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10 things you didn't know you could do with Netflix

Here are some tricks that will vastly improve your viewing habits.

30 March 2016

Weeks? Months? The better part of your statutory holiday entitlement?

Yet despite the unthinkable amount of time you've drained into the eternal abyss that is Netflix, are you really getting the most out of your subscription service?

Here are some tricks that will vastly improve your viewing habits.

Make the most of your 4K TV

Still not sure why you bothered buying a 4K TV in the Black Friday sales? Netflix has the answer.

Just type "4K" into the Netflix search bar and you'll instantly be presented with every show and film in their database available in 4K resolution.

No, we've no idea why Pee-Wee's Big Holiday was filmed in 4K either.


Use Netflix as a beautiful screensaver

Want something on your screen as a background distraction?

Search "Moving Art" and you'll find a selection of natural landscape videos, underscored by stirring classical soundtracks. Ideal for that next dinner party/a Netflix and Culture session.


Remember you've got subtitles

Struggling to understand the accents in your new favourite international show (it takes some getting used to the Fargo lilt)?

You can turn on Closed Captions from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. This is also helpful if you're watching something on the go and forgot to bring your headphones - just mute and read. It's almost like a picture book! Almost. But not.


Take control of your Netflix addiction

Hidden within the depths of your 'Profile' settings is a section called 'Playback settings'. From here you can do two important things:

  • Got a dodgy Wi-Fi connection in your house? You might want to set your data usage to 'Low', just to stop your connection fluctuation between quality settings with occasional pauses.
  • Lack the willpower to say no to 'Play the next episode'? You can curb that addiction permanently here, by un-ticking the 'Auto-Play' feature.


Try your Anime in a different language

It's okay, we're not going to judge you for your secret anime addiction.

Some of Netflix's biggest anime hits are available in their original language, and in an English translation. Can't be bothered to read along and miss the visuals? See what language versions are available by clicking in the navigation bar.


Use your keyboard like a remote

Got a wireless keyboard? Then you can use it like a remote if you're watching Netflix through your computer. Here are all the shortcuts you need to know:

  • Space – Toggle Play/Pause
  • Enter – Toggle Play/Pause
  • PgUp – Play
  • PgDn – Pause
  • F – Full-screen
  • Esc – Exit full-screen
  • Shift+Left arrow – Rewind
  • Shift+Right arrow – Fast Forward
  • Up arrow - Volume Up
  • Down arrow - Volume Down
  • M - Mute toggle


Use your profiles more proficiently

You mean you're only using profiles to distinguish between the films you love (good films) and the film your other half loves (bad films)?

If you want Netflix to suggest a heap of new content based around a specific genre you like, try making a profile for that one type of film. As you watch more of that genre in one profile, Netflix will then provide more suggestions tailored to that particular love.

You're not doing it right if you don't have a profile for 'Documentaries', 'Sports films' and 'Zombie horror'.


Browse by obscure genres

Clicking 'Browse' allows you to fumble about in the major genres that Netflix wants you to find. A simple 'hack' allows you to peruse a whole heap of more obscure categories hidden in the depths of Netflix's library:

  • This only works on Netflix's main web browser, rather than any apps
  • You're going to want to enter www.netflix.com/browse/genre/
  • After /genre/ you're going to add a code that Netflix has designed to relate to a very specific sub-genre of films: genre/3327 relates to 'Alien Sci-Fi'
  • The known sub-genres are in the next slide (below) - but if you've got an empty Tuesday evening to fill, you can try throwing your own numbers at it to see if you can find something new


