3 Ways to Watch Netflix on Apple TV

Apple TV is friendly for users with multiple Apple devices, and it also supports watching videos from multiple streaming platforms, including, of course, Netflix. You can watch Netflix on your Apple TV by using the Netflix app, but that’s not your only choice.

three ways to watch netflix on apple tv

Want to know more than one way to watch Netflix on Apple TV? Well, you've come to the right place. Below you'll find 3 ways to watch Netflix movies and TV shows on Apple TV, and they each have their own pros and cons. You will know which is best for you according to your needs and the devices you have.

1. Method One. Watch Netflix on Apple TV via Netflix App

This is the normal way to get Netflix on Apple TV. Please make sure your Apple TV is connected to Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable. And the following is what you need to know if you watch Netflix for the first time.

For Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation)

  1. Make sure you are on the home screen.
  2. From the main Apple TV menu, select Netflix.
  3. Enter your Netflix email and password.

For Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K

  1. From the home screen, select the App Store.
  2. In the App Store, search for Netflix to find the app, then select Get to start installation.
  3. After installation, the Netflix app will appear on the home screen.
  4. Open the app and sign in by entering your Netflix email and password.

watch netflix on apple tv

After setting up Netflix, you’re free to search the videos you want to watch, or stream some suggested shows and movies. This is the normal way to watch Netflix on your Apple TV, which is almost the same as streaming on Netflix app on your computer or mobile devices. You can stream Netflix content in high definition with internet connected. However, it is not allowed to watch Netflix videos offline on Apple TV because the download feature is available on limited devices, excluding Apple TV.

Please note that you can’t stream Netflix content if you are a user of the first generation of Apple TV. Don’t fret, the following will introduce another two solutions that suit more people.

Step 1. Open the App Store on your Apple TV and search for the Netflix app. Once you have found the app, select it and click Get to download and install it.

Step 2. Once the app has been installed, open it and sign in with your Netflix account. After you have signed in, you will be able to browse through the selection of TV shows and movies that are available to stream.

Step 3. To start watching a TV show or movie, simply select it and press Play. You can also add titles to your Watchlist so that you can easily find them later. Moreover, with the continue-watching feature, you can pick up where you left off on any device that is connected to your Netflix account.

2. Method Two. Use AirPlay to Cast Netflix from iPhone to Apple TV

Here is a way to stream Netflix titles by using AirPlay: mirror the screen of your other Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad or Mac. This method is useful when you want to watch videos on other big screens so as to share them with your family or friends. But you probably have failed when you tried to mirror Netflix content for Netflix doesn’t support Apple Airplay.

So how do you do it? This way below allows you to download Netflix videos locally on your Mac device and then mirror the videos to Apple TV with airplay, just like mirroring your other local videos. So you may wonder, doesn't Mac not support downloading Netflix app? Yes, but you don't need the Netflix app to download Netflix videos to your Mac, you just need FlixiCam Netflix Downloader to do it easily.

apple airplay

FlixiCam is a video downloader that can download Netflix titles on your Mac or Windows computers. You can download up to 1080p videos by using this tool, and multilingual subtitles and audio tracks will be kept. Videos will be stored in MP4/MKV format, and you can download 5.1 surround sound when customizing download settings. Check the following tutorial to know how to download Netflix videos to your local and mirror them to Apple TV by using this smart tool.

Tutorial: How to Download and Mirror Netflix Video with FlixiCam

Step 1. Run FlixiCam on PC and Log into Netflix Account

Open FlixiCam, simply click on "Sign In", then you can enter your information, and log into your Netflix account.

log in

Step 2. Customize the Output Settings

Please select output options from the General settings box by clicking the gear icon in the top-right corner. The output format (MP4 or MKV), video quality (High, Medium, Low), output path, and languages of audio tracks and subtitles can be customized.

set output quality

Step 3. Add Videos on FlixiCam

You can use keywords to find the videos you want to download. Just type the video’s name directly. The output will be listed soon.

search netflix video

Step 4. Select Audio Track and Subtitle

In this step, you can select the audio tracks and subtitles tracks. The operation for downloading TV series and movies are slightly different. To download a TV show, simply click the Download icon, . A window will then appear, and you can click "Advanced Download" at the bottom left, which allows you to select the show's title, seasons, and audio track.

If you want to download a movie, just click the green Download icon located at the bottom right corner.

advanced download

Step 5. Start to Download Netflix Videos

All you have to do is hit the download button now. You can find the downloaded videos in the destination folder or by selecting Library to access the Netflix video locally once the video has finished downloading.

Mirror Netflix Video to an HDTV by Using AirPlay

Here is a tutorial for macOS Ventura 13, if it’s not your computer system, please go to here, and find the corresponding method.

