Finding a list of movies (and shows!) you’ve watched on Netflix can seem surprisingly elusive, but it’s entirely possible. Netflix, while prioritizing its recommendation engine, does offer a history feature, though it’s somewhat tucked away within your account settings.
Accessing Your Netflix Viewing Activity
The most straightforward method to find your Netflix movie viewing history is directly through your account settings on the Netflix website. This feature is not readily available within the mobile apps but can be accessed on any device with a web browser.
Navigating to Your Account Settings
- Log in to your Netflix account using your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari, Firefox). This is crucial as the functionality isn’t available in the apps.
- Hover over your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select “Account” from the drop-down menu. This will take you to your account management page.
Finding the Viewing Activity Section
- On the “Account” page, scroll down to the section labeled “Profile & Parental Controls.”
- You will see a list of profiles associated with your account. Choose the specific profile for which you want to view the watching history.
- Click the down arrow next to the desired profile to expand its settings.
- Click on the “Viewing activity” option. This will lead you to a comprehensive list of everything watched on that profile, including movies and TV show episodes.
Understanding the Viewing History List
The viewing activity list displays the title of each movie or TV show, along with the date and time it was watched. You can scroll through this list to review your viewing history. Note that the order is chronological, with the most recently watched items appearing at the top.
Managing Your Netflix Viewing Activity
Netflix allows you to manage your viewing activity beyond simply viewing it. This can be helpful for removing items that might influence your recommendations or hiding content you prefer not to see in your history.
Removing Titles from Your Viewing Activity
- On the “Viewing activity” page, locate the movie or TV show you want to remove.
- Click the “Hide from viewing history” icon (it looks like a crossed-out circle) next to the title. This will remove the title from your viewing history.
- You can also choose to “Hide Series” to remove all episodes of a particular TV show from your viewing history. This is especially useful for entire series you may have watched long ago and no longer want impacting your recommendations.
Why Hide Titles from Your Viewing Activity?
Hiding titles serves several purposes:
- Improving Recommendations: Removing content you didn’t enjoy helps Netflix refine its algorithms and offer more relevant suggestions.
- Privacy: Hiding content can prevent others who share your account from seeing what you’ve been watching.
- Avoiding Spoilers: You might want to hide titles if you are rewatching a show and don’t want past episodes to influence your current viewing experience.
Downloading Your Netflix Data (Including Viewing History)
While the above method provides a readily accessible list, Netflix also allows you to download a complete copy of your personal data, which includes a more detailed viewing history. This is a more comprehensive option but involves a longer processing time.
Requesting Your Data Download
- Navigate to your “Account” page as described earlier.
- Scroll down to the section labeled “Privacy.”
- Click on “Download your personal information.”
- Click “Request.” Netflix will begin compiling your data, which may take several days depending on the volume of information.
- You’ll receive an email with a link to download your data once it’s ready.
Analyzing Your Downloaded Data
The downloaded data will be in JSON format, which may require a special text editor or programming knowledge to fully understand. However, it contains detailed information beyond the basic viewing history, including account details, billing information, and more. The relevant section for viewing history will usually be clearly labeled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about finding and managing your Netflix viewing history:
FAQ 1: Can I see my viewing history on the Netflix app?
No, the viewing history feature is not available within the Netflix mobile apps. You must access your account through a web browser on a computer or mobile device.
FAQ 2: How far back does my Netflix viewing history go?
Your Netflix viewing history generally records all the content you’ve watched since the inception of your account. However, there might be limitations if you’ve significantly modified or deleted your profile data in the past.
FAQ 3: Can other people on my account see my viewing history?
Yes, if you have multiple profiles on your Netflix account, each profile has its own viewing history, and users of those profiles can access it (unless you’ve set up parental controls to prevent access to account settings).
FAQ 4: Is it possible to delete my entire Netflix viewing history at once?
While you can hide individual titles, there is no single button to delete your entire viewing history. You would need to manually hide each item individually.
FAQ 5: How does hiding titles from my viewing history affect Netflix recommendations?
Hiding titles from your viewing history helps improve the accuracy of Netflix recommendations. It signals to Netflix that you didn’t enjoy or are not interested in that particular type of content.
FAQ 6: Why is my viewing history sometimes inaccurate or missing items?
Occasionally, there might be discrepancies in your viewing history due to technical glitches or account sharing. If multiple people are using the same profile simultaneously, the tracking might not be entirely accurate.
FAQ 7: Can I use third-party apps to access my Netflix viewing history?
While some third-party apps may claim to offer this functionality, it’s generally not recommended to grant them access to your Netflix account. These apps could pose security risks.
FAQ 8: Does Netflix store my viewing history permanently?
Netflix stores your viewing history as long as your account remains active. If you cancel your account, your data will be deleted after a period of inactivity.
FAQ 9: How can I prevent Netflix from tracking my viewing activity?
The most effective way to prevent Netflix from tracking your viewing activity is to use a separate profile for each user and regularly clear or hide items from the viewing history.
FAQ 10: What is the difference between “hiding” and “removing” a title from my viewing history?
The term “hiding” and “removing” are used interchangeably. When you hide a title, you are essentially removing it from being visible in your viewing activity and also signaling that title to not be used in recommendations for your profile.
FAQ 11: Is there a way to export my Netflix viewing history to a spreadsheet?
Directly exporting your viewing history to a spreadsheet isn’t an official feature. However, once you’ve downloaded your personal data in JSON format, you could use a programming language like Python or utilize online JSON to CSV converters to transform the data into a spreadsheet format.
FAQ 12: Does Netflix’s “Keep Watching” list use the same data as the viewing history?
The “Keep Watching” list displays partially watched content. While related, it’s not a direct representation of your entire viewing history. The viewing history encompasses all watched content, regardless of completion, while the “Keep Watching” list only shows items you haven’t finished.
By understanding how to access and manage your Netflix viewing history, you can gain better control over your recommendations and maintain your viewing privacy.