Is Netflix free on smart TVs?

The Netflix app itself is free to install, but you need a paid Netflix subscription to actually watch anything. Plans start around $8 a month. You can sign up on the Netflix website first, then sign in on the TV.

My TV is six years old and Netflix is not there. What can I do?

Older smart TVs sometimes lose the Netflix app when Netflix drops support for their model. The simplest fix is a streaming stick such as a Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV, which plugs into the HDMI port on your TV and gives you a modern Netflix experience for about $40.

Can you set this up for me?

Yes. We install streaming apps and set up streaming sticks in homes across Durham Region every week. One visit covers the whole thing including signing in to your account.

Help Guides

How do I install Netflix on my smart TV?

Most modern TVs come with Netflix already built in. If yours does not, it is usually a quick download away. Here is what to do for each brand.

Quick Answer

On most smart TVs, press the Home button on the remote, look for the red Netflix icon on the main screen, and open it. If you do not see it, open the app store (Samsung's is called Apps, LG's is called Content Store, Sony's is Google Play Store), search for Netflix, and install it. Sign in with your email and password.

Rather have someone sit with you and get Netflix working in ten minutes? We handle this during visits across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. Give us a call.

Check if Netflix is already installed

Most smart TVs made in the last five years come with Netflix pre-installed. Pick up your TV remote and press the Home button, which looks like a small house. Look across the row of apps for a red Netflix logo. If it is there, open it, sign in with your Netflix email and password, and you are done.

Many TV remotes also have a dedicated red Netflix button. Pressing it opens Netflix directly, even if the TV is turned off to start with. If your remote has that button, try pressing it first before anything else.

Finding the app store on each brand

If Netflix is not already on the home screen, you will need to install it from your TV's app store. Each brand calls theirs something slightly different, but the idea is the same.

Samsung smart TVs

Press the Home button on the Samsung remote. Move across to the "Apps" icon, which looks like four small coloured squares. Open it, then use the search at the top to type "Netflix". Select the app and click Install. Once installed, open it and sign in with your Netflix account.

LG smart TVs

Press the Home or Smart button on the LG remote. Scroll along the bottom row of apps to find "LG Content Store" (on older LG TVs) or "LG Channels / Apps" (on newer ones). Open it, search for Netflix, and click Install. Sign in when it finishes.

Sony smart TVs

Most Sony TVs use Google TV or Android TV as their software, so the store is called "Google Play Store" or simply "Apps". Press the Home button on the remote, scroll to find the Play Store or Apps section, search for Netflix, and install it. Sony TVs may ask you to sign in to a Google account for this, which your Gmail address will cover.

Hisense, TCL and other brands

Many cheaper smart TVs use either Roku TV, Google TV or Fire TV as their software. Look on the home screen for a Store, App Store, or Featured apps section. Netflix is always one of the most popular apps and usually turns up in the first few results. The install process is the same: find it, install it, sign in.

Want someone to just handle it?

We install streaming apps, set up accounts, and test everything works during visits across Durham Region.

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Signing in without typing on a TV remote

Typing a long email and password using a TV remote is painful. On most TVs, Netflix now offers a sign-in code instead. When you open the app, it shows a short code on the screen along with a web address like netflix.com/tv. Open that web address on your phone or laptop, type in the short code, sign in there, and the TV signs itself in automatically.

What if your TV is too old for Netflix

Netflix stopped supporting some older smart TVs a few years ago. If Netflix is not in your TV's app store at all, or if it was there and now says "App no longer supported", you have a better option than replacing the whole TV.

A small streaming device like a Roku Express, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV plugs into one of the HDMI ports on the back of your TV and gives it a modern streaming experience. They cost about $40 to $200 depending on the one you pick, and they handle not just Netflix but also Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, CBC Gem and everything else. We install these all the time as part of our Wi-Fi and TV setup service, and we sit with you and make sure it all works before we leave.

When to call us instead

Call us if Netflix does not appear in your TV's app store, if you keep getting "error code" messages trying to open the app, if the picture keeps buffering (which is usually a Wi-Fi issue, covered in our smart TV buffering guide), or if you would rather just have someone handle the whole setup including your Netflix account.

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FAQ

Common questions about Netflix on smart TVs

Is Netflix free on smart TVs?: The Netflix app itself is free to install, but you need a paid Netflix subscription to actually watch anything. Plans start around $8 a month. You can sign up on the Netflix website first, then sign in on the TV.
My TV is six years old and Netflix is not there. What can I do?: Older smart TVs sometimes lose the Netflix app when Netflix drops support for their model. The simplest fix is a streaming stick such as a Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV, which plugs into the HDMI port on your TV and gives you a modern Netflix experience for about $40.
Can you set this up for me?: Yes. We install streaming apps and set up streaming sticks in homes across Durham Region every week. One visit covers the whole thing including signing in to your account.