Netflix has made a major change that affects how people watch shows on bigger screens. The company has removed the ability to cast videos directly from a mobile device to most TVs. In the past, viewers could start watching a show on their phone and instantly send it to the television, using their phone as the controller for playback. Now, that option is mostly gone. To continue watching on a TV, users must open the Netflix app on the television itself and navigate using the TV remote.
With this update, features like pausing, rewinding, adjusting volume, enabling captions, and changing playback settings from a phone will no longer work when the content is playing on a TV. All controls must now be handled through the TV remote.
What Netflix Says About the Change
Netflix explained the change on its help page, stating “Netflix no longer supports casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices.” Users are now required to “use the remote that came with your TV or TV-streaming device to navigate Netflix.”
The company also noted that this shift applies to hotel stays and short-term rentals. Travelers who once relied on casting will now need to sign in directly on the TV to watch content. To make logging in easier, Netflix supports single sign-on using a TV code instead of typing full account details manually. Netflix says hotel TVs automatically sign users out after checkout, and account holders can also remotely remove a device if needed.
According to Netflix, the casting feature was not widely used and was removed so the company could focus on improving features that provide greater value. Netflix did not disclose how many people previously used casting.
Where Casting Still Works
Casting is not gone completely. It remains available in certain limited cases and only on devices without a physical remote. Supported devices include older Google Chromecast units from before 2020, Google Nest Hub smart displays, and a few selected cast-enabled TV models. The feature is not supported on Netflix’s ad-supported plan.
Most modern smart TVs already come with the Netflix app preinstalled, so viewers can watch directly on the device instead of casting. Netflix recommends checking whether a TV supports Google Cast if casting is still preferred, as this can allow mobile streaming in some situations.
While this change adjusts how many people are used to watching Netflix, the platform expects users to shift toward the direct TV app usage. For now, the remote becomes the main way to manage Netflix on the big screen.
ALSO READ: Best Wearable Tech For Stress Tracking: Top Picks And Why They Matter
