Archive for category: Netflix

Netflix stepped onto the scene in 1997, and forever changed the way viewers would interact with entertainment, both TV shows and movies. In 2010 the company joined the online video streaming revolution. And currently one-third of all the internet traffic goes to Netflix. If you haven’t yet joined the revolution, go to netflix.com to sign up. Click here to read more about getting a free Netflix trial.

Related: Netflix How To | Getting Started On Android

It’s easy to watch Netflix on a variety of mobile devices, like tablets and SmartPhones. You can make sure that your device is compatible with Netflix. Once you have registered your account, go to the app store on your SmartPhone or tablet and download the Netflix app.

Simply log in with your Netflix username and password and start watching anything you like, whenever and wherever you want. And if you start a Netflix show or movie on your TV, you can easily continue watching it on your mobile device or on your laptop at Netflix.com.

The Netflix iPhone Experience

The Netflix iPhone experience has been enhanced even more. First thing you’ll notice, is how many more categories of movies and TV shows there are on the home screen. At the top you’ll see the Continue Watching row, which shows all of the movies and shows you’ve recently watched. By tapping on the title you’re interested in, you can resume watching where you left off.

For the other titles, anywhere in the app, simply tap on any one of them to get more information. You’ll see the synopsis, actors, and all the episodes available to play. If you just want to play the title directly, double tap on it, and play begins immediately.

Photo by hardwarezone.com.sg

In addition to all the personalised lists on the home screen, you can go to the browse menu and see even more movies and TV shows, organised by genre. For parents, tap on the Children & Family genre and you’ll see a whole gallery of children and family movies and TV shows, organised by age group. So it’s really easy to find something appropriate for your kids to watch when you’re out and about.

Search is available everywhere in the application. By tapping the search button, located at the top right, you can begin typing for anything you’re interested in finding. Results will appear as you are typing. Tap on it for more information or play it directly by tapping on the image.

The Netflix app is available on various different devices. To see a list of the devices compatible with the streaming service, click here.

Before you can use Netflix on the PlayStation 3, you need to download the app. On the PlayStation cross media bar, go over to the TV and Video Services tab and press “x” to download the app.

Log into your Netflix account to begin using the app. The first thing you’ll see is “Select your Netflix experience” to choose between the normal Netflix experience, or the Just for Kids section. To select, click “x” on your control. You’ll notice the rows with TV shows and movie options. You can go up and down, or left and right to select a title to watch. When you find something you like and you pause on it, all the information about it will appear on the right.

Related: Netflix How To | Find Ratings & Recommendations

To learn more about the title and to play it, hit select again. For series, the second menu allows you to select a specific season or episode to watch. You can also select specific audio and subtitles from this menu. To watch, press “x” on your remote. If you want to rate the title, go back to the main menu, select rate and add the stars or thumbs up/thumbs down.

Another great feature of Netflix on PlayStation, is that the search option is always available. Press the triangle button on your controller, and the search experience pops up. As you begin typing, the search results begin loading on the right.

Click on the search result to get more information about the series or movie. The menu with more information and play options will appear. When you want to go back to the browse experience, press the circle button on your remote to go back to the home screen.

You will find Netflix on the second row of the AppleTV menu. After logging in for the first time, you’re presented with several ways to find something to watch. The Suggestions for You section provides you with personalised lists based on taste and what you’ve been watching.

You can use the buttons on your AppleTV remote to navigate through the lists. Once you’ve selected a movie, more information is displayed with option to play or rate. You can also select the More button to see the actors, and categories. Selecting an actor displays the movies and TV Shows they’ve acted in on Netflix. To go back, press the main menu on your AppleTV remote.

Selecting a TV show also provides you with more information and shows you different episodes and multiple seasons. You can select any season to see the different episodes. To play an episode, simply select the episode and then select Play or just press Play on your AppleTV remote.

Related: Netflix How To | Download Netflix Shows & Movies

While playing you can fast-forward or rewind. Pressing and holding the Select button on your remote displays the subtitle menu. Choose your preferred language and the play will resume automatically. To exit playback, press the Menu button on your remote.

