Netflix Introduces New Mobile Data Controls Globally

Netflix have today announced that they are are offering a new tool to help people better control how much data they use when streaming on mobile networks.

The default setting will now enable you to stream about 3 hours of TV shows and movies per gigabyte of data. In terms of bitrates, that currently amounts to about 600 Kilobits per second. Their testing found that, on mobile networks, this setting balances good video quality with lower data usage to help avoid exceeding data caps and incurring over usage fees. If you have a mobile data plan with a higher data cap, you can adjust this setting to stream at higher bitrates. The aim is to give people more control and greater choice in managing their data usage whether you’re on an unlimited mobile plan or one that’s more restrictive.

To set your mobile data usage, make sure you have updated your Netflix app on iOS or Android to the most recent version, select “App Settings” from the menu, and pick “Cellular Data Usage.” There you can switch off the automatic default and select a higher or lower data usage setting that works with your mobile data plan, including an unlimited option. For more information about how their new cellular settings will interact with account settings, check out this article.