How to Watch Netflix on Your TV

1. Use an App to Watch Netflix on a Smart TV

The world of Smart Television operating systems is a very confusing one. Ever since Firefox TV met its demise in 2016, there are four major smart TV operating systems still in use. These are Tizen, WebOS, Android TV, and Roku TV.

As a user, that’s not ideal. Sadly, as you’d expect, the various app marketplaces for each OS are fragmented, with different apps available on different platforms. The good news, though, is that all four of the major smart TV operating systems offer an official Netflix app. Some televisions will even come with the Netflix app pre-installed and with a shortcut button hard-coded on the remote control.

Install the application first if you do not already have it, then fire up the application and enter your Netflix login details. You will be watching Netflix on your TV in seconds. If you encounter problems and can’t install Netflix on your TV, contact your TV manufacturer for troubleshooting tips.

2. Connect Netflix to a TV From Your Phone

Smart TV apps aren’t always the best solution. Depending on the quality of your television’s hardware, the app could be slow and buggy. So, what other options are out there? If you have a tablet or a smartphone, you could buy a Chromecast dongle and cast the Netflix display directly from the mobile version of the application.

To cast from the Netflix application to your Chromecast, open up  the Netflix application, and tap on the cast icon located in  the upper right-hand corner of the screen. You will see a list of all your available devices. Tap on one to connect to it. The connection process would take a few moments to complete.

NB: Before you buy a Chromecast, check your TV’s handbook. Many newer models have the technology built-in. Some set-top boxes, such as the Nvidia Shield, also offer it natively.

3. Cast Netflix From Windows to Your TV

If you have a Windows computer, you could try and use Miracast. The Wi-Fi Alliance finalized the Miracast technology at CES 2013 and touted it as a wireless alternative to HDMI cables.

Sadly, Miracast is not as popular or as reliable as Chromecast, but it is available on more devices thanks to Miracast support on Windows. Indeed, Miracast is available on all Windows machines running 8.1 or later and all Android-powered devices.

On the receiver end, Roku devices and the Amazon TV Fire Stick are Miracast-enabled. Many smart TVs also offer the technology natively.

To use Miracast on Windows, go to Settings > System > Display > Multiple Displays > Connect to a Wireless Display. To use Miracast on Android, go to Settings > Display > Cast Screen and tap on your TV’s name.

4. Get Netflix on a Non-Smart TV

If you don’t own a smart TV, you could try using a trusty HDMI cable. It is arguably the most reliable way to get Netflix on a non-smart TV.

Sure, an HDMI cable might not be at the forefront of cord-cutting technology anymore, but it will always get the job done. You can pick up a functional six-foot-long HDMI cable relatively cheaply on Amazon.

Setting up the HDMI cable is easy. Just connect one end to your TV and the other end to your computer. On your machine, start the Netflix web application and look for the content that you want to watch. On your TV, ensure that you have selected the correct input channel.

If you are lucky, your computer would recognize your TV and it would immediately connect. If it does not, the next step would be different depending on the operating system that you are using.

Windows

To tell your Windows operating system to send your monitor’s display to your TV, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu.
2. In the pop-up menu, select Mobility Center.
3. Locate the box called External Display.
4. Click on Connect Display.
5. A menu will pop out of the right-hand side of the screen, choose Second Screen Only.

Your Windows screen would go black, and both the audio and video would be playing on your TV.

NB: Some manufacturers might have included a keyboard hotkey to switch to HDMI output.

Mac

If you are on a Mac, simply follow these steps:

1. Open the Apple menu.
2. Click on System Preferences.
3. Choose Displays.
4. Hold down the Option key.
5. Click on Detect Displays in the lower right-hand corner.

If your computer still can’t connect to the TV, you have a problem with either the TV’s HDMI port, the Mac’s HDMI port, or the HDMI cable itself.

NB: Many modern Apple laptops do not include an HDMI port, so you will need to buy an adapter first.