Netflix Hacks, Tips, and Tricks You Deserve to Know
Aug 27, 2020 • Kyzia Maramara
One of the best forms of stress-relieving is by binging series and films on Netflix. It’s a whole new world of hundreds of titles to add to your list. But did you know there are Netflix hacks, tips, and tricks that can make your viewing experience better? You might already know you can download titles for offline or on-the-go viewing but you can do so much more. Netflix can help you learn a new language, make better choices on what to watch, and even discover more titles. Read on to find out!
Lock your profile from prying eyes
If you share an account with other people and you don’t want them snooping around and finding out you’re once again on a K-Drama binge, you can actually lock your account. From the web browser, go to your Account page > Profile & Parental Controls > Profile Lock. Enter your Netflix account password and proceed to create a 4-digit PIN. Click Submit and you’re all set for a private sesh anytime anywhere.
Shuffle Play/Play Something/Netflix Roulette
Lol Netflix now has a “shuffle” button. This is something I needed that I didn’t even know I need. pic.twitter.com/JEEsF65Bc0
— Chaby Digital (@Chabz_Classic) July 14, 2020
How many minutes — nay, hours — have you wasted trying to decide which movie to watch for the night? Mercifully, randomizers are here to help.
Recently, Shuffle Play and Play Something buttons were made available for US Netflix users for a test run. The former appears below your Netflix profile while the latter is found on the left side menu panel. It randomly selects a film or a series tailored for you based on your watch history, watch list, or similar genres. Both are accessible via TV only. Netflix is still conducting tests and gathering feedback before deciding to roll out the feature in public and in more locations.
Interesting new feature @netflix … but what kind of insane person just says, “yolo, let’s spin the Netflix wheel of fortune” pic.twitter.com/6WDJrmd7pG
— Turner Levison (@TurnerLevison) August 18, 2020
However, if you really want to try a shuffle option, the Netflix Roulette is the online randomizer just for you. You can use it without signing up, all you have to do is visit Netflix Roulette, select the genre you want, tick a few options, and let the wheel of fortune work for you.
Fire up Netflix and let the fates decide!
Language Learning with Netflix Chrome extension
Here’s a handy trick for those who want to learn a foreign language. Language Learning With Netflix is a Chrome extension that lets you hone your skills in the language you’re interested in. The subtitles will be shown in your native language and the foreign one simultaneously letting you compare and learn from both at the same time. Obviously it only works when you watch from Chrome and not from the Netflix app but we’ll take what we can get.
Plus, did you know you could actually customize your subtitles to change font color or visibility? From the web browser, go to Account > Profile & Parental Controls > Subtitle Appearance.
Watch with the screenplay
If you’ve always been interested in the inner workings of a movie’s plot and character’s story arc or you want to study scriptwriting, this extension will be a huge help. SceenplaySubs is a Netflix extension that allows you to view the movie and its screenplay side by side. However, only a few films have this feature: The Social Network, Marriage Story, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, The Irishman, Zodiac, and Silver Linings Playbook among others. Simply install the extension, check out their movie catalog, and choose one to be redirected to Netflix.
Binge with friends while apart through Netflix Party
Via Google
With the pandemic effectively locking everyone in their homes, we needed to be creative with movie nights and hangouts. Netflix Party is the solution to your lonely nights watching alone. Install the extension on your browser, choose a movie, and click the Netflix Party logo on the top right of the browser. It will give you a link to share with your friends. The extension also has a group chat so all unnecessary film commentary among your barkada can still happen.
Use a VPN to access more content
As if your head isn’t swimming with the plethora of choices already, if you want more, you can always use a VPN – virtual private network. VPNs hide your IP address (we all deserve private browsing) by acting as an intermediary to open up a new world of streaming options. Some of the reliable VPNs in the Philippines include NordVPN and ExpressVPN. These come with a minimal fee for subscription plans. Of course, a VPN can do more than give you access to more Netflix content, using one ensures you’re secured from random prying eyes on the internet.
Peep these secret codes
Tired of the usual carousel of options? Netflix is a treasure trove of thousands of media, the recommendations you see on your screen is just the smallest tip of the iceberg. Netflix lets you choose from a generic set of categories but this website for codes shows a whole bunch of subgenres. There’s definitely something for your taste out there. Once you choose a subgenre, you can substitute the number/code for the “xx” in this URL: https://netflix.com/browse/genre/xx.
Get to view IMDb and Rotten Tomato ratings for smarter viewing
Via Google
Watching a new title on Netflix is always a gamble especially if you haven’t heard of it before. Wasting your hours on something that’s rated 5 and below is not cool. Chrome extension IMDb & Rotten Tomatoes for Netflix makes your life a thousand times easier with its integration of the famous websites for critic reviews. Once you hover on a title while viewing from the web, it will display the ratings from both sides making it easier for you to decide if a particular title is a skip or a must-watch.
Do you know any more Netflix tricks?
