How to make Netflix shows look their best in your browser

Most people prefer to watch films and series from the comfort of their couch on a large television. There’s also a suitable app on a smartphone or tablet for when you’re on the move. However, if you want to make yourself really cozy while watching Netflix, many people reach for their laptop and lie down in bed. That said, watching Netflix directly in your browser can cause problems.

For one, you’re likely to be presented with a poorer picture quality than your subscription actually provides. There are multiple ways to avoid this, which we’ll go over below.

Further reading: Best VPN for streaming Netflix 2024: Watch from wherever you are

Choose the right browser

A well-known problem with Netflix is that browsers such as Firefox or Chrome do not play content in the best quality even though they should. On both Windows PCs and Macs, the quality can suffer massively if you use the wrong browser.

Netflix runs best in Safari. According to the streaming platform, a resolution of up to 2160p (Ultra HD) is possible here. Edge should also have fewer problems with the playback of HD content. So, if you have the option, it’s best to use one of these browsers for streaming.

Install a browser add-on

There are practical add-ons for all other browsers that virtually “force” playback in Full HD. In the case of Chrome, for example, there’s “Netflix higher quality” or “Netflix 1080p.” The latter is also available for Mozilla Firefox.

After installing the add-on, you should press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S in Netflix to open the menu for adjusting the bit rate. If the add-on causes problems, you can also try clearing the browser cache. Unfortunately, this does not work for content in a resolution higher than Full HD, i.e. Ultra HD or 4K. You really need a different browser for this (and the right Netflix subscription).

Use the app

Of course, you still have the option of simply switching to the Netflix app. This can be found in both the Microsoft Store and Apple’s App Store. However, since this year, users of the Windows app have had to do without downloading content for offline viewing, which was a major advantage of the app in contrast to the web version.

How to check the quality of the stream

You can use a simple trick to check the quality of the current video being played on Netflix. To do this, use the key combination Ctrl + Shift+ Alt + D. In addition to the current bit rate, more statistics, such as the Netflix servers used, are displayed here.