The Just for Kids section is available from the Netflix main menu. It’s a special section for kids to find tons of shows and movies that they will love. There is only content provided for kids 12 and under. Browse through a list of personalised suggestions or continue watching a title. Or watch all the movies and TV shows from your favourite characters. You can also search for Kids Only titles.

You can search the entire Netflix catalogue by selecting Search from the Netflix main menu. Start typing the name of an actor or the title you are looking for, and the results are displayed as you type.

Experience Netflix free for a month. Sign up for your trial offer and instantly access the entire Netflix catalogue of TV shows and movies. Go to netflix.com to get started. Enter your email and choose a password, select the plan and payment option that’s best for you, and start watching.

You only have to fill in your payment information in advance, so you can enjoy Netflix uninterrupted after your trial offer ends. You will never be charged during your free trial and you can cancel at any time. Netflix will email you a reminder three days before your trial ends. After your trial ends, you’ll pay one low monthly fee, no matter how much you watch.

Who Created Netflix?

Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph created Netflix in Scotts Valley, California. Originally the business model included DVD sales and rentals via mail. But the sales stopped after a year, to solely focus on DVD rentals.

By 2010 they expanded into the streaming media world, but still kept the DVD and Blu-ray rentals on the side. In the same year they expanded their DVD rentals to Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. And in 2012 Netflix joined the content-production industry. Their debut series was Lilyhammer.

When Was Netflix Founded?

Netflix’s official launch was 29 August 1997. As of April 2019, the online streaming giant had more than 154 million subscriptions worldwide. They’ve expanded into over 190 countries. Outside of America, Netflix has offices Brazil, India, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands. They are also a member of MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America).

By 2016 the company released an estimate of 126 original series and films. This is more than any other cable or network channel. They are true revolutionaries of the entertainment industry. Netflix has been a pivotal player in transforming the entertainment world with their on-demand library of streamed content.

A Blockbuster Late Fee Sparked the Company Concept

Who knows if this is completely true, or an urban legend. But the story goes that the Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was appalled at a late fee that Blockbuster Video required for a movie rental. He decided that there should be a rental service without late fees. Up to date the company still has 4 million rental subscribers in America.

Blockbuster Didn’t Want To Buy Netflix

In 2000 Hastings decided to contact Blockbuster and offer them the online service as a complementary to their traditional brick and mortar business model. The offer was for $50 million. But Blockbuster declined the offer.

By 2005 the innovative online company had 4.5 million customers. And Blockbuster were struggling to adapt to the internet entertainment economy. In 2004 the traditional movie rental company peaked with close to 9 000 retail locations. By 2010, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy. And at the end of 2017 they only had 9 stores left in operation. At the same time, Netflix was worth over $40 billion. In July 2018, the mighty Blockbuster was whittled down to a solitary branch in Bend, Oregon.

One-Third of All the Internet Traffic Goes To Netflix

Anybody that has used Netflix, knows how much data the online streaming site chows. If it’s hogging your bandwidth, imagine everybody else around the world logging into the service as well. During peak times Netflix streaming accounts for roughly one-third of the total worldwide internet traffic.

Original Content Worth $13 Billion

By 2018, Netflix’s budget for original content was roughly $13 billion. In the beginning their budget was only $8 billion to create their own original content. Their new target is about the same as the gross domestic product of Albania, and more than the total GDP of countries such as Madagascar. The main reason for increasing this budget, is to lock down on their licensing fees debt.

140 Million Hours Every Day

The rough streaming estimation of the average Netflix subscriber is about 90 minutes per day. Multiply this with the number of Netflix subscribers around the globe, and that adds up to more than a 1 billion hours of Netflix content streamed every week.

The First Netflix Original “Show”

To test out different video formats and streaming capabilities, Netflix created this strange 11-minute-long video clip. They wanted to ensure that the company could successfully stream high-definition content. It features various abstract clips.

Why can’t I stream Netflix in HD (High Definition)?  If you are on the Netflix basic plan, you will only have access to Standard Definition (SD) viewing. Netflix offers three streaming plans. The plan you choose will determine how many people can stream series and movies from Netflix at the same time, as well as the streaming quality.