The obscure genres to browse by

  • Action & Adventure: 1365
  • Action Comedies: 43040
  • Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy: 1568
  • Action Thrillers: 43048
  • Adult Animation: 11881
  • Adventures: 7442
  • African Movies: 3761
  • Alien Sci-Fi: 3327
  • Animal Tales: 5507
  • Anime: 7424
  • Anime Action: 2653
  • Anime Comedies: 9302
  • Anime Dramas: 452
  • Anime Fantasy: 11146
  • Anime Features: 3063
  • Anime Horror: 10695
  • Anime Sci-Fi: 2729
  • Anime Series: 6721
  • Art House Movies: 29764
  • Asian Action Movies: 77232
  • Australian Movies: 5230
  • B-Horror Movies: 8195
  • Baseball Movies: 12339
  • Basketball Movies: 12762
  • Belgian Movies: 262
  • Biographical Documentaries: 3652
  • Biographical Dramas: 3179
  • Boxing Movies: 12443
  • British Movies: 10757
  • British TV Shows: 52117
  • Campy Movies: 1252
  • Children & Family Movies: 783
  • Chinese Movies: 3960
  • Classic Action & Adventure: 46576
  • Classic Comedies: 31694
  • Classic Dramas: 29809
  • Classic Foreign Movies: 32473
  • Classic Movies: 31574
  • Classic Musicals: 32392
  • Classic Romantic Movies: 31273
  • Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy: 47147
  • Classic Thrillers: 46588
  • Classic TV Shows: 46553
  • Classic War Movies: 48744
  • Classic Westerns: 47465
  • Comedies: 6548
  • Comic Book and Superhero Movies: 10118
  • Country & Western/Folk: 1105
  • Courtroom Dramas: 2748
  • Creature Features: 6895
  • Crime Action & Adventure: 9584
  • Crime Documentaries: 9875
  • Crime Dramas: 6889
  • Crime Thrillers: 10499
  • Crime TV Shows: 26146
  • Cult Comedies: 9434
  • Cult Horror Movies: 10944
  • Cult Movies: 7627
  • Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy: 4734
  • Cult TV Shows: 74652
  • Dark Comedies: 869
  • Deep Sea Horror Movies: 45028
  • Disney: 67673
  • Disney Musicals: 59433
  • Documentaries: 6839
  • Dramas: 5763
  • Dramas based on Books: 4961
  • Dramas based on real life: 3653
  • Dutch Movies: 10606
  • Eastern European Movies: 5254
  • Education for Kids: 10659
  • Epics: 52858
  • Experimental Movies: 11079
  • Faith & Spirituality: 26835
  • Faith & Spirituality Movies: 52804
  • Family Features: 51056
  • Fantasy Movies: 9744
  • Film Noir: 7687
  • Food & Travel TV: 72436
  • Football Movies: 12803
  • Foreign Action & Adventure: 11828
  • Foreign Comedies: 4426
  • Foreign Documentaries: 5161
  • Foreign Dramas: 2150
  • Foreign Gay & Lesbian Movies: 8243
  • Foreign Horror Movies: 8654
  • Foreign Movies: 7462
  • Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy: 6485
  • Foreign Thrillers: 10306
  • French Movies: 58807
  • Gangster Movies: 31851
  • Gay & Lesbian Dramas: 500
  • German Movies: 58886
  • Greek Movies: 61115
  • Historical Documentaries: 5349
  • Horror Comedy: 89585
  • Horror Movies: 8711
  • Independent Action & Adventure: 11804
  • Independent Comedies: 4195
  • Independent Dramas: 384
  • Independent Movies: 7077
  • Independent Thrillers: 3269
  • Indian Movies: 10463
  • Irish Movies: 58750
  • Italian Movies: 8221
  • Japanese Movies: 10398
  • Jazz & Easy Listening: 10271
  • Kids Faith & Spirituality: 751423
  • Kids Music: 52843
  • Kids’ TV: 27346
  • Korean Movies: 5685
  • Korean TV Shows: 67879
  • Late Night Comedies: 1402
  • Latin American Movies: 1613
