The wintery nights in the UK call for some warm and cosy indoor time. What better indoor activity can be better than Netflix? It is safe to say that Netflix is a simple Video on Demand (VOD) service that has a massive content library.
But what if I told you, you’ve barely scratched the surface in Netflix streaming.
Throughout the years, Netflix (and other companies) have rolled out features to improve the streaming experience to the next level.
For you to truly avail the best, we write for you some of the best tips to boost your Netflix experience. We’ll even show you how to access US Netflix library in UK (also Canada, Australia, Asia, etc.) Let’s get started.
Netflix Secret Codes
You’ll find yourself rummaging through the entire recommendations and suggestions list and it’ll eat up a chunk of your watch time. You’ll go so far as to search genres like “horror” “action” in the search bar, even though that’s not what it’s for. So, what do you do? You use Netflix secret codes.
It was discovered sometime in 2016 about secret codes that can be punched into the search bar, and it generates search results on specific genres and subgenres. There is a full list of the codes for various genres available online but some that we can list down are:
- Adventure (7442)
- Classic Action and Adventure (46576)
- Comic book and superhero movies (10118)
- Asian Action movies (77232)
- Anime Dramas (452)
- British Christmas Children and Family Films (1527064)
- Westerns (7700)
Downloads and Smart Downloads
With every subscription to Netflix, you get the download feature, but many people don’t use it. It is a great way to save yourself from the trouble of internet connections. There are some selective features on Netflix that are available to download, and the DVR storage is enough to fill your download list with the best of features.
There is also a feature called “Smart Download” that works best if you’re binging series. Suppose you’re downloading one episode after another of a series. Smart Download automatically deletes the watched episodes and downloads the next one beforehand. It takes the stress of manually clicking the download button for you.
“Super Netflix” extension
Let’s be honest! We’re all guilty of clicking on a series/show because of the cover photo or the celebrity. It seems good but then you end up questioning how wasteful the 2 hours were.
There is a way that you can make a much better decision in recommendations and get better suggestions. On chrome, you will find the “Super Netflix” extension which can do the following:
- Change the video quality
- Change the video speed rate
- Blur images and episode descriptions (to avoid spoilers)
- Change the contrast, brightness, and saturation.
You can access the extension through the Chrome Web Store.
Playback Settings
Netflix subscriptions also vary based on quality. You can get up to a 4K quality subscription, but the burning question is whether your internet can handle it. Netflix has a playback setting of Auto in which it adjusts the video quality based on bandwidth.
If you don’t want Netflix to annoyingly drop to 240p in the middle of an important scene, you can adjust the playback settings. Other than Auto, you can:
- Adjust to Low level that will be a lot less load on your internet but will not give such great quality
- Adjust to Medium Level that is limited to Standard Definition (SD) quality.
- Adjust to High Level that gives you HD and UltraHD (4K) streams as well. You might need to check your internet bandwidth before setting it to this level.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Using Netflix on a computer just got a whole lot of convenient thanks to Keyboard shortcuts like:
- Spacebar that pauses/plays the feature
- F that goes to/from Full-Screen mode
- M that mutes the sound instantly
- Up/Down Arrow that adjusts the volume
- Shift + Left/Right Arrow + Enter that fast forwards/rewinds the feature
Netflix Watch Party
This feature served well at a time when friends and family were apart. Netflix Watch Party was the add-on that allowed users to stream their favourite shows together from different locations. You can be regionally apart but by chat, you can talk to each other during Netflix streaming.
Changing Subtitles and Languages
Subtitles work best if you’re streaming foreign films or English isn’t your first language. There are also shows and movies that are dubbed and available in different languages as well, so changing languages counts as a worthy feature.
Global Access through VPN
We promised you a way to stream the US Netflix library in the UK, right? This is us delivering that. Through the power of Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can bypass the geo-restrictions of Netflix and gain access to content that was originally region exclusive.
Shows like The Office US can be streamed from Netflix US by changing the IP address through VPN. VPNs have the power to mask your online presence. It can virtually put you anywhere in the world and is also a great security tool.
Some of our favourite picks of VPNs that work perfectly with Netflix in the UK are:
- Surfshark
- Cyber Ghost
- ExpressVPN
- NordVPN
- PureVPN
Conclusion
With these 8 tips, you are a step closer to being a Netflix king. You’ll be able to amaze your friends with the cool features you have. These tips will help you utilize your account the proper way so kick back, relax, and have a great streaming experience.