The Basic Plan lets one person stream series and movies from Netflix, in Standard definition (SD). The Standard Plan lets two people stream series and movies from Netflix, in High definition (HD) when available.

The Premium plan lets up to four people stream series and movies from Netflix, in High definition (HD) when available. Additionally, select titles will be available in Ultra HD 4K to those who are using new HD compatible devices.

You can change your plan at any time. To do so, visit netflix.com/changeplan. No matter what plan you choose, you will have unlimited access to all the TV shows and movies available on Netflix. And you can watch them on any Netflix ready device. Plus, you can install the Netflix app on as many devices as you want.

Related: How Do I Change My Netflix Plan

What is the Difference between Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) Viewing?

The Standard Definition (SD) video resolution is classified as 480p or 480i. The High Definition (HD) is 720p, 1080i, or 1080p. And Ultra HD 4K is 4096p. Your choice of video resolution will greatly influence the quality of your viewing experience, especially on larger format screens.

What Is Video Resolution?

The video resolution is based on how many pixels it takes to make up one frame of the video. A pixel is the smallest measuring unit of a picture. The more pixels in a frame, the clearer the image will be.

What Do The Numbers Mean?

Resolution is determined by the height of an image. Working on a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 1080 resolution picture is 1080 pixels high, and 1920 pixels wide. So that means that in total the image has 2,073,600 pixels

What Do the “I” And “P” Mean?

The “I” stands for “interlaced” and the “p” for “progressive scan”. Interlacing is a video viewing trick. Your eye thinks you’re seeing the full image in motion, but you are in actual fact only viewing every other line of the image. Your eyes will fill in the gaps automatically. This is a video streaming technique used to double the perceived video frame rate, without taking up extra bandwidth.

Progressive scan draws each line in sequential order, one at a time. A single frame is “painted” every 1/60th of a second. This means that twice the detail can be sent in the same time as an interlaced system. The image is more detailed and you’ll notice less flickering, a common flaw of interlaced scanning.

SD Resolution

SD is the standard quality resolution. Often it refers to 480 pixel height in an image. A single frame has more detail than a 144p, 240p, or 360p image. But less detail than a 720p or 1080p frame. You don’t want to drop below 480 for video streaming.

In the late 20th century it became the standard for most broadcast television, as well as DVD’s. The 480p is the common standard for digital video.

Streaming in Standard Definition (SD)

On the internet, a lot of uploaded videos and video streams are limited to the 480p standard definition format. But with the advancement in technology, the 480 resolution will soon be phased out by higher quality formats. You will need to ensure that your equipment is upgraded to handle the higher resolution streaming.

HD Resolution

HD (high definition) is a higher definition resolution. The pixel height is 720 or 1080 pixels. Each frame is displayed with more detail than the standard definition resolution. 720p is the bottom range of the resolution type. It’s often called “standard HD” or “HD ready”.

720p is the usual resolution used on the internet. Most modems will have 720p capabilities. The 720i isn’t a HD media standard in the industry, because of a lack of demand for it.

The 1080i and 1080p resolutions are called Full HD. These offer higher quality standards for HD streaming. Most television broadcasters prefer the 1080i format. 1080p is a more progressive format for video streaming content on internet platforms such as Netflix and YouTube.

When To Stream In High-Definition: SD vs HD vs 4K

The other HD resolution option, is Ultra HD 4K. It still refers to the pixel height, but rounds it up (or down) a little bit. Ultra HD 4K is usually either 3840 x 2160 pixels or 4096 x 2160 pixels. The second format is usually for big cinema screens.

4K is the latest craze in video resolution. The technology is still very new, on Netflix for example not all shows are available in this format yet. For now you can consider switching to the normal HD resolution for a higher viewing quality. But by 2024, an estimated 50% of American households will have 4K-enabled televisions.

If you are viewing video streaming content on a smaller screen, you can consider sticking to the SD resolution. But once you’ve compared the quality difference between SD and HD, you won’t easily switch back to SD.

