Netflix Quietly Redesigns Its TV Player for a Cleaner Viewing Experience

Streaming platforms typically don’t grab headlines, but for a giant like Netflix, even minor adjustments to user interactions can impact millions of households. Over the past few years, Netflix has been gradually refining the look and feel of its TV app, and the updates are far from over.

After last year’s significant redesign of the TV homepage aimed at enhancing content discovery, Netflix is now focusing on the viewing experience itself. This shift signifies a move from merely finding something to watch to improving how viewers engage with their chosen content.

As reported by What’s on Netflix, the streaming service began testing a revamped connected TV video player on July 29. The goal is to simplify actions like pausing, adjusting subtitles, and joining live events, making the interface less cluttered. Currently, this test is limited to select users as Netflix collects feedback before considering a broader rollout.

One of the most noticeable changes is the removal of the on-screen play, pause, and back buttons, which previously occupied awkward positions at the edges of the screen. With most smart TVs and streaming devices now featuring dedicated remote buttons for these functions, Netflix is embracing this trend instead of duplicating existing controls.

The remaining icons have not vanished; they have been consolidated. Features like ‘Skip Recap,’ which used to be positioned off to the side, are now grouped in the bottom-left corner alongside ‘Next Episode’ and other settings, all situated just above a slightly larger scrubber bar.

Improvements are also coming to subtitles and audio settings. Instead of pulling up a separate menu from the side, Netflix is integrating audio language, subtitle language, and subtitle appearance controls into a single overlay menu that appears at the bottom of the screen. This allows viewers to adjust their preferences without pausing their viewing experience.

Live programming is receiving a small yet significant update as well. As Netflix expands its offerings in live events, including its ongoing partnership with WWE, viewers clicking into a live event will now be prompted with a clear choice to start from the beginning or jump straight into the live action, replacing the previous ‘More Info’ button.

These updates to the player follow a series of other subtle changes Netflix has implemented recently, including new icon designs for its Games and Podcasts categories and a repositioning of the Top 10 badge on title cards. Together with ongoing tests of its web interface, these changes indicate that Netflix is striving for a more cohesive design language across all platforms.

As with any Netflix test, there’s no certainty that this specific version of the player will reach every user. The company will gather data from this rollout to inform any broader changes that may eventually be implemented for the wider subscriber base.

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