In addition to Netflix providing you with a plethora of streaming content, it also has several features to help you manage what you watch, too. However, some of these features may be more annoying than helpful without manual adjustment.

In this article, we outline some simple tips to manage what you watch on Netflix, which should help you get more out of the streaming service and discover new things to watch on Netflix.

1. Remove Content From “Continue Watching”

The Continue Watching section on your Netflix home screen isn't always very helpful.

While it works great if you want to find the exact episode and timestamp where you left off in a TV show, there are always instances where you purposely didn't finish a series.

Perhaps a film you started watching wasn't one of the best you've ever seen. Maybe the synopsis gave you false expectations.

Here's how to delete content from your Continue Watching list on Netflix:

  1. Go to Netflix and log into your account on your computer.
  2. Click or hover on your account icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
  3. Click Account in the dropdown menu.
  4. Select your profile.
  5. Click View next to Viewing activity.
viewing-activity-1

When you click on Viewing Activity, you'll see a day-by-day breakdown representing your Netflix usage.

Inside your Viewing Activity, you can hide a title by clicking the Hide from viewing history button (the "" icon) located to the right of each piece of content. Doing so means that the movie or TV show on Netflix will be removed from Continue Watching. Additionally, this record is removed from all your devices. However, it might take up to 24 hours for you to see this effect.

Netflix profile settings

And if you accidentally get rid of a title, don't worry. Just search the Netflix catalog for that title, then replay the beginning of it. This will add that TV show or movie back to your Continue Watching section.

Note: Netflix Kids accounts don't offer the option to erase viewing activity. Furthermore, Netflix won't use a hidden title to recommend other content to watch.

2. Unlock Geo Restricted Content

There’s a chance you can’t access the entire Netflix library, depending on the country you live in. So, you might pay for a Netflix subscription just to find out you can’t watch your favorite movies or TV shows.

Of course, you could wait until they become available in your country, but it may take a while. Fortunately, there’s a way to watch every Netflix show in every country.

3. Disable the Netflix Autoplay Feature

When you finish watching an episode in a TV series, Netflix automatically plays the episode after it. While this autoplay feature can be incredibly useful, it can also encourage spending too much time watching Netflix. As you probably know, too much binge-watching can damage your health. Plus, if you're on a limited data plan, this binge-watching can also become detrimental to your cash flow.

To deactivate autoplay on your browser:

  1. Click or hover on your account icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
  2. Click Account in the dropdown menu.
  3. From Parental & parental controls, select your profile.
  4. Scroll to Playback settings and click Change.
Netflix playback settings

Once you click on Playback settings, you'll see a simple interface. In this interface, there will be two sections: Autoplay controls and Data usage per screen.

Netflix autoplayback settings

To deactivate autoplay, uncheck the box that says Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices.

You can uncheck Autoplay previews while browsing on all devices, too.

Additionally, you can adjust your data usage while you're there. Each possible setting under Data usage per screen tells you the general schematics and the maximum amount of data that you can use per hour.

After you adjust the autoplay settings, click the Save button to confirm your changes. By doing so, you will disable this feature and discourage binge-watching. You'll also save yourself some data.

4. Search for Hidden Genres

How many times did you and your friends endlessly refresh or scroll on Netflix before deciding what to watch? Sometimes, browsing by genre isn’t enough to find the movie that fits your preferences.

Fortunately, Netflix organized its content by secret codes. For example, if you search for 869, Netflix will show you dark comedies, while 43048 is the code for action thrillers. These are just a couple of examples, as there are more Netflix secret codes that you can search for.

5. Create Netflix Profiles for Different Users

The vastness of Netflix's library makes it easy for your queue to become bloated. This is especially true if you're on a family account.

However, you also can create multiple profiles within your account. Each account can have up to five profiles, and each profile can have its own "My List" section to keep track of shows. This is especially useful when your family has different tastes in movies, and you want to separate those content lists.

To add more profiles to your Netflix account:

  1. When you log in, the Netflix screen will ask you, "Who's watching?"
  2. If there is space to add another profile, there should be a + icon to the right of the existing profiles.
  3. Click on the + sign to add a new profile.

Additionally, if you click the Manage Profiles button at the bottom of the screen, you can change a profile's name, icon, individual settings, and set up parental controls.

Edit Netflix profile

Netflix also allows you to delete a profile from the home screen by going to Manage Profiles, choosing an individual profile, and clicking Delete Profile.

Note: You can't delete the default profile on your Netflix account.

6. Have Netflix Remind You of Upcoming Content

If you don’t want to miss when your favorite TV show's new season comes to Netflix, you can have Netflix remind you about it.

On Netflix’s home page, open the New & popular menu. There, you’ll see more categories, such as New on Netflix, Worth the Wait, or Coming Next Week. Hover your mouse on your favorite show and click the Remind me icon.

Netflix reminder

The title will be moved to My List, and Netflix will notify you once the content is available in your region.

7. Rate Netflix Shows to Get Better Suggestions

One of the best ways to manage your Netflix account is to rate the shows you watch, so Netflix can give you better suggestions.

When you rate material, Netflix uses the statistics from these ratings to suggest what you should check out next. Additionally, if you give a "thumbs down" to a title, it disappears from your recommended list.

To rate a Netflix show:

  1. Hover your mouse over any title, or tap on any title through your phone app to enlarge the movie's title screen.
  2. When the title pops up, click the Rate icon and select Not for me, I like this, or Love this!
Netflix recommendations

You can also use the match percentage to decide what to watch on Netflix before you press Play. The match is based on what you have previously watched and rated.

The higher the match percentage of an unwatched show, the more likely you are to enjoy it, at least according to Netflix's algorithms. The more content you rate, the better these recommendations will be.

Additionally, while the match percentage can help you make smarter choices when deciding what to watch, it can also guide you on which titles to remove from your list. For example, a very low percentage means you are much less likely to enjoy something.

How Do You Manage What You Watch on Netflix?

Hopefully, your Netflix homepage now has content that suits your preferences. However, the change might only last for a while if you share the profile with someone else. So, getting a subscription plan that allows for simultaneous streams might be worth it.