Netflix Won't Let You Cast Shows From Your Phone to Most TVs Anymore | WIREDSkip to main contentHand-Picked Cyber Monday DealsShop NowMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSCYBER MONDAYMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Cyber Monday DealsApple DealsTV DealsUnder $100Laptop DealsDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InBoone AshworthGearDec 1, 2025 4:15 PMNetflix Won't Let You Cast Shows From Your Phone to Most TVs AnymoreThe streaming giant quietly removed the feature that lets you control content on your TV screen using a mobile device. The company says the feature was not widely used.FacebookXEmailSave StoryPhotograph: NurPhoto/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyNetflix has updated its service so that it will no longer support casting a streaming video to a TV from a mobile device.If you’re watching a show on your phone, you’ll no longer be able to easily cast it onto your TV and keep watching. Instead, Netflix is prioritizing its TV app, which means you’ll need to grab your TV remote and use the app to play content, or even pause or rewind the show. Volume controls, playback buttons, closed captioning controls, or any other settings won’t be able to be controlled by your mobile device anymore if you’re streaming on the TV.The change was first spotted and reported on by Android Authority, and the news has garnered lots of scorn from users in places like Reddit. The change eliminates a workaround that a lot of people use for either convenience—they can browse Netflix on their phone, then send something to the TV once they’ve chosen what to watch—or because the only account they have access to is authenticated on their phone, and they may not be able to log into the TV app.“Why would they take away features that are incredibly useful? Why would they make the experience worse?” reads the top Reddit comment on the post sharing the Android Authority article.A Netflix representative, answering questions from WIRED via email, says Netflix is ending support for mobile device playback control because it was not a feature that enough members use.The representative says that Netflix sometimes has to retire features that are no longer widely used so that it can invest in those that provide more value. Netflix wouldn’t share any information about how many people used the casting feature, or what resources the feature was taking up compared to anything else the platform offers.Casting to a TV will still work in a few cases. It doesn’t work at all on the cheaper ad-supported tiers that Netflix offers. But even if you pay for the more expensive streaming tier, casting from your phone will only work if you are casting to an older device, like a pre-2020 Google Chromecast, which worked without a remote control. But Google has all but killed off its Chromecast, and the latest smart TVs usually come with apps like Netflix preinstalled.Users are riled up about this, pointing out that Netflix has shifted its priorities over the years from getting as many users on its platform as possible to maximizing subscription revenue by raising prices, cracking down on password sharing, and imposing limits on how the service can be accessed.This is a fundamental attack on me personally, as I am currently trying to get through the latest season of The Great British Baking Show while logged into a friend’s Netflix account on my phone. Netflix says the move, though distressing to moochers like me, is not meant to deter people from sharing accounts.The Netflix rep says there is no correlation between this change and people mooching off other people's accounts. Usage of the feature was just extremely low.The representative also suggests those users check if their television can support a Google Cast device, since one of those can still be used to cast from a phone to a TV.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also Like …In your inbox: Will Knight's AI Lab explores advances in AIThe first radio signal from Comet 3I/Atlas ends the debateBig Story: How Gen Z toppled Nepal’s leaderIf the US has to build data centers, here’s where they should goEvent: Join some of the most influential voices in tech and beyondBoone Ashworth is a staff writer on the WIRED Gear desk, where he writes about connected hardware, sustainability, and the right to repair. He graduated from San Francisco State University and still lives in the city. He is currently training to be a virtual reality DJ. ... Read MoreStaff WriterXTopicsNetflixTelevisionstreamingTVRead MoreGot a Pixel 10? 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Netflix has quietly removed its mobile device casting feature, allowing users to seamlessly stream content from their phones to their TVs. The decision, made by the streaming giant, stems from a surprisingly low level of usage, according to a Netflix representative. While the move may inconvenience some users—particularly those who rely on it for convenience or share accounts with friends—Netflix asserts it’s not targeting “moochers.”

The feature, which previously enabled users to control playback, volume, and closed captioning on their TVs via their mobile devices, is now effectively defunct. This means users will need to utilize the Netflix TV app or remote control to navigate and control content directly on their TV. Casting functionality will still work in limited scenarios, namely on the lower-priced ad-supported tiers and with older devices like the Google Chromecast (pre-2020). However, the core mobile casting experience has been discontinued.

The shift comes after Android Authority initially reported the change, sparking considerable frustration among Netflix users on platforms like Reddit. The issue isn’t simply about convenience; many users found the mobile casting feature a valuable workaround for accessing Netflix on their phones and then projecting that content onto their TVs.

Netflix’s justification for the removal hinges on the lack of widespread adoption. The representative explained that the company sometimes retires features that aren’t used frequently to focus investment on areas providing more value to subscribers. While precise usage numbers are being withheld, the low levels of engagement were apparently the deciding factor.

Despite the Netflix representative’s dismissal of the “moocher” narrative, the removal of the mobile casting feature has been met with criticism, reinforcing a perception that Netflix is prioritizing revenue generation through things like price increases and account limitations. This latest change raises questions about the company's overall approach to user experience and the value it places on features that enhance convenience and accessibility.

Ultimately, the future of mobile casting for Netflix users appears bleak, with the company opting to streamline its offerings based on limited usage data. The company’s representatives recommend exploring casting through a Google Cast device if users still wish to stream from their phones to their TV.