A movie or TV show can provide a great bonding opportunity for friends and family. And thanks to Netflix's vast library, there's something for everyone, from Hollywood blockbusters and European classics to anime series and obscure Asian hits.
But for all its positives, Netflix doesn't leave much room for friends. At best, you can share your account with three or four people. It can be a real setback if you want to watch your favorite titles with your team to strengthen your bonds and create memories.
Luckily, Zoom offers you a way out. You can use your favorite video conferencing tool to let you enjoy all your shows and movies in Full HD quality.
In this article, we'll show you how to do it.
Watch Netflix on Zoom
However, Netflix operates on a restrictive set of subscription plans where you can only share your account with a few people. That means it's hard to overwatch with family or friends if you're not in the same place.
While you can gather your friends in your living room for movie night, the timing may not be for everyone. Zoom's screen sharing feature offers an inexpensive and hassle-free solution.
Although it has earned a reputation as an excellent video conferencing app, Zoom also allows you to share your screen with participants without compromising on quality. All users can see exactly what's happening on your device, in real time, from anywhere in the world. It has also made it a popular choice for Netflix enthusiasts who want a group viewing experience.
Let's see what you need to do to watch Netflix on Zoom.
How to Watch Netflix Together on Zoom on PC
A PC presents one of the best ways to watch Netflix together on Zoom. Here's how:
- First, launch the Netflix app and sign in to your account. If you don't have the app, just visit the Netflix website and sign in.
- Leave the Netflix window open and launch the Zoom app.
- Keep inviting people you'd like to enjoy Netflix with.
- Once everyone is signed in, click "Share Screen" at the bottom of your Zoom screen. At this point, a new window will automatically appear and display all active applications on your PC.
- Select the Netflix app or browser window that displays Netflix.
- Check the boxes next to "Share computer sound" and "Optimize screen sharing for video clip". This will allow all participants to have access to the audio of the film. The video quality will also be retained.
- Click on “Share”.
- Select the movie you want to watch and click "Play." Now you can enjoy the movie together.
The Zoom meeting screen also offers several options to help you improve the group viewing experience. For example, the “Pause Share” button allows you to temporarily stop sharing your screen. This can be a useful tool if you want to privately manage something on your PC while the movie is playing. And by clicking on the “More” button, you can record the session or even chat with a participant without distracting everyone.
How to watch Netflix together on Zoom on a mobile device
Technology is advancing at an exponential rate, and now people can do things on mobile devices that were once only available on PCs or laptops. Watching Netflix on Zoom is one of those things. Both Netflix and Zoom are compatible with mobile devices, including those running Android and iOS.
Here are the steps:
- Launch your Zoom app on your device.
- Start a meeting and invite everyone you want to watch Netflix with.
- Next, tap "Share" at the bottom of the meeting screen. A new screen should appear to open the way to several sharing options.
- Select "Screen". Zoom will notify you that you are about to capture whatever is on your screen and share it with all participants.
- Tap "Start Broadcast".
- Zoom will ask you for permission to display on other apps. To consent to Zoom's request, simply tap the on-screen button.
- After allowing Zoom to view on other apps, you and your team are now good to go. All you have to do is launch the Netflix app and play the movie of your choice.
Giving Zoom permission to display over other apps paves the way for a seamless and convenient viewing experience. It ensures that you have zoom control buttons on your screen even when using other apps like Netflix. For example, you won't have to relaunch the Zoom app when it's time to stop sharing your screen because the "Stop" button will be right at your fingertips.
My screen is black when I try to stream, what can I do?
Playing your favorite Netflix titles through Zoom isn't always smooth browsing. Sometimes you may encounter a black screen when trying to launch the screen sharing feature. Although it can be quite frustrating, it might have nothing to do with your devices. Rather, it can happen because of digital rights management (DRM). But what is it ?
Digital rights management is an umbrella term that encompasses the actions that copyright owners can take regarding digital files, data streams, and physical media. It uses several techniques to ensure that works are not copied or transferred in a prohibited or restricted manner. In the case of Netflix, DRM is used to prevent users from widely sharing their accounts with others, as this is against the platform's account usage policy.
The good thing is that you can bypass this restriction and enjoy Netflix on Zoom without any problem. Here's how:
- Open the Zoom client desktop.
- Click on “Settings”.
- Click on “Video”, then select “Advanced”.
- Clear the three checkboxes for the available hardware acceleration options.
And with that, all participants will be able to watch any movie or show on Netflix via Zoom.
Create Netflix memories with Zoom
You can watch Netflix on your PC using Zoom's video conferencing service. The process is quite simple and will only take a few minutes to set up. That said, it should be noted that all participants need a stable internet connection to watch Netflix in real time. Additionally, all Zoom meetings are subject to a 40-minute limit. So you have to start a new meeting if the movie or show you are watching exceeds this initial time limit. The good thing is that Zoom lets you start as many meetings as you want.
Have you tried watching Netflix together on Zoom? How was it? Let us know in the comments section below.
