Netflix settings and options you might not know about

Netflix comes with a variety of settings and options for streaming to suit every need and every kind of use. Here are some of them to know.

With over 222 million subscribers, Netflix is ​​one of the most popular streaming services in the world. With a huge catalog of TV shows and movies, Netflix has content for everyone. Whether you use the platform every day or occasionally, you may not know all of its secrets. Here are a few.

Limit Search Netflix Originals

Open the Netflix app on any device and type “Netflix”in the search bar, then you will see all the movies and series created by Netflix.

You can go even further by focusing on interactive content. To find all content similar to Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, just type “interactive”in the search bar, you will see relevant results, including those about children.

You can use the same method to find 4K HDR compatible content. Type 4K and/or HDR into the search bar and you’ll see content that matches your query. Keep in mind, however, that they are still relatively rare.

Use hidden codes to find content

As you may already know, once the information has been well communicated, Netflix has codes to access subcategories much like the secret menu at Starbucks. You can restrict content searches to these specific sub-categories using four-digit codes on the website.

So you can easily find what you want for the evening with the right code.

Keyboard video control

If you’re using Netflix on a computer, you’re probably clicking to pause, go back a few seconds, or change the volume. There are hotkeys for this. The volume is controlled with the up and down arrows, while the left and right arrows, meanwhile, let you go back and forth by 10 seconds. The M button turns off the sound.

To pause, use a space. Press it again and playback will resume. To enter full screen mode, press the F key and Esc to return.

Adjust your data usage

Many users watch Netflix on their smartphone or tablet. Those with a limited data plan may find it melts like snow in the sun, depending on the quality of the video. However, you can control how the data is used.

Open the Netflix app on your smartphone and tap the Plus icon on your profile. Click App Settings and under Video Playback, click Cellular Data Usage. According to the Netflix help page, change the configuration to Wi-Fi just to not connect to your data plan.

You can also change your browser’s Netflix data usage for all your screens, including mobile ones. Open your profile on the account page and click on Playback Settings. There are four options: Auto (default), Low (up to 0.3 GB per hour), Medium (up to 0.7 GB per hour) and High (up to 3 GB per hour for HD and 7 GB per hour for Ultra HD). The lower the quality, the less data you consume. Don’t forget to save your settings.

Use audio description

A little-known Netflix feature that can be very useful for visually impaired people. When you turn on audio description, the voiceover adds a description of what is happening on screen in the movie or episode. The voice describes facial expressions, clothing, stage, movements, and other important elements.

Netflix explains that most of its original content has an audio description, and it’s also available for other titles in the catalog. To activate, start playback on your device. Then you need to tap on the screen or use the remote control to bring up the icon with different languages ​​and see the languages ​​in which the audio description is available.

Change subtitles

Some people love dubbing in their native language, others appreciate the original versions with subtitles. Netflix allows you to customize the following settings: font, font size, shading, and even wallpaper.

To do this, you need to open Netflix in a web browser and select a profile on the account page. Then click “Show Subtitles”to change it all and click “Save”. This can be set for each profile in your Netflix account. You may need to restart the application for the changes to take effect. If you don’t like these changes, just select “Reset”to return to the default configuration.

Check your bitrate

Netflix allows you to check your data transfer speed through the Netflix “Nerd Statistics”menu. The higher the bitrate, the better the video quality. With the video open, press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + D to display the bitrate, buffer status, and fps.

On some TVs, this menu can be called up using the remote control and, most often, using the “Information”button. Press the button during video playback. In the Roku window, select a video, and before hitting the play button, double-tap the star* button to see those numbers. Double tap them again to make them disappear.