The holidays are upon us, and you’re finally free from work and responsibilities…for a while. Looking for something to stream with your friends and family? When it comes to Netflix, mindlessly scrolling through the seemingly endless categories just doesn’t cut it anymore. What if you could see everything Netflix had to offer by using secret codes that made it easier to navigate? Our holiday gift to you: how to do exactly that.
Let us let you in on a holly jolly secret: Netflix’s entire library can be unlocked with a simple set of codes. These codes completely bypass the recommendation algorithm, letting you browse thousands of hidden movies and shows. That means tons of different content, all conveniently sorted into super specific categories that you may never have seen otherwise. This year you’ll find “Family-friendly Christmas movies” and even “Twisted Christmas” if you so choose. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
Netflix codes are a set of unique numerical identifiers that can help you find specific genres or sub-genres in the Netflix library on the streamer’s website (not the app).
Typically, you’re constrained to the genres available via the main Netflix menu. There’s no way to choose by specific category other than what’s been chosen for you when you log on. Using these codes opens up an entire library of options for you to choose from, helping you better settle on what to watch for the night. It can even help you discover shows and movies.
Adding these codes to the end of Netflix URLs allows you to directly access collections of movies and TV shows that fall under your chosen category.
For example, if you’re short on time and want to queue up a shorter movie, you could check the 90-Minute Movies category with the code 81466194. Looking for something for your entire brood to enjoy? The Family Movie Night collection, accessed with code 2013975, is filled with favorites that even Grandma can enjoy.
There are more than 36,000 codes to choose from, so don’t worry about memorizing them or trying random sequences. Resources like Netflix-Codes.com have an entire directory to sift through, allowing you to search for what you’d like to watch and find corresponding codes in no time.
Adding the Better Browse for Netflix extension to Chrome gives you a drop-down menu with Netflix categories.
Alternatively, you can use the FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. This add-on will create a drop-down menu complete with Netflix categories for your browser, which you can scroll through by clicking the FF icon that appears at the top right of your screen. There’s no need to scroll Netflix natively with this add-on, and it features 7,500 categories alphabetized for your convenience.
A third way is through the Netflix Codes website. Here’s how:
1. Visit Netflix-codes.com in any PC or mobile browser.
2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore.
3. Tap the code next to the genre or subgenre you want.
4. If you’re on a device that has the Netflix app installed, the app should open and take you directly to the genre or subgenre you chose. If you don’t have the app installed, it’ll open Netflix through the browser and you can view the specific movies and shows available.
5. Tap the title you want to watch and it’ll start playing.
Finally, if you’re comfortable with creating custom URLs, you can use Netflix codes manually in your browser. Here’s how:
1. Visit Netflix-codes.com on any PC or mobile browser.
2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore.
3. In another tab, type in http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER, but replace INSERTNUMBER with the specific genre or subgenre code. For instance, http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/81466194 will take you to “90-Minute Movies.”
4. If done correctly, you’ll be taken to Netflix to peruse the titles available in that section.
Simply repeat this process the next time you find a code for a Netflix category you’d like to explore. You can do this as many times as you’d like.
For more Netflix tips, learn how to get the most out of Netflix on your phone or mobile device and how to improve picture quality on streaming services.