  1. Please make sure your Mac and Apple TV are on the same network.
  2. Click Control Centre control centre in the menu bar, click the Screen Mirroring icon screen mirroring, then choose your Apple TV.
  3. If asked, enter a four-digit code on your Mac.
  4. To set whether your desktop mirrors or extends your Mac screen, click the Screen Mirroring icon screen mirroring icon, then choose Mirror Built-in Display or Use As Separate Display.

Method Three. Transfer Netflix Downloads to Apple TV

This method allows you to use a USB drive to transfer downloaded files to Apple TV, and watch Netflix videos without an internet connection.

To download the videos you want, please follow the previous steps of the tutorial. Just note please choose your USB drive as the destination when choosing an output path (step 2 of the tutorial). Or you can copy the downloaded files to the USB drive after connecting the drive to your computer. Then, simply insert the USB flash drive into your TV and enjoy the videos whenever you need to watch them on your TV without WiFi.

The method is the least limited method to watch Netflix videos on your Apple TV. And both Windows and Mac devices are available to download videos on because FlixiCam is compatible with both computer systems. Besides, if you want to watch Netflix videos offline, this method is best for you because the other two work only when WiFi is connected.

4. FAQs about Streaming Netflix on Apple TV

How Can I Watch Netflix Videos After the Subscription Ends?

In case you don’t know, you can’t download Netflix videos on Apple TV, so you can’t watch them offline in the Netflix app like you watch downloaded videos on your other devices. It’s not available to watch Netflix videos after your subscription ends, either. You need to keep subscribing to Netflix if you want to stream Netflix videos on Apple TV, which is a costly plan. FlixiCam is here to help you. You can download Netflix videos as MP4 files on your computer by using this app, and transfer them to your Apple TV, or any other device to watch these downloads. With this app, you can keep your favorite Netflix videos forever, and play them on the big screen. You don’t need to worry about their expiration date anymore!

How to Watch Netflix on Other TVs?

To watch Netflix on your TV, you need a device with the Netflix app. The Netflix app is available on Smart TVs, Set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and Game consoles. Other streaming media players including Chromecast, Fire TV, SHIELD TV, and Roku are available to stream Netflix titles.

Smart TVs have built-in Netflix apps, so you can watch Netflix directly if you have a Netflix streaming membership. Brands such as Fire TV, Hisense, LG, Panasonic, Philips, Roku TV, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, etc. support Netflix streaming. To learn more compatible devices, you can go to here.

What Can I Do If I Want to Watch Netflix on a Non-smart TV?

Here is a solution for you if you need to travel and want to watch Netflix on TV in your hotel but are unsure if there is a smart TV. To watch Netflix on a large screen, you can first download the MP4 or MKV files onto a USB drive, which you can then place into a non-smart TV. For more detail, please click here.

5. Netflix Not Working on Apple TV, How to Fix? (Six Ways)

If Netflix is not working on your Apple TV, you can try the following troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

1. Check for Updates: Ensure that both your Apple TV and the Netflix app are up to date. Go to the App Store on your Apple TV and navigate to the "Purchased" section to see if there are any updates available for the Netflix app.

2. Restart the Apple TV: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor software glitches. To do this, go to "Settings" > "System" > "Restart" on your Apple TV.

3. Reinstall the Netflix App: Delete the Netflix app from your Apple TV and then reinstall it. Press and hold the touch surface on the remote until the app icons jiggle, then press the Play/Pause button and select "Delete". Afterward, go to the App Store, search for Netflix, and reinstall it.

4. Check Network Connection: Make sure your Apple TV is connected to the internet. You can do this by going to "Settings" > "Network" on your Apple TV and checking the connection status.

5. Reset Network Settings: If the network connection seems to be the issue, you can try resetting the network settings on your Apple TV. Navigate to "Settings" > "System" > "Advanced" > "Reset" > "Reset Network Settings".

6. Contact Netflix Support: If none of the above steps work, it may be an issue with the Netflix service itself. In this case, contacting Netflix customer support for further assistance may be necessary.

By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve most common issues with Netflix not working on your Apple TV.

6. Recap

Here is a recap of three ways to watch Netflix videos on Apple TV. You can pick one according to your existing devices and your specific needs. Hope this table is helpful for you to figure out the differences between these methods.

Normal Way to Watch Netflix on Apple TV Use AirPlay to stream Netflix Content on Apple TV Transfer Netflix Downloads to Apple TV
Apple TV (1st generation) unavailable unavailable available
Apple TV (except 1st generation) available available available
Need Other Devices? No Mac Mac/Windows PC
Offline Watching unavailable unavailable available
Watch after Subscription Ends unavailable available available

Final Words:

Hope this guide of three ways to watch Netflix on Apple TV is helpful for you to better stream or watch Netflix videos offline on TV. If you want to have a better watching experience, FlixiCam is your best choice. Click the button below and start your free trial!