Pause the video, select the speed icon, and choose a playback rate. Netflix documents the control in supported web browsers and its Android, iPhone, and iPad apps. It is unavailable while casting or mirroring from a mobile device, and browser viewing on an ad-supported plan is excluded. Netflix’s current instructions cover the supported platforms and restrictions.
Change Netflix playback speed in a web browser
- Open Netflix in a supported web browser and start a film or episode.
- Pause the video so the playback controls appear.
- Select the speed icon in the player controls.
- Choose a slower or faster setting, then resume playback.
Netflix says playback speed is unavailable in a browser when you use an ad-supported plan. The current instructions do not specify a universal list of supported browsers, so use a browser in which Netflix offers the speed control.
Change playback speed on Android
- Open the Netflix app and play a film or episode.
- Tap the video to reveal the controls, then pause playback.
- Tap the speed icon and choose the rate you want.
- Tap play to continue.
Netflix documents the feature for Android phones and tablets. It is a player control, not a setting in your profile or general app settings.
Change playback speed on iPhone or iPad
- Open the Netflix app and start the title.
- Tap the video to show the controls, then pause it.
- Select the speed icon and choose a rate.
- Resume playback.
This applies to local playback in the Netflix app. Casting or mirroring the mobile screen disables the speed feature.
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Which playback speeds can you choose?
Netflix’s 2020 rollout announcement listed 0.5×, 0.75×, Normal (1×), 1.25×, and 1.5×. Its current Help Center page does not enumerate the options, so treat the choices displayed in your player as authoritative; do not assume that a 2× setting is available. Netflix’s rollout announcement also describes the original feature and its intended uses.
Why can’t you change Netflix speed on a TV?
Netflix’s current help instructions document playback-speed controls for supported browsers and mobile apps, but do not give a method for smart-TV apps, streaming boxes, game consoles, or other TV-connected devices. That is a limit of what Netflix currently documents; app interfaces and features can vary by platform.
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If you want to watch on a television while adjusting speed, one option is to play Netflix in a supported browser on a laptop connected to the TV, for example with HDMI. You can also watch directly on a supported phone or tablet without casting or mirroring. A TV app’s fast-forward or rewind buttons seek through the timeline; they are not the same as continuous playback-speed control.
Why is the speed icon missing?
- The controls are hidden: Tap or click the video to reveal them, then pause playback.
- You are using a TV-connected app: Netflix’s current help page does not document a speed-control method for those apps.
- You are casting or mirroring: Netflix excludes both modes from playback-speed control. Changing the rate before starting a cast is not a documented workaround. Netflix’s casting and mirroring instructions describe the available remote controls, but do not list speed adjustment.
- You are watching in a browser on an ad-supported plan: Netflix specifically excludes browser playback on that plan; its current instructions do not apply the same restriction to Android or iOS apps.
- The app or browser may need attention: Update it, close and reopen Netflix, and try another title. Netflix’s general troubleshooting guidance recommends updates and restarting devices for playback problems, though it is not a speed-control-specific procedure. See Netflix’s playback troubleshooting guidance.
- Compare on a documented platform: Try the same account in a supported mobile app or browser to determine whether the issue is specific to the device or playback mode.
What changes when playback is faster or slower?
At a faster rate, dialogue, music, and action unfold more quickly, and subtitles may be harder to read. A moderate increase such as 1.25× can be easier to follow for dialogue-heavy material than a larger jump. Slower playback can help when following dense dialogue, subtitles, a foreign-language title, or a scene you want to examine, but it lengthens the viewing time and can make music or performances feel unnatural.
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Netflix said during the feature’s 2020 rollout that it corrected audio pitch when playback speed changed. Its current help page does not describe the audio implementation, so pitch handling may vary by device or app version. If voices sound unnatural, return to Normal (1×); restarting playback or updating the app or browser may also help.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Netflix playback-speed support by viewing method
| Viewing method | Speed control in current Netflix help | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Supported web browser | Yes | Unavailable in a browser with an ad-supported plan |
| Android app | Yes | Unavailable while casting or mirroring |
| iPhone or iPad app | Yes | Unavailable while casting or mirroring |
| Smart-TV, streaming-device, or game-console app | Not documented | Netflix’s current help page does not provide an in-app method |
| Mobile cast session | No | Netflix excludes casting |
| Mirrored mobile display | No | Netflix excludes mirroring |
The support scope and restrictions in the table reflect Netflix’s current playback-speed instructions. The speed choice is a player control; persistence between titles is not explained on that page. Netflix’s 2020 rollout announcement said viewers selected a speed for each new viewing, but the behavior in your current app may differ.
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