Would you trust that your Netflix watch history holds the capability to give you a whole new, personal experience while streaming? It is not just a record of content would has been watched; it keeps recommendation presets for you, assists in discovering new movies/shows that you might like, and even works towards preserving your privacy.
This is why, in this article, we will show you how to manage, view, and clear your Netflix watch history. So, get yourself ready for a revamped Netflix journey that boosts binge-worthy experiences like never before!
What is Netflix watch history?
Netflix Watch History refers to a chronologically ordered record of every single activity performed by the user on their profile, irrespective of its nature. This acts as a notebook of all shows and movies viewed on the app. As such, if a user wishes to revisit previously watched content, they can simply retrieve it from the list.
Netflix seamlessly updates your lists so that you can keep track of your viewing habits and preferences. Additionally, the record is not made public, so outside of the user, no one else is able to access the information.
Viewing recommendations based on watch history
Netflix’s purpose goes beyond simply allowing users to stream shows and movies. Netflix remembers content that users found appealing, which helps to recommend new titles in the future. They take every detail into consideration in order to tweak their preferences and understand them better with every single watch.
Using the data, Netflix proposes additional special offers to you. This additional guidance is what they call personalised recommendations. For example, if you watch animated series a lot, it shows a lot more of that to you. If you often watch a particular actor’s movies or shows, Netflix will serve that content to you too. It even factors in the type of stories you enjoy the most, whether it’s mystery, romance, etc.
Keep in mind that those recommendations are made possible because of your Watch History. That is an example of content curation. Curation helps save time and helps the user to easily locate something fun to watch.
Take control of your child’s Netflix watch history with effective monitoring tools.
How to access viewing activity on different devices?
Users can review their NETFLIX watch history through a desktop, mobile, or even a smart TV. The operating steps are simple, and after mastering them, users can effortlessly check watched content continuously.
Using a Desktop or Laptop (Internet Browser)
Open any Internet browser of your choice, for example, Chrome or Safari. Thereafter, navigate to Netflix’s official webpage.
Use your email and password to log into your Netflix account. Find your profile usually at the top right corner of the screen and click it. You will now see a menu bar, click on ‘Account’.
Next, scroll down to the section titled ‘Profile & Parental Controls’.
Click ‘Viewing activity’ and everything that you have viewed previously will be presented on the screen in sequential order. If there is something you wish to hide, just click the circle with a diagonal line beside it.
Accessing from a Mobile Phone or Tablet (With the Netflix App)
Open the Netflix App on your mobile or tablet device. Also, make sure that you are logged into your profile.
Click on your profile icon at the top right section of the screen.
Click on ‘Account’ (you will be redirected to your web browser). From here, follow the same instructions as the ones for the web browser.
From Smart TV
At the moment, Netflix viewing activity is not fully accessible on smart TV, but here is what can be done:
Open the Netflix app on your smart TV, select your profile, and continue to the next step.
Look at the “Continue Watching” section for the most recently done programs.
If you want to see the entire list, grab your phone or computer and follow the directions mentioned previously.
The pros and cons of Netflix’s watch history
Everything you view on Netflix is tracked under Watch History. Whether this feature is helpful or problematic is purely a matter of personal opinion. Let’s break down the good and bad aspects so that you can appreciate when it is useful and when it is not.
Pros
Tailor-Made Recommendations: Suggestions Netflix provides based on watch history are more fitting. For instance, if you accessed multiple thriller movies, they would continue to suggest them until you opted out. This improvement means users hope for effortless access to their preferred content.
Convenience: A fascinating advantage is the “Continue Watching” section that appears on your screen as if magically placed there for you. If you stop at some point in a show, Netflix will always remember where you paused that precisely.
The next time you open the app, you can resume from exactly where you left off, with no remembering and zero searching.
Cons
Privacy Issues: Despite the fact that the Watch History feature is helpful, it does have a more private perspective that requires thought. Because you do have an entire Netflix ecosystem remembering everything you have done on the service which will never be forgotten. Anyone with the account’s username and password will have access to your watch history, so your video will be quite sensitive information if you happen to share it.
Over-reliance on Algorithms: The other downside of Netflix is overly reliance on algorithms to suggest content based on your watch history. This is useful to a degree, but discovering similar shows or movies has a tendency to severely limit your options.
