Watch Netflix on Ubuntu: Netflix Desktop App Guide

Watching Netflix on Linux: A New Approach

Our prior examination of accessing Netflix on Linux systems indicated that employing a virtual machine offered the most reliable method. However, a more streamlined solution has emerged – a dedicated “Netflix Desktop” application designed for Linux users.

How the Netflix Desktop App Works

This application isn't a standalone program, but rather a comprehensive package. It bundles a modified version of Wine, the Firefox browser compiled for Windows, and Microsoft Silverlight, alongside specific configurations to ensure seamless operation.

Historically, running Silverlight within Wine presented significant challenges. This package resolves those issues, enabling proper functionality.

Important Considerations

It’s crucial to understand that this method represents an unofficial workaround. It leverages Wine to emulate a Windows environment for Netflix.

Therefore, official support from Netflix is not provided for this particular setup. While our testing yielded positive results, users should be aware of this limitation.

Here's a summary of key points:

A virtual machine was previously recommended.
The “Netflix Desktop” app offers a more direct solution.
The app includes Wine, Firefox (Windows build), and Silverlight.
This is an unofficial solution and lacks official Netflix support.

Installing Netflix Desktop on Ubuntu

The Netflix Desktop application offers a streamlined viewing experience. Developers have packaged all necessary software for ease of use, and a Personal Package Archive (PPA) is available for simplified installation on Ubuntu systems.

Begin the installation process by opening a Terminal window. You can locate Terminal by searching within the application dash and pressing Enter.

Once the Terminal is open, execute the following commands sequentially:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ehoover/compholio
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install netflix-desktop

These commands will add the required repository, update the package list, and then install the Netflix Desktop application.

Following successful installation, the application can be found within your Ubuntu dash. Simply search for "Netflix" to locate and launch the newly installed app.

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Upon the initial launch of the application, a prompt will appear requesting the download of additional required software components.

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Allow the application to download and install these dependencies to ensure optimal functionality.

Utilizing the Netflix Desktop Application

Upon launching the application, it will automatically open in full-screen. The Alt+F4 key combination can be employed to exit the application entirely. Pressing the F11 key will toggle between full-screen and windowed display.

Even while operating in full-screen mode, standard keyboard shortcuts like Alt+Tab remain functional for switching between different open windows.

Initial Setup and Video Playback

After launching the application, enter your Netflix account details to gain access. When you initiate video playback, a Silverlight DRM authorization request will appear.

Accepting the terms of this prompt will allow the video to begin streaming. Remember that the F11 key provides a convenient way to switch between full-screen and windowed viewing modes.

Performance Considerations

The operational efficiency of this solution can fluctuate based on the specifications of your computer. User experiences vary, with individuals reporting differing levels of performance. Fortunately, recent updates to the package have been released, and numerous users have noted improvements following these changes.

Continued development and optimization are anticipated, potentially leading to further enhancements in the future.

We extend our gratitude to developer Erich Hoover and blogger David Andrews for providing this workaround. While it utilizes a technique involving Wine, it represents a preferable alternative to operating Netflix within a virtualized environment.

Further opportunities exist to refine performance and optimize the user experience.

Despite this workaround, Netflix has indicated that official Linux support is not currently planned. Therefore, this method may represent the most viable option for Linux users for the foreseeable future.

It is noteworthy that Netflix functions on both Android and Chrome OS, both of which are built upon the Linux kernel, but it does not natively support traditional Linux desktop environments.