Netflix stepped onto the entertainment scene in 1997, and they keep ruffling feathers in the entertainment industry. And in 2013, Netflix also decided to start creating their own shows. The innovative company’s first big hit was House of Cards. Since then, they’ve rolled out plenty of other original hits.

From traditional series, to documentaries – the Netflix production house is gaining more momentum by the minute! They produce some in-house. And others are co-produced in collaboration with other studios. The following is a list of the current best original Netflix series to binge watch.

American Vandal

Seasons: 2
Genres: Teen TV Shows, TV Comedies, Crime TV Shows
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Jimmy Tatro

Deadpan, raunchy, irreverent

27 cars are vandalized in a high school faculty parking lot, with crude phallic images. The school’s resident slacker and class clown is pinpointed as the perpetrator and expelled. But two other student’s decide to scrutinise the incident. A documentary-style investigation ensues, and everyone is a suspect…

The series is mockumentary, satirically poking fun of true-crime documentaries such as Making a Murderer and Serial. Focusing on the usual “Did he really do it?” angle creates a suspense-filled and binge-friendly series.

Chef’s Table

Seasons: 6 volumes
Genres: Food & Travel TV, Docuseries, US TV Shows
Age restriction: 16+

Have you ever wondered about the day-to-day responsibilities and experiences of well-known chefs? This documentary web series focuses on various successful restauranteurs and features their personal stories, mixed with culinary content.

It is presented in the traditional documentary style, which can become a bit dull at times. But the intriguing emotional backstories will offer you a greater appreciation for the world of fine dining. A few of the memorable chefs include Massimo Bottura (season 1), Dominique Crenn (season 2), and Ivan Orkin (season 3). It’s a refreshingly break from the reality show competition style cooking shows. There’s also a Chef’s Table France to explore.

The Crown

Seasons: 2
Genres: Political TV Shows, Period Pieces, British TV Shows
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Claire Foy, John Lithgow, Matt Smith

The Crown is a high-calibre British period drama, in the league of Downton Abbey. It follows the still-reigning Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II (91) across the various periods of her life. The series starts with her marriage to Prince Philip of Edinburgh, 1947.

The series is a big hit, with great historical accuracy. It follows an interesting format, with the role of Queen Elizabeth and other main characters recast from season to season. In the first two seasons Claire Foy portrays Queen Elizabeth, alongside Vanessa Kirby and Matt Smith (Dr. Who). Netflix confirmed that Olivia Colman (Peep Show) will be taking over in season three, with Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. Netflix wants to produce six seasons in total (60 episodes)

Daredevil

Seasons: 3
Genres: TV shows based on Comics, Crime TV Shows, TV Action & Adventure
Age restriction: 18+
Starring: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson

Gritty, dark, exciting

One of many Marvel shows on Netflix. Charlie Cox in the title role creates a firm foundation for the series. It is similar to Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, focusing on the darker side of Marvel Studios’ superheroes.

A blind vigilante dedicates his days to protect Hell’s Kitchen in New York City, as a lawyer. And at night he continues to do the same, but with a more violent edge to his protection methods. The supporting cast brings a good balance to the show. These include Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood) and Elden Henson (The Mighty Ducks). The colourful villains include Vincent D’Onofrio as deranged Kingpin, and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. Unfortunately Netflix decided to cancel the series by season 3, as part of an attempt to reduce the number of co-produced series.

Dark

Seasons: 1
Genres: German TV Shows, TV Mysteries, TV Thrillers
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Jördis Triebel

Mind-bending, chilling, ominous

This one is perfect for a serious show lover, with a dose of the dramatic. It’s a foreign-language series, in German. But it will be worth your while to follow along with the subtitles. The storyline might remind you of Stranger Things, although Dark has much darker undertones.

It’s set in Winden, a small town covered in eternal shadowy clouds. The mysteries include missing children, strange laboratories, and supernatural occurrences. This might sound like a very predictable formula, but you will be pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns. Multiple storylines are weaved together, so get ready to concentrate and follow the complicated life in a small town.

