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Yes, Netflix is available in 4K. Ultra HD streaming is available on Netflix and you can watch Netflix in 4K on many smart devices such as your smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and PCs.
Whether you can stream it, though, depends on the speed of your internet connection, the subscription plan you are currently on, the programs you watch, and even the device you are using to access Netflix.
In this guide, you will learn how to watch Netflix in Ultra HD in minutes, and at the end of this guide, you will be able to get 4K on your Netflix account and watch Netflix in 4K Ultra HD across all of your devices.
To watch Netflix in Ultra HD, you will need the following
To watch Netflix in 4K UHD, you need:
- An active Netflix subscription that supports 4K streaming.
- A steady internet connection with good internet speed up to 15 Mbps (megabits per second) or higher. Generally, a good internet speed is anything above 25Mbps, and having a fast internet router will be an added advantage.
- A smart device that supports Ultra HD graphics such as 4K TV or a computer compatible with Ultra HD streaming from Netflix.
- An UHD external streaming device such as Fire TV (on sale now), if you do not have a smart TV.
- HDMI 2.0 Cable.
Even though Netflix 4K isn’t all that new anymore, not everyone knows how to make it show on their account. For this reason, I have created this guide to show you step by step how you can watch Netflix in 4K Ultra HD on your PC, TV and smart devices.
This guide is aimed at helping you stream Netflix in UHD and help solve most problems faced by some Netflix users who want to watch 4K UHD movies but don’t know how.
Here is How You Can Watch Netflix in 4K Ultra HD (4 Simple Steps)
Watching Ultra HD on Netflix isn’t as easy as turning on your new TV and connecting to Netflix. Before you start to see the “Ultra HD” labels showing up while browsing Netflix titles on your TV, there are some settings that need to be made first.
Below is a detailed step by step guide to help you watch and stream Netflix 4K contents – movies, series or TV shows on your Tv, Pc or any other smart 4k supported devices.
Follow these simple steps to start streaming Netflix in 4K UHD:
1. Get a 4k enabled device or use an External 4K Streaming Device
PS: If you currently do not have a smart TV or an UHD TV, you can use a 4K external streaming device. Get an Amazon Fire TV stick (on sale), and simply plug it into your TV. It’s really easy.
The very first thing you’re going to need to stream Netflix in 4k Ultra HD is a 4K TV.
If you have a 4K television then the chances are it is a smart TV which has a Netflix app (less trouble for you).
However, just because you have a 4K Ultra HD TV doesn’t always mean it will work for this purpose.
The reason is because, what you need is not just any 4K Tv, but a TV set that’s HDCP 2.2-compliant (which is 4K copy protection) and, should in case you want to use an external device, supports HDMI 2.0.
This shouldn’t be a problem if your TV was produced in the year 2016 and above. I should also point out that every year Netflix picks out a list of specific “recommended” TV models, which can be a useful guide if you’re in the market for a new TV set.
Here’s a list of some Netflix recommended TVs built for better Netflix experience.
What if I don’t have a 4K TV?
Your best solution is to use an external 4K streaming device. If you do not have a 4K TV and want to stream Netflix 4K, you can make use of external streaming devices that support 4K streaming such as Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV 4K.
Not every home owner has a 4K television in their living room, some are just cool with the good HD (high-definition display) or the Ultra HD. I know, I completely get it.
How to set up and use an External 4K streaming device.
The process explained:
- Plug Fire TV 4k streaming device into your TV
- Plug into wall outlet
- Connect to the internet and enjoy.
2. Subscribe to a Netflix plan that supports streaming in 4K
So, you have a 4K smart Tv ready to stream or probably using an external streaming device, next is time to get a premium Netflix plan that will enable you watch your Netflix 4K movies series and other reality shows.
The next thing to do is to upgrade your Netflix account to the $13.99 per month plan.
Firstly, this plan enables four screens (separate viewers if you want) to watch at the same time and stream in Ultra HD to a 3840 × 2160 resolution 4k TV. In addition to that, you can also download videos to up to 4 phones or tablets.
How much does a Netflix 4K plan cost? (For UK and US)
To get access to all that juicy Ultra HD content you need to pay more – and subs start at $13.99 per month for US residents and for UK residents.
