Don't cancel your Netflix yet - I used these secret codes to unlock the full catalog for free
By searching these hidden codes, you'll uncover hidden genres and obscure shows on Netflix.
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Netflix wasn't the first streaming platform, but it was the first to make video-on-demand mainstream. Fourteen years ago, as it phased out its mailing service, it took a massive bite out of the global market.
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Remember that? Physical DVDs showing up in your actual mailbox -- the one at the end of your driveway (or your hallway)? To my surprise, that was still actually a thing up until late 2023. Whaaat?
Streaming introduced a slew of new entertainment options and, most importantly, unparalleled convenience. These days, Netflix is one of many platforms that offer a staggering amount of titles to choose from -- and yet, there is more there than meets the eye.
Did you know Netflix has secret cheat codes?
As it turns out, Netflix has a plethora of shows and movies available that you don't normally see when booting up the app. Our personalized, algorithm-based menus confine us to viewing only a fraction of the entire Netflix library.
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You can find special cheat codes to unlock more content on resources like Netflix-Codes and the website What's On Netflix. Either is a good place to start massively multiplying your viewing options. The categories associated with these codes range everywhere from "Deep Sea Horror Movies" (code 45028) to very specific subgenres like "Feel-good Sports Movies for Ages 8 to 10" (code 855).
You can scroll through these categories alphabetically, or put keywords in the Search field.
What's On Netflix
This is all to say that we have many more options on Netflix than we're accustomed to seeing when we open the app.
The expanded directory of secret codes unveils a much vaster landscape of content, including some extremely obscure flicks. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find a category called "1980s Kung Fu," but the category named "Martial Arts Movies" (code 8985) got me close enough to what I was looking for.
How to use Netflix codes on your PC or laptop
There is no sign-up or cost-based admission fee to access and use these secret Netflix codes.
In fact, they're not meant to be cryptically hidden away. The usual Netflix menu we're presented with is an amalgamated product of several algorithms driven by popularity and your personal viewing habits. Utilizing the codes just requires a bit of extra effort, and here's the quickest way I found to go about it.
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The steps below outline how to access Netflix's additional categories on your Mac, PC, or tablet from the Netflix website.
- On your device, go to the Netflix website and log in.
- In another browser window, open What's On Netflix.
- In the prompt of your first tab, enter: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/.
- Over on the tab with What's On Netflix, select your desired code, and place it at the end of the URL. For example, the "Fantasy Anime" subgenre code is 11146, so I altered the URL to read: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/11146.
- Choose your title from the selection there and click play.
What's On Netflix
There are also a couple of browser extensions that can enhance your online experience and grant access to the hidden menus:
- FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder: A great add-on for Firefox or Chrome.
- Better Browse for Netflix: Only available for Chrome.
With either of these extensions installed, you'll find a new drop-down menu or a Browse All option on your Netflix home screen. In all, you'll have thousands of alphabetized categories for your perusal.
How to use Netflix codes from your phone
While some people claim that you can enter the codes directly into the search bar on the Netflix app, conflicting reports suggest this doesn't always work. The best way to use Netflix secret codes is through a web browser, as shown above -- assuming you're logged in to your account. By entering the code into the search bar on the Netflix website, you can access the category you're searching for.
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Then, once you've identified a movie or show you want to watch, add it to your queue and find it on the app. To do this, tap My List, then go to TV Shows & Movies to see your selections. Ultimately, while you might not be able to use the codes directly on the Netflix app, you can still use them to discover new content and then watch it on the app later.
How many movies do the Netflix codes unlock?
With over 4,100 distinct codes to date, I wish I could tell you precisely how many titles this equates to, but that figure fluctuates according to the region you live in. Best estimates suggest the US catalog includes upward of 6,700 titles (movies and series) -- with over 50 percent of those being Netflix Originals.
Chris Bayer/ZDNET
For example, in the category called "Classic Action & Adventure Films" (code 46576), you'll find only three movies listed, one of which is Apollo 13. It strikes me as curious that the Oscar-winning film from 1995 is listed alongside two movies that barely made it to the small screen. Meanwhile, the broader "Action & Adventure" (code 1365) genre on Netflix includes approximately 660 titles.
Your possibilities for exploration are a matter of the keywords you use to search the index. I cannot explain the logic behind Netflix's codification of movies, but I'm OK with knowing that Apollo 13 can be found listed under at least five major categories.