Unlocking Netflix: Navigating the Secret Menu

The end of an era is here. The first time in years, Netflix is redesigning its TV app to bring you hyper-personalized recommendations. Netflix doesn’t know everything about everything. The Netflix secret menu is an easy way to find exactly what you want to watch, even if you don’t like the streamer’s picks.

Whether you’re bingeing on your phone or watching Netflix on your OLED TV, you’re barely scratching the surface. Netflix doesn’t show you everything it has to offer. You have been receiving personalized suggestions based on your viewing history and preferences since you began using the platform. It’s not always reliable, though, when it comes to painting a realistic picture of what’s out there. That’s where you can help.

You can take control of what kind of content you consume with the secret Netflix menu. It depends on a code-based system. There are thousands of niche genres and subcategories on the service that you can browse and select from.

You can take streaming into your own hands instead of letting the Netflix algorithm decide. You should stop scrolling and discover a new show or movie you will love.

What are Netflix discount codes?
Netflix codes are a set of unique numerical identifiers that you can use to find specific genres or sub-genres in the Netflix library on the streamers website (not the app)

Typically, you’re restricted to the genres available to you via the main Netflix menu. When you log on, there is no way to choose by specific category other than what was chosen for you. An entire library of options can help you better settle on what to watch for the night by using these codes. You can even discover new shows and movies you haven’t heard of before.

This hidden trick will help you find better streaming recommendations.

You can directly access collections of movies and TV shows that fall under your chosen category by adding these codes to the ends of the URLs. The 90-Minute Movies category with the code 81466194 can be used if you’re short on time and want to queue up a shorter movie. Do you need something for the whole family to enjoy? The “Family Movie Night” collection, accessible via code 2013975, is packed with beloved flicks that even grandma can enjoy.

Don’t worry about memorizing the codes or trying random sequences because there are over 36,000 to choose from. Netflix-Codes.com has an entire directory to sift through, so you can search for what you’d like to watch there and find the corresponding codes in no time.

The Netflix-Codes site has a full directory of all the available categories on the streaming service.
Screenshot by CNET for Netflix-Codes.com.
What’s the best way to get Netflix’s hidden menu?
There isn’t a secret menu for Netflix. Instead, you will use URLs with special codes to display certain collections of movies and shows.

A comprehensive list of the streaming platform’s stifling genre categories and subcategories can be found at Netflix-Codes.com. Around 20 top-level categories cover various genres, including animation, foreign films and classic films. Within those main genres are numerous more hyper-specific subgenres denoted by numeric codes.

All you have to do is find the category you want, copy the related code, and add it to the end of a Netflix URL.

What types of categories does the streaming service have?
There is more to Netflix than what you’ve been seeing. Over 36,000 unique categories were explored at the last count.

The categories available on Netflix start with broad main genres like action, comedy and drama, but they get more specific as you dive even deeper. There are straight-to-the-point collections like Movies Directed by Women (code 2974953), or more specifically targeted curated lists like Supernatural Soaps (code 81238162), just in case you like your werewolves with a side of angs.

Are you a Swift fan? Are there any other celebrities you would like to know more about? There are picks in the Pop Culture Icons category (code 81278963)

You might have been told repeatedly that you should really get into Korean TV, but you don’t know where to start. You can find a bunch of cult K-Dramas like Squid Game and Boys Over Flowers in the K-Dramas for Beginners menu (code 2953105)

You can find hidden gems by using these secret codes instead of relying on the standard homepage categories or Netflix’s algorithm.

How can I find movies and shows to watch using Netflix codes?
You can access the secret menus with a browser extension if you’re not comfortable with editing Netflix URLs. Better Browse for Netflix is a great extension for Chrome. How to use it is here.

1. Search for “Better Browse for Netflix” in the Chrome Web Store. The Firefox users can’t use this extension.
2. Add to Chrome.
3. Click Add Extension.
4. Log into your Netflix account in a new tab.

If the extension is installed, you’ll see a Browse All option at the top of your Netflix home screen next to My List. Click it to scroll through the subgenres or to search through specific categories.

a screenshot of the Better Browse for Netflix add-on for Chrome on the Netflix site
Adding the Better Browse for Netflix extension to Chrome gives you a drop-down menu with Netflix categories.
Screenshot by CNET
Alternatively, you can use the FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. This add-on will create a drop-down menu complete with Netflix categories for your browser that you can scroll through by clicking on the FF icon that will appear on the top right of your screen. There’s no need to scroll Netflix natively with this add-on, and it features 7,500 categories alphabetized for your convenience.

A third way is through the Netflix Codes website. Here’s how:

1. Visit Netflix-codes.com in any PC or mobile browser.
2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore.
3. Tap the code next to the genre or subgenre you want.
4. If you’re on a device that has the Netflix app installed, the app should open and take you directly to the genre or subgenre you chose. If you don’t have the app installed, it’ll open Netflix through the browser and you can view the specific movies and shows available.
5. Tap the title you want to watch, and it’ll start playing.

Finally, if you’re comfortable with creating custom URLs, you can use Netflix codes manually in your browser. Here’s how:

1. Visit Netflix-codes.com on any PC or mobile browser.
2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore.
3. In another tab, type in http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER, but replace INSERTNUMBER with the specific genre or subgenre code. For instance, http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/81466194 will take you to “90-Minute Movies.”
4. If done correctly, you’ll be taken to Netflix to peruse the titles available in that section.

Simply repeat this process the next time you find a code for a Netflix category you’d like to explore. You can do this as many times as you’d like.

2. Click on the Add to Chrome button.
3. Click Add Extension to add the extension.
4. You can log into your Netflix account in a new tab.

If the extension is installed, you’ll see a Browse All option at the top of your Netflix home screen next to My List, next to the My List option. You can scroll through the genres or narrow down your search by clicking on a category.

A screenshot of the Better Browse for Netflix extension for Chrome on the Netflix site.
A drop-down menu with Netflix categories can be found when you add the Better Browse for Netflix extension to Chrome.
A screenshot from CNET.
You can also download the FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. This add-on will create a drop-down menu complete with Netflix categories for your browser. You can scroll through them by clicking on the FF icon that will appear on the top right of your screen. You don’t have to scroll Netflix natively with this add-on, and it has 7,500 categories sorted alphabetically for your convenience.

There’s also the Netflix Codes website. How?

1. Open Netflix-codes.com on your desktop or mobile device.
2. Pick a genre or subgenre that interests you.
3. You can tap the code next to the genre or subgenre you want.
4. The Netflix app should open and take you to the genre or subgenre you picked if you have it installed on your device. You can check out the movies and shows available through the browser if you don’t have the app installed.
5. The title will start playing when you tap it.

Finally, if you’re comfortable with creating custom URLs, you can manually use Netflix codes in your browser. Here’s how to do it.

1. Check out Netflix-codes.com on your desktop or smart device.
2. Pick a genre or subgenre that interests you.
3. You can replace INSERTNUMBER with the specific genre or subgenre code by typing http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER in another tab. For example, http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/81466194 will take you to “90-minute movies.”
4. You can browse the titles available in that section on Netflix if you do it correctly.

The next time you find a code for a category you’d like to explore, simply repeat this process. You can do this as many times as you want.