Dear White People

Seasons: 2
Genres: Social Issue TV Dramas, TV Dramas, TV Comedies
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, DeRon Horton

Witty

In 2014 a forward-thinking young director, Justin Simien, created a film depicting the challenging dynamics in a fictional Ivy League college. Winchester University (predominantly white, with a scattering of black students) served as a blank canvas to explore issues of group and individual identities in the school’s social ecosystem.

Netflix sat up and took notice of the remarkable film, and approached Justin to expand on the concepts, fleshing it out into a series. Its second season kicked off in 2018, and the show is scheduled for a third season as well. Sam White (Logan Browning) creates a stir among the students with her outspoken radio show, called Dear White People. The director manages to tackle controversial topics in a tactful way. And the show offers different viewpoints on major issues such as identity, romance, socialization, and education.

Easy

Seasons: 3
Genres: TV Comedies, US TV Shows
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Judy Greer, Jane Adams

Understated, Witty

Created by Joe Swanberg (Win It All), the series is a collection of short stories about relationship challenges in the 21st century. The short 30-minute vignettes share stories from the lives of a wide variety of people in modern day Chicago.

The cast include big names such as Orlando Bloom, Dave Franco, and Emily Ratajkowski who inhabit the complicated characters with ease. Some stories might leave you wanting more, but the relatable stories are highly entertain, albeit short. Find out how other people deal with relationship barriers, ranging from redefining gender roles to figuring out communication across language divides.

GLOW

Seasons: 2
Genres: TV Dramas, TV Comedies, US TV Shows
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron

Offbeat, witty, irreverent

The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) wowed audiences with their wrestling skills during the mid-80s. Netflix saw the entertainment potential to create a series about the show and the behind the scenes dynamics. Two seasons are currently available, and it is renewed for a third.

A desperate actress (Alison Brie) joins a low-budget women’s wrestling program, that’s run by a dodgy director (Marc Maron). She’s joined by a crew of colourful, wacky fellow performers. Follow their journey of dealing with personal issues while attempting to create a successful show. Brie and Maron are joined by Betty Gelpin, Sydelle Noel, Britney Young, and British rocker Kate Nash. Together they create an entertaining glimpse into the strange entertainment world of ladies wrestling.

Godless

Seasons: 1 (limited series)
Genres: TV Dramas, US TV Shows
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Michelle Dockery, Jack O’Connell

Gritty, dark

Created by the two-time Oscar nominee, Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Logan). This Western drama miniseries racked in a handful of Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Netflix. The perfectly planned seven-episode story arc emerges you in the 1880s. In a small mining town a catastrophic mine accident kills almost all the men in the town. The women left behind must pick up the pieces and rebuilt their lives.

They are doing just fine until a mysterious stranger decides to use the town as his hideout. The gunslinger is on the run from his former mentor, a bloodthirsty leader of an outlaw gang. Jeff Daniels plays the cruel gang leader on the hunt. Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) and Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie) plays a pair of pioneer women who upholds the town. The cinematography is stunning, the dialogue witty, and awesome action scenes pull it all together beautifully. Dockery, Wever, and Daniels were nominated for their performances.  Wever and Daniels both won their Emmy nominations categories.

The Haunting of Hill House

Seasons: 1
Genres: TV shows based on books, TV Mysteries, TV Dramas
Age restriction: 16+
Starring: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton

Chilling, scary, suspenseful

Stephen King described this series as “close to a work of genius”. Horror film writer and director Mike Flanagan created it, who produced Ouija: Origin of Evil and Oculus. The series is an adaptation of a 1959 novel by Shirley Jackson, with the same name.

It follows the family who moves into the Hill House, dreaming about renovating it. But soon each family member has their own scary paranormal encounter, which will haunt them for years to come. And it all ends with a mysterious tragedy, that finally drives the family out of the haunted house. Get ready for timeline-hopping as you explore Hill House through each family member’s eyes and then catch up with them years later. It’s one of the best horror stories of recent years.

