Usage for Peak Streaming Quality
If you're paying for the Premium plan, you're paying for 4K streaming. However, Netflix's "Auto" setting might not always deliver the best quality. For an optimal home cinema experience on your TV or monitor, you should manually set your data usage to "High."
Why You Should Fix It: This ensures you're always streaming in the highest resolution your device can support, giving you the sharpest picture possible. If you're on a limited data management plan, you can also use this setting to reduce quality and save data.
How to Fix It:
Log in to your Netflix account on a web browser.
Go to Account > Profiles & Parental Controls.
Select your profile, then click on Playback settings.
Choose the High option under Data usage per screen, then save.
2. Disable Autoplay for Previews and Next Episodes
One of the most common complaints about Netflix is its aggressive autoplay features. Trailers and the next episode in a series start playing automatically, which can be jarring and disruptive to your Browse experience.
Why You Should Fix It: Turning these off gives you more control over your viewing. You can browse without interruption and choose when you're ready to start the next episode.
How to Fix It:
Log in to your Netflix account on a web browser.
Go to Account > Profiles & Parental Controls.
Select your profile, then click on Playback settings.
Uncheck the boxes for "Autoplay previews while Browse on all devices" and "Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices", then save.
3. Hide Unwanted Titles from Your Viewing Activity
Have you ever started a movie you didn't like, and now Netflix's recommendation algorithm is suggesting similar titles? You can fix your recommendations and tidy up your homepage by hiding titles from your viewing history.
Why You Should Fix It: Hiding shows and movies from your viewing activity is the best way to "recalibrate" the algorithm, ensuring your homepage recommendations are relevant to your current interests.
How to Fix It:
Log in to your Netflix account on a web browser.
Go to Account > Profiles & Parental Controls.
Select your profile, then choose Viewing activity.
Click the hide icon next to any title you want to remove. For a series, you'll see an option to "Hide series."
4. Manage Access and Devices for Security
If you've ever shared your Netflix password with friends or family, you might have old devices still signed into your account. This is a major account security risk and can slow down your streaming.
Why You Should Fix It: This feature allows you to see all active devices on your account and sign out of any that are no longer in use, protecting your privacy and ensuring your plan isn't being used by others without your knowledge.
How to Fix It:
Log in to your Netflix account on a web browser.
Go to Account > Security and Privacy > Manage Access and Devices.
Review the list of devices and click Sign out next to any device you don't recognize or no longer use.
5. Set Up a Profile PIN and Parental Controls
For family accounts, it’s critical to ensure that kids can only access age-appropriate content. Netflix's parental control settings let you set a PIN on profiles and restrict content by maturity rating.
Why You Should Fix It: This is a vital step for responsible family entertainment and gives you peace of mind that younger viewers aren't stumbling upon adult content.
How to Fix It:
Log in to your Netflix account on a web browser.
Go to Account > Profiles & Parental Controls.
Select a profile and click on Profile Lock to set a 4-digit PIN.
Under the same menu, click on Viewing Restrictions to set a maturity rating for that specific profile.
By making these five changes, you can take complete control of your Netflix experience, from optimizing video quality to securing your account for the long run. This is a crucial part of any modern digital technology investment.
