Netflix has updated its Windows Phone 8.1 app with a new Live Tile color and some fixes to reported issues for video streaming.
Aside from the Live Tile color changing from red to black and the bug fixes, there does not appear to be anything else that's new or improved in this Netflix app update. We are still waiting for the streaming service to release its promised Windows 10 Mobile version. It launched the native Windows 10 app for PCs and tablets in December 2015.
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Reader comments
Netflix Windows Phone app gets updated Live Tile and streaming fixes
It doesn't work for me. When I try to run it, it will start for a few seconds and then just fail.
This update seems buggy. The previous version worked fine for me.
This is not working for me at all. It doesn't crash and I can put name/PW and click to sign in and nothing happens. The app is frozen and doesn't even attempt to sign in on my Lumia 950. Very frustrating.
I'm waiting for netflix to bring the cellular data usage settings to windows phone where you can adjust how much cellular data you use when on netflix. They have only released it for android and ios so far.
https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/netflix-introduces-new-cellular-data-controls-globally
Still not UWP though, so no continuum support
The workaround is great. Thanks!
so it launched it in the future? 'It launched the native Windows 10 app for PCs and tablets in December 2016.'
Were we able to pin specific shows to the start screen before?
Yes
Remote control for your Netflix user account on another W10 machine or browser would be nice (incl. Cortana control). Be nice to control Netflix on my telly from my phone.
I think you meant December 2015.
Works great for me
Ok Netflix.
Now where is your Windows 10 UWP app that supports continuum?
I can only use netflix via web in Edge. In that way you can use continuum too.
December 2016? Wait, it is 2017 already?
December 2016 BC
Okay next news should be NextFlix releases UWP Windows 10 app
And now it doesn't open on my 950xl on the latest fast ring build... Where can I get old xaps?
Also, I need this app working through continuum!
I actually found a workaround in Windows Store comment:
1. Start Netflix
2. Before the app crash, Press Windows Start button to go back to start screen
3. Launch Netflix again
Thank you!
It still crashes on start up.
Hey, a new logo is better than it being pulled from the store.
Yeah.. The icon was never red, just the title, not sure the W10 app launched at the end of the current year either. Does anyone proof read articles anymore?
"It launched the native Windows 10 app for PCs and tablets in December 2016."
OMG, did I sleep that much?
John Callaham confirmed to be a time traveler:
"It launched the native Windows 10 app for PCs and tablets in December 2016."
I saw that too
Its from white to black, not red to black. The N is red still :P
Glad they finally updated it to a black tile and fixed the streaming issue. You'll have to re-enter your credentials when you update, but then it's back to working again on WP10!
If anyone is having trouble opening the Netflix app, there is a trick to getting it to work. This is when you open the app, it brings up the splash screen for a little and then exits.
I read about a workaround on the reviews and ratings of the Netflix app in the Windows store:
1. Launch the Netflix app
2. When the spash screen comes up, press the Windows Home button on your phone which will bring you back to the start screen.
3. Re-launch the Netflix app
It should start working if you followed those simple steps. I don't know why you have to do this, but it works for me.
Lumia 950 on most up to date slow ring build
Thank you, it wouldn't launch until I did exactly as you said.
Yup! This in-fact works.
This doesn't work for me for some reason.
You have to use the windows logo and then the tile again. Don't use the back button, that didn't work for me.
Did this. All did the home button, multitasking, open Netflix again from there. Neither way works for me.
Did this. All did the home button, multitasking, open Netflix again from there. Neither way works for me.
Darn, that sucks. Clearly not a workaround for everyone. Netflix really needs to know about this and fix it. Curious if this is some limitation with their current app 8.1 app not playing well with Windows 10 or just a stupid bug in their code. Make sure you give it a bad review and also give feedback on Netflix's site. I have already done the first and will do the second. I don't feel like I need to do workarounds for basic things like this ya know?
Great tip, I tried all the combinations (adding uninstalling, installing, moving to sd, moving to phone, removing the backup info of netflix) but still no luck!
This app didn't open for me. Hasn't in a while.
See my comment above
it has a lot of bugs with the video player !!1
So when do we see continuum compatibility?
We'll see that when they convert to UWP... but that would likely mean the end of support of the Windows Phone 8.x version. But now that more of the older phones are getting Windows 10 Mobile, that may well happen sometime in the coming months.
More older phones are getting Windows 10? Was there a second wave of Phones that can get W10M?
The carriers are slow to deliver
No, there was no second wave.
You can continuum Netflix with Edge ;)
Netflix on 10 Mobile hasn't worked for me for the last month or so of builds. I see the splash screen for several seconds and then it closes.
Same here
Me too. And this latest update still hasn't fixed that... The fresh coat of paint is nice, but it doesn't mean a thing if it still doesn't work.
I contacted WC about this. I talked for a long time yesterday with Netflix. They are aware of this and are talking with Microsoft about what the issue is.
It's not Netflix though it's the OS. Try Soft reset. Maybe uninstall and reinstall it. I had a similar issue on one build and soft reset fixed it.
Same with me, so frustrating.
I actually found a workaround in Windows Store comment:
1. Start Netflix
2. Before the app crash, Press Windows Start button to go back to start screen
3. Launch Netflix again
Happy days
That worked for me too. Thanks for the tip!
Worked! Wow. How the heck did you stumble upon this workaround?
I figured it out by accident
You're a saint! The app hasn't worked on my phone for several days. I uninstalled, reinstalled, rebooted--nothing. Then I saw your post, tried it, and now I'm gold. Thank you!!!
Worked for me too, great tip!
That's funny, what phone do you have? I Lumia 520 series or the 900 series? It been working on my 1520, 830, and 640's without issues forever along with Hulu. I use both of those apps daily.
I only had Netflix issues with a couple of the very first builds of w10m released to the public. But Hulu plus crashes while launching. 950XL fast ring.
The current app isn't a Windows 10 app? I didn't even realize that.
Not dead
they have to fix the xbox one app. It freezes all the time. Often I have to uninstall and reinstall for it to work for my wife.