Netflix changed its rating system in 2018 to an easy “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”. This replaces the old traditional rating system of five stars. Together with the rating system, Netflix’s built-in recommendations algorithm will start suggesting shows for you to watch, based on your ratings and ongoing viewing history. The more you watch Netflix, the more relevant recommendations will pop up.

Does The Netflix Ratings Affect My Recommendations?

There are literally thousands of shows and movies available for streaming on Netflix. By rating the shows and movies you watch, you will help the Netflix algorithm to get a better idea of your personal likes and dislikes.

The recommendation algorithm works on a few factors: all the shows and movies available; your personal streaming history, and any ratings you made; as well as the combined ratings of other Netflix members with similar tastes to yours.

These factors are combined to create the percent match score when you type in a title. And this score is unique to each Netflix user. It gives you an indication of how likely you are to appreciate the titles.

Tip: scroll to the bottom of the Netflix home page to see Top Picks for you and shows/movies recommended because you watched similar ones.

How do the Netflix ratings work?

Every time you leave a rating on a show or a movie, the Netflix recommendation algorithm takes notes. You are teaching Netflix more about your personal viewing likes and dislikes. This way the suggestions that Netflix shows you on the home screen can be more tailor-made to your personal viewing preferences.

When you go into your account and click on Ratings under the My Profile, you can see all the shows that you have rated. The old rating system is still saved here, showing you the star rating system previously used to personalize your Netflix experience.

Some of the older devices used for streaming Netflix, such as Smart TV’s, set-top boxes, and Blu-ray players will still display the old star rating system. If you use any of these now to make a new rating, it won’t be saved. If you want to rate the show, you must log on to Netflix.com or access the shows from your mobile app.

Update Your Netflix Ratings

If you have not been rating the shows and movies you’ve been watching on Netflix, you can backtrack your streaming activity. Add a thumbs up or down now to activate the Netflix recommendations algorithm on your account.

Under the Account section, scroll to My Profile at the bottom, click on Viewing Activity. This will show you a list of the shows and movies you’ve previously watched on Netflix. Click on a show episode or movie to access it. Under the title look for the thumbs up and down icons and add your rating.

Although Netflix is mainly a live video streaming service, they have heard the lamentations of the people and you can now download some of the content to watch offline. This is a great option if you have limited access to uncapped WiFi. Or if you are planning a trip to a location where you know the signal will be either weak or completely missing in action.

Now you can plan your Netflix binging sessions with downloaded episodes of your favourite series, if available for download, or stock up on a few movies for a weekend in a remote area.

How to Download Netflix Content

To use the download function of the Netflix service, you have to first download the Netflix app for your device. The download function is not available when using an internet browser to view Netflix content.

Step 1: open the Netflix app on your device. Access the menu in the top left corner or look for “Downloads” at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: click on “Available for Download.”

A list of all the shows and movies available for download appears here. You can also use the search function to sift through the content if you are looking for something in particular. If a show or movie is available for download, a down-facing arrow will appear next to the episode or after the description of the movie. If there is no arrow, it’s not available for download.

Step 3: choose the program you want to download and tap on the arrow to start downloading. You will need an active internet connection for the duration of the download.

Photo by theverge.com

How to View Downloaded Netflix Content

Once your download is complete, it will be stored on your device. Please note, the offline download is only available on the device you downloaded it on. You can then access the downloaded Netflix shows and movies without being connected to the internet.

From the menu at the top right, click on “My downloads”. Or click on “Downloads” at the bottom of your screen. The Netflix content that you have downloaded will appear here. On your smartphone a blue icon will appear next to the downloaded content. You can access the episode or movie the same way as online Netflix content.

If multiple members of your family has access to your Netflix account, you can change the parental control to make sure that younger members are not exposed to inappropriate content. There are two levels of control: account-level (hard controls) and profile-level (soft controls).

For the Hard Controls a PIN code will be required for certain maturity ratings. You can create a 4-digit PIN to enter if a specific show or movie has a maturity level restriction. This way your child will not be able to access inappropriate content.

The Soft Controls are linked to the profile. This way the entire profile is linked to a specific maturity level. Your child will then only have access to specific age restricted content.

