Report: Netflix Is Testing a Sleep Timer Feature on Android

PCMag
PC Magazine
Published in
2 min readFeb 1, 2021
Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

You can opt for 15, 30, or 45 minutes, or the end of an episode or movie. When time is up, Netflix will shut down.

By Brittany Vincent

If you routinely fall asleep to the sounds of your favorite Netflix series, you might be concerned about using too much bandwidth. Or maybe you want to stop using so much energy or battery power. That’s where Netflix’s latest feature could come in handy.

The Verge reports that Netflix just launched a global test for Android users that lets you set a timer for your streaming sessions. That means your phone or tablet will automatically shut off after the time period of your choosing.

You can opt for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or the end of an episode or movie. When time is up, Netflix will shut down. You can sleep soundly knowing you aren’t using precious data or running down your battery life. Plus, you won’t wake up in the middle of the night to a “Are You Still Watching?” screen, or an episode you haven’t seen yet, ruining potential plot details.

The test is currently only for Android users with adult Netflix profiles. With how often we all tend to fall asleep watching streaming services and videos, it should be well-received by the masses.

If you’re watching on your iPhone or iPad, meanwhile, you can set an OS-level timer to shut down Netflix (or any other video-steaming app) after a set amount of time. Navigate to the Clock app and tap Timer. Under When Timer Ends, select Stop Playing. Set your timer up top, tap Start, and navigate to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or whatever else you’re watching. When time’s up, the video will stop playing and your iPhone or iPad will go to sleep. For more, check out 22 Netflix Tips to Boost Your Binge-Watching.

Originally published at https://www.pcmag.com.

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