Netflix Won't Let You Cast Shows From Your Phone to Most TVs Anymore, and Honestly… Why?

Netflix, we need to talk about your behavior. Because once again, you've made a decision that feels less like a feature update and more like a dare to see how far you can push your subscribers before they get up and storm off.

Netflix has quietly rolled out a change that removes one of the most convenient features on the app: casting what you're watching on your phone to your TV. No more browsing comfortably on your couch, tapping a show, and sending it to the big screen. No more using your phone as a sleek little remote to pause, rewind, adjust captions, or control volume. Nope. Netflix now wants you to grab your actual remote, open the TV app, and do everything the old-fashioned way.

Why? According to Netflix, not enough people used the feature. Which is interesting, because judging by the reaction on Reddit and social media, apparently everyone used the feature. Or at the very least, everyone who used it really, really cared about it. And removing something your users care about is… certainly a choice for a company already raising prices, cracking down on sharing, and slowly morphing into the streaming equivalent of that grocery store that charges for plastic bags but doesn't offer paper ones either.

To be fair, casting still works in a few rare cases, like on older pre-2020 Chromecasts that don't use remote controls. But Google basically retired the Chromecast years ago, so Netflix's answer boils down to: "Have you considered buying an outdated device from 2018?" Beautiful. Love that solution.

Netflix insists this isn't about password sharing, but about focusing resources on more important features. Which, okay, fine… but it's hard to see how removing options creates a better user experience. Most people don't want fewer ways to watch Netflix. They want more. Or at the very least, the same number they had yesterday.

As someone who loves convenience, mobility, and not hunting for my TV remote that somehow always ends up under a cushion or in the kitchen for reasons unknown, this change feels like a step backward for absolutely no one's benefit.

Netflix, you're still one of the best in the game. But please, I beg you… stop making the experience worse. My thumbs are tired, my remote is missing, and I already do everything from my phone. 

Stop being unnecessarily mean to your costumers.