Netflix only allows account sharing using its premium profile sharing feature, so you’ll pay extra on top of your monthly subscription. This leaves only a few options to remotely stream your favorite shows and movies to family and friends. One of the best and most reliable options is hosting a Netflix watch party over Discord, a social gamer and popular video calling app.
Discord has a handy option to stream your Netflix account using the screen share feature. You can host your favorite shows on PC and mobile without purchasing the best streaming box. This guide walks you through how to screen share Netflix over Discord mobile and PC, the settings that enhance screen sharing, and tips for removing the common black screen problem.
You can use the Windows or Mac desktop app or the web browser version to screen share Netflix. Viewers can join on any device they own (provided they install the Discord app). Jumping into a hosted Netflix stream on mobile is a breeze.
Your web browser settings are the most common reason you’ll see a black screen instead of the Netflix stream. First, check your web browser settings for hardware acceleration and turn off Use hardware acceleration to deactivate it. Then, relaunch your web browser and stream. Finally, retry the above steps. That should fix it.
You may need to adjust your Discord user settings if you still see the black screen. Navigate to the Discord user settings (the gear icon) in the lower-left corner. Under the app settings, click Advanced to ensure the toggle is off next to Hardware Acceleration.
The second method to avoid the black screen issues while streaming Netflix is to use Discord’s Add Game feature. To get started, visit your Discord user settings, navigate to Registered Games, type Netflix (the Netflix app must be running in the background), select the app in the drop-down menu, and click Add Game.
You can screen share the Netflix app on mobile. You must install the Netflix app and the Discord app before proceeding. You’ll find the installation widgets below this section.
If someone started a Netflix stream on Discord, and you want to join without being the host and Netflix account holder, the process is even easier. Here’s what you’ll do:
You can improve the streaming quality for your Netflix watch party sessions thanks to the limited options available. The first option requires setting up the voice channels inside a Discord server. After setting up these channels, navigate to the voice channel settings and select region override. Discord defaults to automatic, but you may need to manually select a server to centralize the location based on where everyone lives. There are four options for the US. These settings remain in effect until you select another option. Discord voice calls also have this option.
The second option works only if the acting Discord account host subscribes to Discord Nitro (a premium subscription-based service). Discord Nitro allows you to change the video quality for Discord streams, including streams greater than 720p video resolution and higher than the default 30 FPS (framerate). If you have the option, stream above the lowest (default) settings, provided your internet connection can also handle it, like 1080p with 60 FPS.
Even though hosting a watch party on Discord isn’t always convenient, it’s safe since it doesn’t involve sharing your Netflix account credentials. Not everyone can afford streaming services, so having the option to share with others adds a nice gesture and fun activity to look forward to.
Inviting your remote family and friends for a Discord watch party is a cost-effective way to share your Netflix account. Other streaming services, like Amazon, have jumped on the bandwagon by adding support with their watch parties on Amazon Prime Video, but everyone must have a subscription.
Maybe if we start telling people the brain is an app they will start using it!
