Do Netflix Binges Cause a Data Drain For You?

Netflix and other online streaming sites have spread widely and are among the top sources of data usage. Netflix recognized that more and more people are streaming their services on smartphones and are then using more data than their restricted plans allow. If this is a problem for you, then Netflix has introduced a solution.

The newest version of the Netflix app on iOS and Android features a new way to change the streaming setting. The default setting will let someone watch about 3 hours of content per gigabyte of data. They believe that this setting allows for good video quality without using as much data. If data usage is not an issue for you, then you can adjust your setting to allow for streaming at a higher bitrate from the same menu.

As I've said you must have the newest Netflix app in order to make adjustments on the app. Log in the app and select "App Settings" from the menu. Then select "Cellular Data Usage". You can switch between the automatic default and the lower or higher data use setting. See the image below for help.

Image Credit: Netflix

I haven't tried this setting yet, but I would be interested to see how it works and if you like it. Remember this only works on smartphones and will not impact streaming settings on a Wi-Fi connection. Click HERE to read the release from Netflix and HERE to see how the new setting will work with your account settings.

 -L.Burden