Netflix has silently sunsetted mobile casting to the majority of modern TVs and streaming devices.
In a move that has already frustrated many, the streaming giant has, without warning, dropped the feature that lets users beam content from their mobile Netflix app to most flat panels and smart displays.
According to Android Authority, some users started noticing the change back in mid-November, when they reported that their "Cast" button could no longer be found on their app.
It means many subscribers are now forced to stop using their mobile apps as a controller for the service. Instead, they’ll need to use their remotes to navigate the Netflix app installed natively on their TV or display.
Which devices still support Netflix mobile casting?
While Netflix has stopped short of officially announcing the move, it said there is a limited number of TVs and smart displays that retain this feature. On a page buried within its Help Center, the streaming platform confirmed that the following devices still support mobile casting:
- Chromecast devices (3rd gen or older) without a physical remote
- Google Nest Hub smart displays
- Select cast-enabled Vizio TVs
- Select cast-enabled Compal TVs
However, that still leaves many of those with modern smart TVs and devices in the dark. “If it isn't listed, you'll need to use a physical remote to navigate the Netflix app,” the blog page added.
It’s a feature many people relied on, particularly holidaymakers and business travellers who log into smart TVs in hotels without needing to enter their login details on an unsecured device. It’s also going to annoy those who use it for convenience, particularly busy parents and those who have simply misplaced their TV remotes.
“Casting from my iPhone while on holiday was a super helpful feature to the TV in the hotel room. What a stupid choice,” commented one disgruntled user on Reddit. “This explains my hotel experience last week,” said another subscriber. “This is a personal line in the sand for me. I do not enter security credentials into devices that I do not control. I just don't.”
It’s a surprising but not unprecedented move from Netflix, which is consolidating users back onto its native app. Back in April 2019, the streaming platform killed support for Apple AirPlay, citing “technical limitations.”
So, if you want to watch the latest and final season of "Stranger Things," you’ll need to dig out your TV remote from under your couch.
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