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7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

Netflix, the online movie and video streaming service that was only limited to the United States and Canada, has recently launched its service globally. Netflix now streams in over 130 countries and to add the icing on the cake, I can now watch content online without any VPN service. Compared to other services, Netflix has evolved a lot and I think it is much better than other similar services.

Contents1. Unblock content across borders2. Keyboard shortcuts make things easier3. Control subtitles4. Clear your continuous watch list5. Configure Netflix streaming quality6. Play Netflix in pop-up player7. Get the best recommendationPrefer video instead?Conclusion 7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

Yet we are always looking for a way to make things even better. So, in this article, I will talk about 7 Netflix tricks that every user can use to make the experience even better. Let's have a look.

1. Unblock content across borders

When Netflix launched in India, I was terribly excited. But then, after signing up for the trial period and taking a look at the content, I was very disappointed. So many titles were missing from the Indian catalog due to licensing issues. What they offered was peanuts compared to the US and Canadian catalog.

Then I came across this tool called Smartflix which can unblock all Netflix catalog for you. Imagine over 14,000 movies and TV shows from anywhere in the world! This is what Smartflix offers without any additional payment, at least while the app is in beta.

7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

The only limitation is that the app is limited to Windows and Mac and you only get HD and Full HD streaming even if you paid for the UltraHD streaming plan.

Note: After a recent statement from Netflix which mentioned that it would block users on VPN and proxies, there was no impact on the user of Smartflix. They are still operational, and you can read this page on Reddit where an employee explains how they are handling the situation.

2. Keyboard shortcuts make things easier

If you mainly use Netflix on your computer, I advise you to familiarize yourself with keyboard shortcuts. Here are the keyboard shortcuts it supports on the computer.

  • Spacebar – Toggle Play/Pause
  • Enter – Toggle Play/Pause
  • PgUp – Play
  • PgDn – Pause
  • F – Fullscreen
  • Esc – Exit full screen mode
  • Shift+Left Arrow – Rewind
  • Shift+Right Arrow – Fast forward
  • Up arrow – Turn up the volume
  • Down arrow – Volume down
  • M – Mute toggle

Cool Tip: If you're using one of the wireless keyboard apps on your Android or iPhone, you can use it as a remote when you're sitting away from the computer.

3. Control subtitles

I'm not sure about you, but there are people like me who just can't watch a movie or TV show without a subtitle and we're very particular about that. In desktop players like VLC and Daum PotPlayer, I always customize the subtitle font, and similar settings are available in Netflix Account Settings.

7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

Under Caption Appearance, you can configure your caption settings. Make the text bold, change the font and even choose how the shadow should be. If you have vision problems, you can also give the subtitles a background and increase the text size.

4. Clear your continuous watchlist

The Continue Watching option is a great feature of Netflix and helps you pick up where you left off. However, even after watching a movie or episode entirely, things keep piling up on this list.

7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

Titles can be learned from viewing history in Netflix while browsing from a computer. We have already made a detailed guide on this subject which you must consult.

5. Configure Netflix streaming quality

In account settings, you can click on Playback settings from where you can control the playback quality. These settings can be useful if you have a limited plan or a slow connection. The best part is that you receive a fair estimate of the amount of data usage in each of these settings.

7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

If you choose to go with Auto you can use a hidden menu from the Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S hotkey and also control the streaming quality from there.

6. Play Netflix in popup player

I sometimes prefer to watch my shows while I write a casual script or research a few things online. Unfortunately, this is not possible directly from Netflix settings. But you can enable the Panel feature from Chrome Flags and then use the Picture in Picture extension to bring up the player.

7 awesome tips for getting the most out of Netflix

If you have no idea what I'm saying, I suggest you take a look at one of my previous posts where I wrote in detail about the picture-in-picture extension for Chrome.

7. Get the best recommendation

It is difficult to take the time to have fun with family or friends. But when you do, you shouldn't waste any more time on what can be watched. There are many services that can help you decide what to watch best on Netflix.

Check out our article on how to find the highest rated Netflix movies and TV shows you can stream.

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Conclusion

So here are some useful tips that every user can benefit from and get the most out of the Netflix experience. If there is anything else you would like to cover, please mention it in the comments section or discuss it in our forum.

SEE ALSO: Netflix vs. YouTube Red:Should You Subscribe to One or Both?