If you’re like most people, you probably only use Netflix to watch movies and TV shows, but you’re missing out on something that could drastically change your entire viewing experience. With Netflix, you can unlock a seemingly endless variety of movies, and TV shows that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. However, there are a few ways to efficiently extend your enjoyment of the service. This post will cover six exciting hacks you can use to improve your Netflix experience.
Access Geo-Blocked Content With A VPN
Due to lots of mundane legal reasons, Netflix routinely blocks access to TV shows in other countries. While you can usually find common shows like Friends etc., you will find it challenging to watch most if you are outside the country of origin. This is known as geo-blocking and can be pretty frustrating, especially if you are on vacation or traveling for work. After all, you are paying for a service they cannot provide. However, fret not, as there is a very straightforward remedy to the issue…a VPN! A PB (a virtual private network) is a type of software that essentially tricks the ISP that you are in a different country.
When it comes to buying a VPN, there are a lot of factors that you need to take into account. There are several factors to consider, including the number of servers available, the number of IP addresses provided, the speed of your connection, and the encryption level. We want a VPN service compatible with a service like Netflix, and options like PrivateVPN ticks a lot of what we want to see on a VPN. However, the most important thing to consider is how much privacy you want from the service. An excellent way to find out what type of privacy you need is by reading reviews on different VPN providers.
Download For Offline Viewing
Although this is a notable feature, many people tend to ignore the benefits it can bring. You can download the show from your Netflix account and watch it offline if you are traveling. This allows you to watch your favorite shows without worrying about internet connectivity or data usage. Some people also like to use this feature to watch their favorite TV show when they are at home and then continue watching it on their commute to work or while they’re waiting for a meeting.
Let Netflix Choose For You!
A relatively relatively recent update to the service comes in the form of a button that you can click, which allows Netflix to choose a random show based on your preferences. This might not sound like a super amazing hack, but it is a convenient feature if you are like me and have trouble deciding what to watch. Once you log into your account, you will be presented with a button, usually at the bottom of the screen. Simply click this, and Netflix will begin playing either a movie or show. Netflix can instantly play something you might be interested in based on your watch history and watch list. Moreover, it is ideal for the discerning individual who has seen everything and wants something special to surprise them!
Say No To Buffering!
Often, users experience buffering issues when watching their favorite show or movie. The buffering issue is annoying because the video won’t start playing until it’s finished buffering. This can be very frustrating, especially when you’re trying to watch a show and it keeps stopping and starting. While this feature is meant to provide you with the best quality possible depending on your location, it can get frustrating, especially when you have a slow internet connection. Luckily, there is an ingenious hack to get around this issue. Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S while playing a game to open a menu with streaming options and buffering fixes. You’ll get a lesser streaming quality at a lower bitrate, but you’ll stop the choppy starting and stopping since the video requires less bandwidth, so you can actually watch it without going insane.
Use Profiles To Curate Content
Hacks such as these aren’t really “hacks” per se because it’s how the service is intended to be used. However, many people fail to create individual profiles and end up with a random mixture of shows unrelated to their interests. By creating separate profiles for all users, you will end up with a highly-curated selection of shows that you are likely to want to watch.
View Hidden Categories
There are literally thousands of categories on Netflix. There is, however, only a tiny percentage of the service’s entire catalog, making it hard to dig deeper to find what you want to watch. Instead, you can use special codes (found in various places online) that you type into your browser to gain access to everything listed under that specific category.
It’s never too late to up your Netflix game. Making some small changes can drastically increase the enjoyment of your streaming habits. Hopefully, these hacks will make your viewing experience even more enjoyable than ever.