In terms of video quality, Netflix usually streams 4K at 2160p, which is good, compared to other 4K HD providers who only broadcast in up-scale 720p at 1080i (low quality).
3. Make sure you have a steady internet speed of up to 15 Mbps
No sugar coating about it, if you’re serious about streaming Netflix 4K content in ultra-HD, then you’ll need to have a pretty fast and decent internet connection.
According to Netflix’s recommendation, a minimum of 25 megabits-per-second (25Mbps) is required to stream in Ultra HD quality, but from what we have gathered, even a 15Mbps internet connection can be fast enough.
What this means for US and UK residents.
According to statistics report by speedtest, the average US broadband speed is 61Mbps. So most United States residents should be good to go.
The situation is sadly not the same for UK residents, considering the fact that the average UK internet speed is 16Mps. It might mean a little bit of an upgraded network in UK households. Again, like we have earlier said, even a 15Mbs internet connection can be fast enough, so there is no need to worry.
The federal communication commission has a US broadband deployment report you can look at, if you have the time.
Not sure how fast your internet is?
Just type “Internet speed” on google and the google internet speed check tools will pop up. Click on the “test my speed” button, wait for it to analyze your internet speed, and you will get an instant report.
A Quick Fix for Slow internet network
If you are experiencing a slow internet connection and data transfer speed, try restarting the modem and see if it helps. You can see our internet speed guide for tips on how to increase your internet speed for tips to help you get a faster internet connection. Otherwise, you can call your ISP provider for an upgrade, if you still don’t get enough speed.
4k Internet Data Usage Check.
When it comes to broadband for streaming Netflix in 4K, you shouldn’t do this if you have a data cap in your broadband plan. For those who have data caps, make sure you know what it is, and be sure it can be used to watch 4k on Netflix.
Although many ISPs have bumped these caps high, in the era of 4K streaming, they can also burn quickly.
Remember everyone used to say that 4K wouldn’t go anywhere because our connections weren’t fast enough? Well, in the era of fiber that’s not a problem, and do not forget there is now 8K TV and 8K smart resolutions available with 5G present to boost internet speed.
4. Open Netflix, Find Ultra HD 4K Content and Start Streaming
By now, your Netflix account should indicate Ultra HD resolution if everything is set up correctly.
Netflix will automatically provide you with access to the 4K streams if you everything listed above is fulfilled e.g., your 4K TV, a full premium Netflix subscription and a supporting app or streaming device (for those who do not have smart TVs with the Netflix app).
How to check if a content on Netflix is 4K
You can tell if the Netflix 4K content is available by going to a show (most preferably is a Netflix original), look under the title and it should say “Ultra HD 4K” or “HDR” and not just “HD” – as you can see in the image above.
You should also be able to flip or scroll through a list of other titles in Ultra HD as you would in the normal New Arrivals, Trending Now, and Recently Watched mode.
Even though there’s a growing selection of 4K content on Netflix, do not be fooled by your thoughts or anyone else that everything on the platform is viewable in Ultra HD.
Although all Netflix originals and Netflix movie series are available, many other movies are still found in the good old fashioned HD clear display. It’s actually a little underwhelming, but if you’re a fan of watching the latest series like Mindhunter, Better Call Saul and Ozark, you’ll be satisfied.
Netflix 4K FAQ
Conclusion
Nothing beats seeing your favorite TV shows or movies in the clearest format possible with quality graphics and smooth view, right?
4K contents are finally taking over the media and entertainment industries and Netflix users are not left out of the fun. The new 4K streaming feature in Netflix gives you a much clearer and better movie quality in UHD.
Streaming Netflix in ultra-HD 4k is a basic thing anyone can do, provided all requirements (a HD Tv that’s 4K compatible, a good broadband connection, and lastly, a premium Netflix 4K subscription service plan) are all in place.
If you have a 4K smart TV, simply just locate the Netflix app on your Tv and start streaming, otherwise, if you have a normal house HD Tv that’s 4K compliant, do well to get an external 4K streaming device, plug or connect it to your tv and start streaming.
I’ve tested the Netflix app on all of my 4K smart TVs as well as HDTVs – using an external 4K streaming device and 4K content was found and played absolutely fine.
