How to Watch Netflix on Zoom: Easy Steps

Watching Netflix with friends or family over Zoom is a great way to stay connected, host a virtual movie night, or share a show in real time. This guide walks you through the two main methods: sharing your screen with audio or using the built-in “Share Computer Sound” feature for a smoother experience. You’ll need a Netflix account, the Zoom desktop app (or the web client), and a stable internet connection.

What You’ll Need

A Netflix subscription (any plan works, but the Basic plan may limit video quality).
The Zoom desktop app installed on your computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux). The browser version works too, but the desktop app has more reliable audio sharing.
A stable internet connection with enough bandwidth for both streaming and video calling (at least 10 Mbps download recommended).
Optional: headphones or external speakers to avoid echo and feedback.

Step-by-Step

Start or join a Zoom meeting. Open the Zoom app, click “New Meeting” or “Join,” and invite the friends you want to watch with. Make sure everyone is in the meeting before you start sharing.
Open Netflix in your browser. Use a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Log in to your Netflix account and choose the movie or show you want to watch. Pause it before sharing your screen.
Start sharing your screen. In the Zoom meeting controls (usually at the bottom of the window), click the green “Share Screen” button. A window will pop up showing all your open windows and screens.
Select the browser window or your entire screen. For best results, choose the browser tab where Netflix is open. If you select “Screen” (the entire desktop), make sure no other private windows are visible. If you’re using the Zoom desktop app, you’ll see an option at the bottom-left of the share selection window: “Share computer sound.” Check this box. This is crucial for audio to be heard by others.
Click the blue “Share” button. Your screen will now be visible to everyone in the meeting. If you checked “Share computer sound,” any audio from your computer—including Netflix—will be transmitted to participants.
Play the Netflix video. Go back to your browser and press play. Everyone should see the video and hear the audio. If the video appears black to others, you may need to adjust your browser settings (see Troubleshooting).
Adjust the video size for viewers. Ask your friends if the video looks too small. In Zoom, you (the host) can go to the “View” menu at the top of the shared screen and choose “Fit to window” or “Fullscreen.” Participants can also right-click on the video and select “Fit to window” to enlarge it.
Control playback together. The host (or whoever is sharing) controls play, pause, and volume. To avoid spoilers, agree on a signal or use a separate chat to coordinate when to pause.
End the share when done. To stop sharing, hover over the green “You are screen sharing” bar at the top and click “Stop Share.” You can also press the red “Stop Share” button in the meeting controls.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to check “Share computer sound.” This is the #1 mistake. Without it, your friends see the video but hear nothing. Always check that box before clicking Share.
Sharing the wrong window. If you select the entire desktop, participants may see your other tabs, notifications, or personal files. Choose the specific browser window to keep things private.
Sharing a black screen. Netflix and other streaming services use DRM (digital rights management) that blocks screen capture in some browsers. This often happens with Chrome. Using Firefox or Edge, or disabling hardware acceleration, can fix it.
Not pausing before sharing. If you press play before sharing, your friends miss the beginning. Pause first, then share, then play.
Audio echo or feedback. If you and your friends are in the same room, or if you have speakers on while your mic is open, you’ll get an annoying echo. Use headphones and ask others to do the same.

Tips

Use the “Share computer sound” option only. Don’t also select “Microphone” audio in the share settings, as that can cause double audio.
Use a second monitor. If you have one, put the Netflix window on one screen and the Zoom meeting on the other. This makes it easier to see chat and controls without interrupting the video.
Enable “Original sound” in Zoom. For better audio quality, go to Zoom settings > Audio > “Show in-meeting option to enable original sound.” This can reduce compression on the audio, but it’s not essential.
Set expectations before the movie. Agree on a pause signal (e.g., type “pause” in chat) and who controls the playback. This prevents confusion.
Use the “Fit to window” option. If the video appears small to viewers, they can right-click on the shared screen and select “Fit to window” to make it larger.
Test with a short video first. Before the actual movie night, do a 30-second test with a friend to ensure both video and audio work.

Troubleshooting

Friends can’t hear audio. First, make sure you checked “Share computer sound” when you started sharing. If you didn’t, stop sharing and restart with that box checked. Also check your computer’s volume and that the Netflix video isn’t muted. If you’re using a browser, try a different one.
Video appears black or green to others. This is usually due to DRM. Try the following in order: (1) Use Firefox or Microsoft Edge instead of Chrome. (2) Disable hardware acceleration in your browser settings. (3) In Zoom, go to Settings > Video > Advanced and uncheck “Use hardware acceleration for video processing.” (4) If still black, try sharing your entire screen instead of just the browser window.
Audio is choppy or lagging. This is often due to bandwidth. Close other tabs and apps that use the internet. Lower the Netflix video quality (in Netflix settings) to reduce data usage. Ask other participants to turn off their cameras if they aren’t needed.
Participants see your mouse cursor and controls. That’s normal. You can hide the mouse cursor in Zoom by going to Settings > Share Screen > “Hide mouse cursor when sharing.”
Netflix won’t play at all. Make sure you’re logged in and that your subscription is active. Try playing the video directly on your computer before sharing. If it works, then start sharing.
Zoom crashes or freezes. Update Zoom to the latest version. Restart your computer and try again. If the issue persists, use the Zoom web client instead of the desktop app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can everyone control the video? No. Only the person sharing the screen can control play, pause, and volume. Others can request changes via chat, but they cannot control it directly.
Why is the video quality poor? Zoom compresses video for streaming, so the quality will be lower than watching directly. This is normal. To improve, ensure both you and your friends have good internet connections, and consider using a service like Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) for better quality, though that doesn’t use Zoom.
Can I watch Netflix on Zoom with my phone? Yes, but it’s more complicated. You can share your phone screen in the Zoom mobile app, but audio sharing is not supported on iOS. On Android, you can share screen with audio, but Netflix may block it. It’s easier to use a computer.
Is it legal to watch Netflix on Zoom? Yes. You’re not distributing the content; you’re just sharing your screen with a few friends. However, Netflix’s terms of service restrict public performances, so keep it to a small, private group.
Can I use the Zoom web client instead of the app? Yes, but the web client may not support “Share computer sound” on all browsers. The desktop app is more reliable.
Why do my friends see a black screen when I share? This is due to DRM protections. Follow the troubleshooting steps above: try a different browser, disable hardware acceleration, or share your entire screen.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →