Netflix Is Killing Off Phone Streaming.
Smart TVs have undoubtedly taken over the streaming market, and it’s easy to see why. You download the apps you need, sign in to your accounts, and voila: you can stream anything with just a few taps on your remote.
But smart TV apps aren’t the only way to watch shows and movies on platforms like Netflix. Along with other methods, such as connecting a laptop directly to a TV, many still enjoy casting content from small screens to big ones. For years, this has been a reliable way to switch from watching Netflix on a smartphone or tablet to a TV: just press the cast button, select the TV, and within moments, your content will be streamed to the desired location. Your device becomes a standalone remote control with a built-in search function, eliminating the need to log in to Netflix on TVs outside the home, such as in hotels.
At least that’s how it used to be, but Netflix doesn’t want to let you do that anymore.
Netflix no longer supports streaming on most devices.
While you can still cast content to your TV from other streaming platforms, there’s bad news for Netflix fans: the company has suddenly stopped supporting casting on most devices. Android Authority was the first to report this change , though you may have stumbled upon it yourself while searching for the cast button in the Netflix app. Furthermore, Netflix has prepared for your confusion, as evidenced bya Netflix Help Center page titled “I can’t find the ‘Cast’ button in the Netflix app.” This page might initially offer a glimmer of hope, leading you to think, “Oh great, Netflix has a solution if the cast button is missing.” Unfortunately, the answer is disappointing: “Netflix no longer supports casting TV shows from your mobile device to most TVs and streaming devices. To navigate Netflix, you will need the remote control that came with your TV or streaming device.”
The exception is for older Chromecast devices and Google Cast-compatible TVs, but only if you purchase an ad-free Netflix plan. If you’ve taken advantage of a lower Netflix subscription price , ads will not only impact your viewing time but also your ability to stream (assuming you have older casting hardware).
Although Android Authority was the first major publication to report this issue, some Netflix owners have been living with this change for weeks. On November 14, this user posted on the Chromecast subreddit, expressing their grievances about the change. They were particularly upset by Netflix’s lack of response, as the “Cast” button was removed “without warning.” Other users in the thread also expressed their displeasure, threatening to cancel their subscriptions over the issue.
Why is Netflix discontinuing streaming support?
Netflix isn’t explaining why it’s making these changes, so I can only speculate. First, it’s entirely possible that this is simply a matter of technology obsolescence. Many companies are dropping support for old or underused technologies, and perhaps Netflix believes now is the time to largely phase out casting support. Optimizing the technologies an app must support means less work for Netflix developers, and this wouldn’t be the first time the company has dropped support for older platforms. However, this doesn’t explain why the company still supports some casting devices. Perhaps it studied its user base and calculated that enough subscribers use Google Cast devices for casting, but not enough use newer casting hardware. We may not know for sure until Netflix decides to release a statement.
However, I can’t help but think this has something to do with Netflix’s strict password-sharing measures . The company clearly doesn’t want you using its service unless you have your own paid account or unless another user has paid extra to have you on their account. However, casting makes it easy to continue using someone else’s account without paying for it. Since Netflix only requires mobile users to sign in to the account owner’s home Wi-Fi once a month to continue watching on a device, you could theoretically cast Netflix from your smartphone to your TV to continue enjoying your shows and movies “for free.” If casting were removed as an option for most users, those users would either have to connect their device to the TV via cable—for example, a laptop connected via HDMI—or sign in to a smart TV app. And unless those users actually have permission to access that account through that app, they wouldn’t be able to cast.
If the company really intended this, it’s doing it, among other things, for the convenience of paying users. If you’re traveling, you’ll now have to sign in to your account on a TV you don’t own. If you don’t like Smart TV apps, you’re out of luck, unless you want to connect your computer to your TV to watch Stranger Things .
How to troubleshoot Netflix streaming issues with compatible hardware
If you meet the new requirements for streaming on Netflix but still don’t see the cast button, Netflix’s help center page has some troubleshooting tips. This varies by device, but generally, here’s what to do:
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Check your Chromecast’s Wi-Fi network : You can make sure your Chromecast is actively connected to a Wi-Fi network using the Google Home app on your iPhone or Android device.
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Turn your device off and on again . If you’re streaming from a phone or tablet, turn it off completely and then turn it on again.
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Turn your Chromecast off and on again . If the device boots up but the Cast button is still missing, turn off your Chromecast and unplug it for at least 15 seconds before turning it back on.
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Sign out of Netflix : Sign out of Netflix on the device you’re trying to stream from.
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Disable Chrome extensions: If you use Chrome on a Mac or PC to stream, Netflix recommends disabling browser extensions. (In my opinion, this is a bit of a drastic step, especially if you use Chrome extensions frequently, but if it works, it works.)