Improve Netflix Streaming Quality

Upgrade Internet Service

If you’ve got a terminally slow internet connection, you might consider upgrading your service. The recommended speed for UHD is 15 Mbps or higher.

From a web browser

Check Account Settings

Go to Playback Settings and make sure Data Usage per screen is set for the target quality. For UHD HDR, select 4K High.

Netflix offers 4 data usage settings. 

Data used per hour, per device:

1. Low: Basic video quality, up to 0.3 GB 
2. Medium: Standard video quality, up to 0.7 GB 
3. High: Best video quality:
   • Standard definition: up to 1 GB 
   • High definition: up to 3 GB 
   • Ultra high definition (4K): up to 7 GB 
4. Auto: Adjusts automatically to deliver the highest possible quality, based on your current internet connection speed.

Adjust your data usage settings

1. From a web browser, go to your Account page.
2. From the Profile & Parental Controls section, select a profile.
3. Select Playback Settings.
4. Select your desired data usage setting.
5. Select Save.

On a mobile device

Netflix offers 4 mobile data usage settings:

1. Automatic: The Netflix app selects a setting that balances data usage and video quality. You can watch about 4 hours per GB of data.
2. Wi-Fi Only: Stream only while connected to Wi-Fi.
3. Save Data: Watch about 6 hours per GB of data.
4. Maximum Data:
   • Highest possible quality for your device and the TV show or movie you’re watching. 
   • Can use 1 GB per 20 minutes or more, depending on your device and network speed.
   • Recommended only if you have an unlimited data plan.

Adjust your mobile data usage settings

To select the setting that works best for your mobile data plan:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. In the lower right, tap My Netflix 
3. In the upper right, tap the Menu . 
4. Tap App Settings .
5. Under Video Playback, select Cellular Data Usage.
   • To adjust your downloads data settings, switch Wi-Fi Only on or off under Downloads. 
6. Choose your preferred setting.

Netflix publishes ISP speed rankings by country/region.

Check your internet speed

On a television

Sign into your Netflix account, then:

1. Go to the Netflix home screen, then go left to open the menu.
2. At the bottom, select Get Help > Check your Network.

On a Web Browser

Check the streaming quality of Netflix content:

• Ctrl + Alt + Shift + D on Windows

• Control + Shift + Option + D on Mac

On Apple TV

Besides a faster internet connection, Apple TV allows you to get detailed streaming statistics.

Click here to learn how to unlock streaming statistics with an Apple TV box.

Confirm that HDR is enabled on TV

Sign into your Netflix account, then:

1. Go to the Netflix home screen, then go left to open the menu.
2. At the bottom, select Get Help > Video.

If all else fails and your TV still has sluggish internet speeds, try unplugging it for three minutes and turning it on again.