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It makes me wish that Netflix, et al. provided a bit more in the way of configuration/control options. In this case, the ability to turn auto-play off. One ch

It makes me wish that Netflix, et al. provided a bit more in the way of configuration/control options. In this case, the ability to turn auto-play off. One checkbox, with a bit of code behind it. Realize that not everyone is in the same boat, connection-wise. And with data caps continuing to loom, some would like a simple setting to help guard against accidentally running over. Also, believe it or not, some of us like the credits. And with outfits like Marvel stuffing teasers and jokes in after they've run, that interest may be increasing.

thedufer 11y ago
To be fair, "Netflix played all night" is not actually a thing that happens, as far as I can tell. When autoplaying, they pause every few episodes in case you're not watching. I'm sure they don't want to pay bandwidth/licensing for shows playing to an empty room.
- s_kilk 11y ago
  I may be wrong on this, but I believe they are legally required to stop auto-playing every so often, so that it still counts as on-demand streaming and not simply a TV channel. In fact, that's probably not correct, not sure where I picked that up.
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    Netflix has to pay for every "view" to whomever they're licensing content from, just as Spotify has to pay for every listen (although, the rules are much different for internet "radio" than they are for video streaming agreements Netflix has). All services check if you're still around so they're not spending licensing money they don't have to.
- pasbesoin 11y ago
  I haven't allowed myself to run into it, but I seem to recall having read that it is after circa 3 episodes. Nonetheless, if you are in the habit of dosing off, many nights, that can still result in a lot of "wasted" bandwidth, particularly with some of the more miserly caps being described in the (U.S.) press as having been imposed or "coming soon."
CodeWriter23 11y ago
Desktop: netflix.com | Your Account | Playback Settings | Uncheck "Play next episode automatically" Mobile: Netflix App | Hamburger | Your Account | Playback Settings | Uncheck "Play next episode automatically"
- pasbesoin 11y ago
  Hmm. Wonder how I missed these. I recall going looking for such a setting, at least once. Thanks! P.S. Found the described setting in the web client. Those settings pages look a bit different than I recall. I think they have added options to them since I last looked (months ago). Or, I am simply clueless -- wouldn't be the first time. Thanks, again.
  - CodeWriter23 11y ago
    You're welcome :)
- jlgaddis 11y ago
  Thanks, I never thought to log in to the website and look for a setting like this. We -- well, the girlfriend -- only use Netflix on a Roku and I wasn't able to find any settings for it there.
- pasbesoin 11y ago
  I looked for this on my Nexus 7 2013 running what I imagine is the current version of the Android Netflix app (no reason on my part that it wouldn't be), and I didn't find it. Under the hamburger menu, I can only choose which user profile and what category of content I want to view. There is no "Account Settings". The "three dot" menu does have a "Settings" item, but it only offers a very limited set of settings, not including the one you mention. I did find a setting on the Netflix web page interface, and I changed that. But it appears to have had no effect on the behavior I experience under the same account and profile on the Nexus tablet. (The web page Settings page offers many more choices than the Android app Settings page.)
weaksauce 11y ago
You can absolutely shut off auto-play from the playback settings screen in the netflix website. one checkbox changes it for all your devices though.
giaour 11y ago
They provide that option. There's a checkbox under profile Your Account > My Profile > Playback Settings.

thedufer 11y ago

To be fair, "Netflix played all night" is not actually a thing that happens, as far as I can tell. When autoplaying, they pause every few episodes in case you're not watching. I'm sure they don't want to pay bandwidth/licensing for shows playing to an empty room.

s_kilk 11y ago
I may be wrong on this, but I believe they are legally required to stop auto-playing every so often, so that it still counts as on-demand streaming and not simply a TV channel. In fact, that's probably not correct, not sure where I picked that up.
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  Netflix has to pay for every "view" to whomever they're licensing content from, just as Spotify has to pay for every listen (although, the rules are much different for internet "radio" than they are for video streaming agreements Netflix has). All services check if you're still around so they're not spending licensing money they don't have to.
pasbesoin 11y ago
I haven't allowed myself to run into it, but I seem to recall having read that it is after circa 3 episodes. Nonetheless, if you are in the habit of dosing off, many nights, that can still result in a lot of "wasted" bandwidth, particularly with some of the more miserly caps being described in the (U.S.) press as having been imposed or "coming soon."

CodeWriter23 11y ago

pasbesoin 11y ago
Hmm. Wonder how I missed these. I recall going looking for such a setting, at least once. Thanks! P.S. Found the described setting in the web client. Those settings pages look a bit different than I recall. I think they have added options to them since I last looked (months ago). Or, I am simply clueless -- wouldn't be the first time. Thanks, again.
- CodeWriter23 11y ago
  You're welcome :)
jlgaddis 11y ago
Thanks, I never thought to log in to the website and look for a setting like this. We -- well, the girlfriend -- only use Netflix on a Roku and I wasn't able to find any settings for it there.
pasbesoin 11y ago
I looked for this on my Nexus 7 2013 running what I imagine is the current version of the Android Netflix app (no reason on my part that it wouldn't be), and I didn't find it. Under the hamburger menu, I can only choose which user profile and what category of content I want to view. There is no "Account Settings". The "three dot" menu does have a "Settings" item, but it only offers a very limited set of settings, not including the one you mention. I did find a setting on the Netflix web page interface, and I changed that. But it appears to have had no effect on the behavior I experience under the same account and profile on the Nexus tablet. (The web page Settings page offers many more choices than the Android app Settings page.)

weaksauce 11y ago

You can absolutely shut off auto-play from the playback settings screen in the netflix website. one checkbox changes it for all your devices though.

giaour 11y ago

They provide that option. There's a checkbox under profile Your Account > My Profile > Playback Settings.