You might end up seeing the same types of shows over and over again, which has the potential to limit your exposure to new or different content.
Managing and clearing Netflix watch history
There are instances when you may want to manage your Netflix Watch History and selectively remove some shows or clear everything. This will enable you to edit the recommendations provided to you or attempt to maintain some level of privacy.
Here, I’ll offer a step-by-step walkthrough that is uncomplicated for this task as well as the nuances between hiding and deleting items.
Steps to delete your Netflix watch History
Step 1. Open Netflix from your computer or mobile device, and navigate to your profile.
Step 2. From there, click on “Account” to change settings. Now, under “Profile & Parental Controls”, > click the dropdown arrow next to your profile picture. This displays “Viewing Activity,” which is a sequential portfolio of shows you have watched.
Step 3. In case you want to erase a specific set of movies or shows, you only need to click the “Hide” icon (a circle containing a slashed line) next to this item. This will remove the item from your history, and Netflix will no longer make similar suggestions.
To clear everything, you still have to undertake the same procedures. Instead of individually concealing each item, clicking on Hide All will clear all items under your Watch History, including everything. This is helpful whenever you want to reset your watch recommendations.
Hiding vs. Deleting
Make sure to note the difference between concealing and deleting. Deleting an item means it is permanently removed from your history. So, in this case, Netflix will not count it towards your watching recommendations. With hiding, an item merely no longer shows up in your list, but it will still impact suggestions. You can later opt to unhide if you change your mind.
As items are deleted, Netflix will not use them for the purpose of recommending new content. So your recommendations in the future will be much more precise and accurate than what you currently prefer. But one thing is sure, heaving items does not change suggestions; it only helps in tidying up history.
Tips for optimising your Netflix experience
Improving your Netflix experience isn’t as difficult as it sounds. App management and account configuration can access features that enhance the viewing experience. So, let’s have a look at them!
Utilise your watch history for better content recommendations
To improve the content recommendations Netflix gives you, it helps to utilise the viewing history feature. Start by attempting to finish all the shows you actually enjoy, since this signals to Netflix what you like. Next, like your favourite movie or series, so that you get more suggestions of the same type.
If you watched something you didn’t enjoy, you needn’t worry; it is possible to delete it from your history, which cleans up your recommendations. Additionally, try new genres every now and then. This allows Netflix to give you a better variety. It also improves your overall watching experience.
Set up multiple profiles
If your Netflix is handheld with family and friends, setting up individual profiles is a great idea. With every profile comes a unique Watch History and tailored recommendations, which make every user an individual.
This means that if you enjoy action movies and your brother prefers cartoons, every user will get customised suggested content. This tailored approach allows Netflix to provide curated entertainment based on personal preferences.
Make use of built-in parental controls
Netflix offers you the ability to set parental controls. The family controls feature lets you set restrictions for underage children to ensure age-appropriate content.
Here’s how to enable it.
Step 1. Sign in to your Netflix account on a computer or mobile device.
Step 2. Click on your Profile Icon, and within the dropdown, tap on Account.
Step 3. Now, under settings, click on the parental controls.
Step 4. At this stage, Netflix will ask you to verify ownership of the account. Then, it will ask you to enter your account password.
Step 5. Decide what restriction rating you want for the children that you wish to affect. For instance, TV-Y and TV-14. Once you enable all these settings, Netflix will restrict content to only what the user has set for the restrictions.
If you’d like to take some extra precautions, tracking your kids’ shows with FlashGet might be a good idea. FlashGet Kids makes it possible for you to supervise their viewing activities. It helps you monitor their Netflix usage so that they are not circumventing any restrictions set in place regarding content watching.
Using these suggestions will help ensure that you have an enjoyable experience with Netflix while guaranteeing that everything is fun and safe for all users!
Conclusion
As mentioned, you can manage the Netflix experience simply by optimising your Netflix watch history. With Watch History, discovering new content is exceptionally effortless. In addition, setting up individual profiles for different users within the house customises suggestions for everyone. For families, activating parental controls guarantees age-appropriateness for the viewer.
However, using third-party applications like FlashGet helps parents track their kids’ viewing history, making it useful. So, take control now and enjoy the Netflix experience tailored just for you!
