Netflix is everyone’s favorite OTT platform in the market. The best part is that it allows you to stream content in 4K, ensuring you enjoy every detail of your favorite movies and series. But what if Netflix doesn’t stream in 4K?
If you can’t watch Netflix in 4K, you’ve come to the right place. This post will explore quick ways to fix Netflix not playing in 4K on Windows PC. While you can always watch Netflix in a web browser, the Netflix app on Windows supports 4K streaming.
1. Check if you have subscribed to 4K plan
Netflix offers four different plans to meet your entertainment needs — Standard with ads, Basic, Standard, and Premium. However, 4K streaming is only available on the Premium plan that costs $19.99/month.
So if you don’t get the option to stream in 4K, your first port of call should make sure you’re signed up for the Premium plan. To check that, follow these steps:
Step 1: Launch the Netflix app, click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
Step 2: Click Account details.
Netflix will open your account page in a browser tab. There, check your plan type next to Plan Details. If it says anything but Premium, you’ll need to upgrade your plan to Premium to stream content in 4K. However, if the message says you’re on a Premium plan, follow the next solutions.
2. Change Netflix Play Settings
A key factor contributing to Netflix’s popularity is its ability to allow manual control of data consumption. For example, if you’re running low on data, you can adjust the setting to Low, which limits data consumption to 0.3 GB per hour. Generally, Netflix recommends a minimum internet connection of 15 Mbps or more.
However, reducing this setting will also reduce streaming quality. To continue watching the stream in 4K, you must configure the playback settings to High. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Netflix app, click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
Step 2: Select Account details.
Step 3: Click on your profile next to the ‘Profile & Parental Controls’ option.
Step 3: Click Change next to Playback Settings.
Step 4: Select High News and click Save.
Restart the Netflix app and check if you can stream in 4K.
3. Check your connection
You’ll need at least 15 Mbps to stream 4K content on the Netflix app. If the internet connection speed is lower than that, Netflix will automatically reduce the streaming quality.
So check internet speed on your Windows PC. If the results show that your connection is weak, try restarting your router. If that doesn’t help, check out our guide on how to fix slow internet on Windows 11.
4. Check your system specs
If all the settings in the Netflix app are correct and you still can’t stream in 4K, your Windows PC may not be compatible with 4K streaming. Please check your computer specs and make sure it meets the following requirements for streaming in 4K:
- At least 7th Gen Intel CPU or AMD Ryzen
- 4K 60Hz display with 2.2″ HDCP compatibility
Also, your computer needs to run the HEVC codec. To check video availability, transfer the H.265 video to your computer and launch it using the Movies & TV app. If the video starts playing, your computer has the HEVC codec.
However, if you see the error “To play this video, you need a new codec”, this codec is not available on your system. You can download it from the Microsoft Store using the link below.
5. Enable Hardware Acceleration
If you are using Netflix in the browser, you may not be able to play Netflix content in 4K resolution due to low CPU. The solution in this case is to enable hardware acceleration in your browser.
Doing so will force your computer to use the GPU to do graphics-intensive tasks like streaming in 4K. To enable hardware acceleration in Google Chrome, follow these steps:
Step 1: Launch Google Chrome, click on the three vertical dots menu in the top right corner and select Settings from the context menu.
Step 2: Select System from the left sidebar and enable the switch next to the ‘Use hardware acceleration when available’ option.
Similarly, you can enable hardware acceleration in other browsers.
6. Check Netflix Server Status
Despite their popularity, Netflix servers often experience downtime. When that happens, you won’t be able to stream in 4K or access the platform. To check that possibility, visit the Netflix server status page.
If the Netflix servers are under maintenance or experiencing downtime, there’s nothing you can do but wait until they’re back up.
7. Update Graphics Driver
It is recommended that you update the graphics drivers on your computer to easily perform graphics-oriented tasks like 4K streaming without much trouble. If you are unsure, you can update your graphics driver by following the instructions below:
Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon on the Taskbar and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Double-click the Display Adapter button.
Step 3: Right click on your graphics driver and select Update driver.
Step 4: Select the ‘Automatically search for drivers’ option.
Windows will now find and download any available graphics driver updates. Alternatively, you can visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website (AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA) and download the latest update.
Netflix and Chill
Who just wants to enjoy some of the minutiae of their favorite movies and series? But that will only be possible if Netflix streams in 4K. Luckily, using the solutions above, you can quickly fix Netflix not playing in 4K on your Windows PC.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
