CALIFORNIA, United States — Netflix has provoked widespread user anger after quietly decommissioning the ability to cast shows from its mobile application to most modern smart TVs and streaming devices.
The unannounced change, which appears to have rolled out in recent weeks, has caused a key feature to vanish from the mobile app interface, frustrating users who relied on the functionality.
The streaming giant has updated its official support documentation to reflect the new policy, stating that the service “no longer supports casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices.”
This restriction effectively targets devices that operate with their own remote controls, including the popular Chromecast with Google TV streamer and most smart TVs with Google TV built-in, meaning virtually all streaming hardware purchased in the last few years is now excluded.
Users are now forced to navigate the Netflix interface directly using their television’s remote control.
The few devices that still retain casting functionality are the oldest Chromecasts (dongles released before 2020 that lack remotes). Even for these users, there is a significant caveat:
- Subscribers on Netflix’s cheaper ad-supported plan are blocked from casting entirely.
- The feature is only available to users paying for one of the pricier ad-free plans, which start at $17.99 per month (or approximately KES 1,100 locally).
Netflix’s rationale versus user experience
In explaining the unpopular move, a company representative told WIRED that Netflix was retiring the casting feature because usage was “extremely low,” and the company wished to redirect investment toward features that offer greater user value. The company declined to disclose specific data on feature usage or resource consumption.
This explanation has been poorly received by the user base, particularly on platforms like Reddit, where users expressed concerns over functionality and accessibility. One Reddit user articulated the frustration:
“The Netflix app on my smart TV is so laggy as to not be usable and I do not kid when I say removing the casting feature will just result in my not using of Netflix entirely.”
Many subscribers relied on casting for legitimate reasons, finding it easier to browse Netflix’s extensive library on their phones before beaming the selection to a larger screen.
Others used the feature to access content through a friend’s account on their phone, without needing to log into the often sluggish TV app directly.
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This removal fits a pattern of Netflix prioritizing revenue maximization over user convenience, following recent price hikes and aggressive crackdowns on password sharing.
The company previously removed AirPlay support in 2019, citing a desire to ensure quality viewing standards.
Despite the timing of this restriction, a Netflix representative maintained that the change has “no connection to password mooching,” insisting that usage was simply low.
The company coldly suggested that affected users should check if their television supports adding an old Google Cast device, a solution seen as impractical given that Google itself has largely discontinued the older Chromecast models, and newer smart TVs already come with the now-unsupported Netflix app pre-installed.