  • Latin Music: 10741
  • Martial Arts Movies: 8985
  • Martial Arts, Boxing & Wrestling: 6695
  • Middle Eastern Movies: 5875
  • Military Action & Adventure: 2125
  • Military Documentaries: 4006
  • Military Dramas: 11
  • Military TV Shows: 25804
  • Miniseries: 4814
  • Mockumentaries: 26
  • Monster Movies: 947
  • Movies based on children’s books: 10056
  • Movies for ages 0 to 2: 6796
  • Movies for ages 2 to 4: 6218
  • Movies for ages 5 to 7: 5455
  • Movies for ages 8 to 10: 561
  • Movies for ages 11 to 12: 6962
  • Music & Concert Documentaries: 90361
  • Music: 1701
  • Musicals: 13335
  • Mysteries: 9994
  • New Zealand Movies: 63782
  • Period Pieces: 12123
  • Political Comedies: 2700
  • Political Documentaries: 7018
  • Political Dramas: 6616
  • Political Thrillers: 10504
  • Psychological Thrillers: 5505
  • Quirky Romance: 36103
  • Reality TV: 9833
  • Religious Documentaries: 10005
  • Rock & Pop Concerts: 3278
  • Romantic Comedies: 5475
  • Romantic Dramas: 1255
  • Romantic Favorites: 502675
  • Romantic Foreign Movies: 7153
  • Romantic Independent Movies: 9916
  • Romantic Movies: 8883
  • Russian: 11567
  • Satanic Stories: 6998
  • Satires: 4922
  • Scandinavian Movies: 9292
  • Sci-Fi & Fantasy: 1492
  • Sci-Fi Adventure: 6926
  • Sci-Fi Dramas: 3916
  • Sci-Fi Horror Movies: 1694
  • Sci-Fi Thrillers: 11014
  • Science & Nature Documentaries: 2595
  • Science & Nature TV: 52780
  • Screwball Comedies: 9702
  • Showbiz Dramas: 5012
  • Showbiz Musicals: 13573
  • Silent Movies: 53310
  • Slapstick Comedies: 10256
  • Slasher and Serial Killer Movies: 8646
  • Soccer Movies: 12549
  • Social & Cultural Documentaries: 3675
  • Social Issue Dramas: 3947
  • Southeast Asian Movies: 9196
  • Spanish Movies: 58741
  • Spiritual Documentaries: 2760
  • Sports & Fitness: 9327
  • Sports Comedies: 5286
  • Sports Documentaries: 180
  • Sports Dramas: 7243
  • Sports Movies: 4370
  • Spy Action & Adventure: 10702
  • Spy Thrillers: 9147
  • Stage Musicals: 55774
  • Stand-up Comedy: 11559
  • Steamy Romantic Movies: 35800
  • Steamy Thrillers: 972
  • Supernatural Horror Movies: 42023
  • Supernatural Thrillers: 11140
  • Tearjerkers: 6384
  • Teen Comedies: 3519
  • Teen Dramas: 9299
  • Teen Screams: 52147
  • Teen TV Shows: 60951
  • Thrillers: 8933
  • Travel & Adventure Documentaries: 1159
  • TV Action & Adventure: 10673
  • TV Cartoons: 11177
  • TV Comedies: 10375
  • TV Documentaries: 10105
  • TV Dramas: 11714
  • TV Horror: 83059
  • TV Mysteries: 4366
  • TV Sci-Fi & Fantasy: 1372
  • TV Shows: 83
  • Urban & Dance Concerts: 9472
  • Vampire Horror Movies: 75804
  • Werewolf Horror Movies: 75930
  • Westerns: 7700
  • World Music Concerts: 2856
  • Zombie Horror Movies: 75405


Stop a bad film ruining your suggested selection

We know you didn't mean to click Green Street 2: Stand Your Ground, but ever since you did Netflix keeps suggesting heaps of other gritty English dramas you have no intention of watching.

To erase this mistake from your browsing history, head to your 'Your account' > 'Profile settings' and click 'Viewing activity'.

From here you can permanently delete any shows you want Netflix to forget you watched, thus preventing them from having an influence on your 'Suggested' lists.

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