Yes, you absolutely can see what movies and shows you’ve watched on Netflix. Navigating to your Viewing Activity allows you to reminisce about past binges, identify forgotten gems, and even remove items from your viewing history to fine-tune your recommendations.
Discovering Your Netflix Viewing Activity
Unearthing your Netflix viewing history is a straightforward process, although it differs slightly depending on whether you’re using a web browser or the mobile app. Thankfully, the core functionality remains consistent: you’re accessing a list of everything you’ve streamed under your profile.
Accessing Viewing Activity via Web Browser
The most comprehensive way to view your Netflix history is through a web browser on your computer, tablet, or phone. Here’s how:
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Log in to Netflix: Open your preferred web browser and navigate to the Netflix website (www.netflix.com). Enter your username and password to access your account.
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Select Your Profile: If your account has multiple profiles, choose the profile for which you want to view the viewing history.
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Account Settings: Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. Select “Account” from the menu.
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Profile & Parental Controls: Scroll down to the “Profile & Parental Controls” section. This section lists all the profiles associated with your account. Find the profile you selected in Step 2 and click the arrow next to it to expand the profile settings.
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Viewing Activity: In the expanded profile settings, you’ll see an option labeled “Viewing Activity“. Click on “Viewing Activity“.
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Your Viewing History: A page will load displaying your complete viewing history for that profile. The list is typically ordered chronologically, with the most recently watched titles appearing at the top.
Accessing Viewing Activity via the Netflix App (Mobile)
While the mobile app offers access to viewing history, the process is slightly different. You’ll be redirected to your web browser.
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Open the Netflix App: Launch the Netflix app on your mobile device.
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Select Your Profile: Choose the profile for which you want to view the viewing history.
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Tap Your Profile Icon: Tap on your profile icon or the “More” option (usually three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen.
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Manage Accounts: Scroll down (if necessary) and tap on “Account.” This will typically open your account settings in your device’s default web browser.
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Profile & Parental Controls Follow steps 4-6 as described in the “Accessing Viewing Activity via Web Browser” section above.
Understanding the Viewing Activity Page
Once you’ve accessed your Viewing Activity page, you’ll see a list of titles you’ve watched. Each entry typically includes the title name, the date it was watched, and an option to remove it from your history. This feature is crucial for managing your recommendations and keeping your profile tidy.
Managing Your Viewing History
Your Viewing Activity isn’t just a record; it’s a tool you can use to influence your future viewing experience.
Removing Titles from Your Viewing History
Netflix uses your viewing history to suggest movies and shows you might enjoy. If you’ve watched something you didn’t particularly like, or something you’d rather not influence your recommendations, you can remove it from your history.
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Locate the Title: Find the title you want to remove from your Viewing Activity list.
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Click the Hide Icon: Each title has a small icon to the right, often represented by a crossed-out circle or a similar symbol (the specific icon may vary depending on Netflix’s interface updates). Click this icon.
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Confirm Removal: The title will disappear from the main list. You’ll likely see a message at the top of the page confirming that the title has been hidden.
Hiding Entire Series
Sometimes, you might want to remove an entire series from your viewing history, especially if you only watched the first episode and decided it wasn’t for you. Netflix provides a convenient option for this.
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Locate the Series: Find any episode of the series within your Viewing Activity list.
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“Hide Series” Option: Often (but not always) there is a link or button that states “Hide Series” when you are looking at viewing activity associated with a show. Clicking that hides all entries for that series.
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Confirm and Refresh: Refresh the page if needed, to confirm the whole series has been hidden from the viewing activity.
Downloading Your Viewing History
Currently, Netflix doesn’t offer a direct “download” button for your viewing history. However, you can achieve a similar result by copying and pasting the information from the webpage into a text editor or spreadsheet program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Netflix Viewing History
Here are 12 frequently asked questions about viewing and managing your Netflix viewing history:
FAQ 1: How long does Netflix keep my viewing history?
Netflix retains your viewing history indefinitely, unless you actively remove titles. This data is used to personalize your recommendations.
FAQ 2: Can other people on my account see my viewing history?
Yes, anyone with access to your Netflix account and profile can view your viewing history for that profile. That’s why it’s crucial to have separate profiles for each user.
FAQ 3: Can I clear my entire viewing history at once?
Unfortunately, Netflix doesn’t offer a “clear all” button. You must remove titles individually or series at a time. Using a browser extension is one option, but these aren’t officially supported by Netflix and may violate the terms of service.
FAQ 4: Will removing a title from my viewing history delete it from Netflix’s database?
No. Removing a title from your Viewing Activity only prevents it from influencing your recommendations. Netflix still retains data on your overall viewing habits for internal analytics and other purposes.
FAQ 5: Why is my viewing history not showing the correct titles?
There might be a delay in updates. Try refreshing the page or logging out and logging back in. If the issue persists, contact Netflix customer support. Also, check that you are viewing the correct profile’s history.
FAQ 6: Does watching something on another device affect my viewing history?
Yes, your viewing history is linked to your profile, not the device you’re using. Watching something on your phone will be reflected in your viewing history on your computer.
FAQ 7: Can I prevent Netflix from tracking my viewing activity?
The only way to completely prevent Netflix from tracking your viewing activity is to not use the service. However, you can minimize the impact by removing titles from your history and creating separate profiles for different users.
FAQ 8: Will removing something from my “Continue Watching” list also remove it from my viewing history?
No. Removing a title from your “Continue Watching” list only removes it from that specific list. It remains in your Viewing Activity unless you actively remove it there.
FAQ 9: Can I recover a title I accidentally removed from my viewing history?
No, once a title is removed from your viewing history, it cannot be easily recovered. Be careful when removing titles.
FAQ 10: Why is my viewing history empty even though I’ve watched shows?
Ensure you’re viewing the correct profile. It’s also possible there’s a temporary glitch. Try refreshing the page or contacting Netflix support. If the account is new, it may genuinely be empty.
FAQ 11: Does watching trailers impact viewing history?
Typically, only watching a significant portion of a movie or show episode will register in your viewing history. Short trailers generally don’t count.
FAQ 12: How does managing my viewing history improve my Netflix experience?
By managing your viewing history, you can ensure that Netflix recommends movies and shows that align with your current interests, leading to a more personalized and enjoyable streaming experience. Removing unwanted titles ensures that you are presented with higher-quality recommendations more tailored to your taste.
By understanding how to access and manage your Netflix viewing activity, you can take control of your streaming experience and unlock the full potential of this vast entertainment platform.