Netflix Discontinues Mobile Casting: Your Guide to the Change

The streaming giant has quietly withdrawn mobile casting support across most devices, pushing viewers toward native TV apps and dedicated remotes, and signalling a strategic shift in how Netflix wants audiences to discover and control content. Netflix has made a subtle but significant change to its platform by discontinuing support for mobile-based casting on most smart TVs and streaming devices. The update removes the familiar cast icon from Netflix’s Android and iOS apps, ending a feature many users relied on to control playback from their phones. The decision alters how millions of subscribers interact with Netflix across screens, particularly those accustomed to using smartphones as a remote or content discovery tool while watching on larger displays. Casting support narrowed to select devices Until recently, Netflix users could initiate playback from their phones and stream content directly to compatible televisions, media players, and gaming consoles. That functionality is now limited to a narrow set of hardware, including older Chromecast models without dedicated remotes, select Nest Hub displays, and a handful of legacy smart TVs. On most modern smart TVs and popular streaming platforms, users will no longer see the option to cast from the mobile app. Instead, Netflix expects viewers to launch content directly from the app installed on the TV or streaming device itself. Why the change impacts viewing habits For many households, mobile casting was more than a convenience. It allowed faster search using phone keyboards, simplified shared control during group viewing, and offered an accessible alternative to navigating complex TV menus. Phones also doubled as informal remotes, particularly useful in homes with multiple viewers. With casting removed, users must now depend on physical remotes or on-screen navigation, a shift that may feel restrictive for those accustomed to seamless phone-led control. The change also affects accessibility use cases, where smartphones offered a more intuitive interface. From second-screen control to device-first viewing Netflix was an early pioneer of second-screen technology, enabling phones to act as controllers while playback streamed directly from Netflix servers to the TV. That cross-platform flexibility helped the service stand out in the early years of smart TV adoption. The move away from mobile casting suggests a strategic pivot toward device-centric viewing, possibly aimed at simplifying platform support or improving consistency across devices. Netflix has not publicly detailed the rationale behind the change or indicated whether broader casting support could return. For now, subscribers will need to adjust to a more traditional TV-first viewing experience—one that places control firmly back in the hands of the primary screen.