If you’re a regular reader of this site, you’ll know that cutting your cable or satellite from your monthly budget is a no-brainer. With all the amazing streaming entertainment services out there, you can find exactly what you want for so much less money.
Most people are able to save hundreds of dollars a year by switching their entertainment options to SlingTV, Hulu, HBOGo, and of course, the granddaddy of all streaming services, Netflix.
One thing I’ve been hearing from a lot of my friends recently is that Netflix is a waste of money. Maybe you can relate?
Netflix has come a long way. My stance in 2019 and beyond: Make Netflix Enjoyable Again. And I’m here to share with you all the best tips and little-known Netflix hacks that will help you fall in love with the magic of Netflix all over again.
10 Best Netflix Hacks of 2019
1. Turn off the Judgement
How many times have you been trying to live your best life when Netflix interrupts with that super passive-aggressive message “Are you still watching?” TOO. MANY. TIMES.
If you watch Netflix via the web, you absolutely must download the Chrome extension Never Ending Netflix. This will let you binge in peace. In addition to turning off the still watching message, this extension has some other cool options, like skipping intros.
2. Get Informed of What’s Coming
Each month, Netflix updates its collection of movies and shows. Don’t be the last to know about an addition to Netflix that can make or break your next weeknight binge session. Bookmark this list so that you’ll always know what’s coming up on Netflix. It’s updated monthly, and will give you both the highlights as well as the nitty-gritty details.
3. Remove Regrets from Your Viewing History
Netflix is on your side – there’s a way to selectively delete your viewing history. That means erasing a bad late-night documentary or hiding the fact that you finished Stranger Things while your significant other was gone for the weekend. Simply visit this page, and see everything you’ve watched in chronological order. And since you’re here, why not also review your streaming history on Hulu too?
4. Kick Off Your Ex
While taking a look at your viewing history, did you happen to notice anything unfamiliar? Perhaps you shared your password with someone in the past, and it’s started to make its way around to people you don’t even know. (Seriously, it happens. Apparently $9 a month is too much to pay for the dignity of having your own account.) You can encourage moochers to find a new sucker by going to My Account -> Sign out of all devices. Then change your password and boom, you’re set.
5. Add IMDb Ratings
The Netflix endless scrolling phenomenon can be beat. One of the best ways to get more info about the seemingly endless options is by adding a Chrome extension to add IMDb ratings to your Netflix account.
This straightforward extension adds a pop-up with the movie or show’s IMDb rating when you hover over a title. It’s a tiny addition that can make an enormous impact by making it so much easier to find something you might actually want to watch. Note that like with other Chrome extensions, this addition only works with browser-based viewing. So those with Apple TV, FireTV, Roku, or a game system will be out of luck.
Our suggestion – browse on your laptop, find what you want, and then switch over to your streaming device to actually watch. Over time, in theory, your Netflix algorithm will begin to adapt and offer better suggestions.
6. Watch Movies and Shows Offline
Netflix originally rolled out the ability to download some of their collection of movies and shows in late 2016. But there are so many people who don’t know that this feature exists, even now that we’re late into 2019. Downloading shows is a game-changer for when you don’t know whether you’ll have reliable Wi-Fi. Or when you know that your boss will be gone next week and you want to watch a little something at your desk. No judgment from us.
Simply download the Netflix mobile app and make sure you have a little time with a Wi-Fi connection (and the storage space on your device). Find the show you’d like to watch on the app, then click the downward-pointing arrow to download for later offline watching.
7. Create Curated Viewing Experiences With Profiles
If you don’t share your account with friends or family, you can use your extra viewing profiles to make the most of the Netflix algorithm. Think of it like creating a profile for each of your different viewing moods. Perhaps one is dedicated to rom-coms, cooking shows, and reality TV, while another is more sophisticated and dedicated to documentaries and foreign films. The possibilities are endless.
What’s nice is that the Netflix algorithm will start suggesting things based on your viewing mood, rather than getting confused when you switch from The Great British Bakeoff to Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil.
8. Disable Distracting Dubbing on Foreign-Language Shows & Movies
Netflix has some notable foreign language shows and movies in its collection. But many of them are dubbed in English in a way that, quite honestly, ruins the experience. Don’t give up! There’s a workaround that will allow you to turn off the dubbed dialogue.
Click on the audio and subtitles button, and then select the audio in the “original” language. Then, you can add subtitles in your preferred language. And while you’re at it, did you know that you can also customize your subtitles?
Go to Your Account -> Your Profile -> Subtitle Appearance where you can adjust the color, size, and even the font of your subtitles. Now there’s nothing holding you back from all that culture and worldliness.
9. Solve for World Buffering Peace
Buffering time is a mood killer. To keep your shows and movies streaming consistently, there are some adjustments you can make. If you’re on a streaming device, go to your account page where you can find the Playback Settings and adjust to “Auto,” so your content loads according to whatever connection speed is available.
If buffering continues to be an issue, there are a few extra ideas that might help. Move your Internet router closer to your streaming device, use an Ethernet cable, and disable Wi-Fi on devices you’re not currently using.
Note that Netflix has been known to have worse video quality during peak streaming times. So if you don’t want to sacrifice viewing quality, try watching either late-late at night or early in the morning, when fewer people are watching.
10. Find What You Want Faster
Last but not least, there are some great ways to find movies and shows that you actually want to watch. Instead of sticking to Netflix’s broad genre-based categories, try a resource like The Netflix Bible, which gives you the info you need to access the Netflix categories that make actual sense for organizing shows and movies. These include categories like “Cult TV Shows,” “Dramas Based on Books,” “Miniseries,” and “Slapstick Comedies.”
Like a few of the other tricks from this list, the categories work best on a laptop. So start by looking up titles on a browser, and then add the selections you want to your queue so you can access them from a streaming device later. And if you still haven’t found anything good to watch? You might just want to turn to Netflix Roulette. Select a genre (or not), an IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes score, and spin the metaphorical wheel.
Now you know some of the best Netflix hacks to make the most of your viewing experience. Now go make some popcorn and get to bingeing! Those 4,000 shows and movies aren’t going to watch themselves.
