Netflix has discontinued support for casting content from its mobile apps to most TVs and streaming devices, including Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer, across all subscription plans. The change rolled out recently without announcement, prompting users to notice the absence of the Cast button in the app over the past few weeks.
Users often select casting from mobile devices for streamlined navigation and control of Netflix content on larger screens. This method allows direct selection and playback initiation from smartphones or tablets. However, Netflix updated its help page to reflect the policy shift, stating explicitly that the service no longer accommodates casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices. The page directs users to rely on the remote provided with their TV or streaming device for all Netflix interactions.
A Netflix customer care representative addressed inquiries from affected users, confirming the restriction by explaining that devices equipped with their own remotes disable casting functionality entirely. The representative attributed this adjustment to efforts aimed at enhancing the overall customer experience through more direct device integration. Despite this rationale, numerous users have voiced dissatisfaction, highlighting the convenience lost in the transition to remote-only operation.
Prior to this broad implementation, Netflix imposed a specific casting constraint earlier in the year, linked exclusively to the Standard with ads subscription plan. Under that earlier rule, subscribers on the ad-supported tier could cast content solely to the newer models of Chromecast with Google TV. This limitation emerged as part of broader adjustments to streaming features tied to plan types, reflecting Netflix’s evolving approach to content delivery across devices.
The previous exception for ad-supported plans has now been eliminated entirely. Netflix’s current policy prohibits casting from mobile devices to the majority of TVs and TV-streaming devices, irrespective of whether the account operates on an ad-supported or ad-free plan. This uniform application extends to all paid tiers, including premium ad-free options, marking a complete overhaul of mobile-to-device streaming capabilities.
Limited casting options persist for select legacy hardware. Older Chromecast devices, which lack dedicated remotes, continue to permit casting from the Netflix mobile app. Similarly, televisions that incorporate native Google Cast support maintain compatibility. Netflix’s support documentation specifies that these older Chromecast models and Google Cast-enabled TVs allow the feature, but with a key caveat: casting remains unavailable for ad-supported plans on these devices. Only accounts subscribed to non-ad-supported plans can utilize casting on this remaining supported hardware.
User reports on platforms like Reddit corroborate the scope of the change. Traditional Chromecast units still display as viable Cast targets within the Netflix app, enabling seamless content projection from mobile devices. In contrast, Chromecast with Google TV, the Google TV Streamer, and the majority of smart TVs featuring built-in Google TV functionality no longer register as available options. These devices, which typically include integrated remotes, align with Netflix’s directive to use onboard controls for navigation and playback.
The rollout of this update occurred quietly, without prior notification from Netflix to its user base. As a result, many subscribers discovered the alteration through direct experience in the app. The policy enforces a standardized interaction model centered on device-specific remotes, aiming to simplify the streaming process across diverse hardware ecosystems. This adjustment affects a wide array of modern streaming setups, from standalone devices to embedded smart TV systems.