How to Create a PIN on Your Netflix Account

Before you can select age restrictions, you must first create a PIN for your account. PIN settings are only available on devices older than 2013.

Step 1: Login to your account on a web browser

Step 2: Select “Account” from the menu on the top right

Step 3: Under the “Settings” section, select “Parental controls”

Step 4: To change it, you will need to enter the account password

Step 5: Click on “Continue”

Step 6: Choose a four-digit numbered PIN, letters are not permitted

Step 7: Choose the protection level from the options:

• ALL (Little Kids)
• 7+, some 13+ (Older Kids)
• 13+ (Teens)
• 16+, 18+ (Adults)

Activate the PIN on Your Netflix Account

The main account holder can choose how the PIN will be used for the account. It can be linked to the maturity ratings. Or it can be linked to specific movies and shows.

Under the “Restrict by Maturity Level” select the top level of access allowed:

Step 1: Select the first dot to PIN protect All content

Step 2: Select the second dot to PIN protect Older Kids and up content

Step 3: Select the third dot to PIN protect Teens and up content

Step 4: Select the fourth dot to PIN protect Adults content

Step 5: Select the fifth dot to switch PIN protection off

Under the “Restrict Specific Titles” section you can start typing a specific show or movie name. Select it from the list to add to your restricted content. You can remove it again by clicking on the little x that appears to the right of the added title.

After you have made the changes to the parental controls on your Netflix account, press “Save” at the top next to your PIN.

Please note: The parental control changes might not reflect on all devices immediately. If the new settings still don’t reflect, try to refresh the device, or log out and back in again.

Use a Profile as Parental Control

If you are in control of logging in to your Netflix Account on behalf of your children, you can use the “Kids” profile set up.

Step 1: Select “Manage Profiles” from the top right menu

Step 2: Click on the profile picture for “Kids”

Step 3: Under the dropdown “Allowed TV shows and movies” select the age restriction

• For little kids only
• For older kids and below

For teenagers you can create an extra main profile and select “for teens and below”.

When Do You Have To Enter your Netflix PIN

You will have to enter your PIN every time you try to watch a restricted show or movie. Sometimes ratings can also change between episodes of a specific series. Once you have entered your PIN you can continue watching without restriction until you switch profiles or sign out. If your account was dormant for a while, you must reenter your PIN before watching. You will also be required to enter the PIN if you are downloading restricted content.

On all iOS devices you must enter the PIN before you can download. On the Windows 10 app and Android devices you can start the download without the PIN, but it will block viewing of the restricted content afterwards.

How Do You Recover a Forgotten Netflix PIN

If you can’t remember your PIN there is an easy way to recover it. Your PIN links to your account login email.

Step 1: Under the login number blocks a link will appear saying “Forgot PIN?”

Step 2: A popup will appear with the Netflix Sign In page

Step 3: Enter your password

Step 4: Enter your new PIN and click on “Save Pin”

How to Remove a PIN from Your Netflix Account

Once you have created a Netflix PIN you can’t delete it again. The only way of deactivating it, is to set your parental controls to the highest setting of “Adults” (select the last of the green dots). If the change does not reflect immediately, try to switch between profiles, or sign out and back in again.

Are you a big Netflix fan, but the South African content options frustrate you? By using a VPN you can unlock Netflix America in South Africa. You need to work around the geo-block on the website. But to access Netflix America, you still need to activate an account on the site.

We’ve gathered the best VPN’s to watch Netflix America in South Africa, so that you can use the Virtual Private Network (VPN) to expand your Netflix experience.

What is a VPN

A VPN changes your device’s IP address to not be linked to your location. It serves as an encrypted middleman between your device and the internet. All the information exchanged between your device and the internet, becomes encoded in the VPN’s encrypted tunnel.

Although this encryption process can interfere with the browsing speed, you gain cyber safety. Your online privacy is bulletproof when you use a VPN, because your IP address becomes anonymous. This means that an outside source can’t access your location or track your online searches.

image by avg_com

Choosing Between a Smart DNS and a VPN

The alternative option to watch Netflix America in South Africa, is to use a Smart DNS service. Both options will hide your device’s location to unlock geo-restricted content. But only the VPN will completely change your IP address.

The Smart DNS service can offer you quicker browsing/streaming speeds. But it can’t offer you the level of cyber safety that a VPN can give you. Because the VPN encrypts information, it affects the browsing/streaming speed. A Smart DNS service only reroutes/redirects a portion of your web traffic.

Related: The Best Smart DNS Proxy to Watch Netflix America in South Africa

Risks of Using a VPN

The biggest risk of a using a VPN provider, is when you choose to use a free VPN. You are allowing a third-party to stand between your device and your online browsing. It’s crucial to know exactly who you are dealing with. By carefully reading a company’s privacy policy, you can make sure that your cyber safety is in good hands.

A VPN provider must clearly state that they do not do any IP logging, or at least as little as possible. The VPN provider needs to adhere to their country’s privacy laws. And some governments require by law a certain amount of user information storage. So make sure you know where the VPN servers are located.

A free VPN service provider can also expose you to a man-in-the-middle-attack. You might think you are connecting directly with a specific website, but before your personal information reaches it, a third party first has access to it. Another issues can be traffic restrictions which will affect your browsing experience.

How to Use a VPN Safely

Rather use a paid VPN service provider. Make sure it has a strong encryption protocol as well as good privacy policies. You can also consider reading reviews from other users, to get a better idea of what the VPN provider will be offering you.

To create a special new IP address for your device, the VPN’s server has to be located in a specific country. Read up about the country’s privacy and cybersecurity laws before committing to using its services. The encryption process is notorious for slowing down the browsing speed. A reputable VPN service provider compensates for this by using top speed servers. Also, make sure that your VPN service provider stipulates a strict zero-logging policy.

The Best VPN’s To Watch Netflix America in South Africa

To directly compare the best VPN’s to Watch Netflix America in South Africa, a few factors are used:

• Reliable service and fast speed
• Zero logs and strong security
• Easy unblocking of geo-restricted content

	Location: 148 locations in 94 countries America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa	Pros: Fast streaming  speeds Excellent class security and built-in privacy features Can unlock a wide range of geo-locked sites User-friendly apps for various device platforms  24/7 support with live chat to well-trained staff	Cons: Pricey when compared to other VPN suppliers for South Africa
	Supported platforms: Windows, Linux MacOS, Android and iOS
	Rating: 9.8
	Cost: $12.95 per month$99.95 for 15 months
	Location: America, Canada, Brazil, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Romania, Russia, Lithuania, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and South Africa	Pros: Good budget option for streaming and downloading Can unlock a wide range of geo-locked sites Excellent privacy and security protection Zero-logging	Cons: Desktop app can be tricky to use
	Supported platforms: Android, Windows, iOS and MacOS
	Rating: 9.4
	Cost: $11.95 per month $69 per year
	Location: Canada, Mexico, North America, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Asia India, Indonesia, Japan	Pros: Usually good and stable streaming speeds Does not keep any identifying logs Speeds are mainly fast and stable Unblock Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer	Cons: Limited options for advanced configuration Pricey for the product value received Does not support cryptocurrency payment method.
	Supported platforms: Windows, Android, MacOS, and iOS
	Rating: 7.6
	Cost: $9.95 per month $60.00 per year
	Location: North America (57), South America (13), Europe (20), Asia (17), Oceania (7), Africa (9)	Pros Almost no effect on connection speed Good connection stability Money-back Guarantee Free version also available	Cons No extensive database for problem-solving  Limited number of available servers
	Supported platforms: Windows, Android, MacOS, and iOS
	Rating: 9.2
	Cost: $6.99 per month $35.88 per year
	Location: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherland, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Turkey, UAE, Iran, New Zealand, Australia	Pros Fast streaming User-friendly interface	Cons Browsing activity is logged, but not linked to you personally No advanced customization options
	Supported platforms: Windows, Android, MacOS, and iOS
	Rating: 9.6
	Cost: $12.99 per month $71.88 per month