By India McCarty
Netflix introduced a new vertical-video option on their app in an effort to compete with apps like TikTok and Instagram.
“Last year, we updated our TV experience for the first time in more than a decade,” a press release from Netflix announced. “Now we’re bringing that same focus on simplicity and delight to mobile. The new design puts what you care about front and center, with streamlined navigation and a visual, vertical discovery experience that feels right at home on your phone.”
Netflix has officially added vertical video to its mobile app:
• Users will be able to watch “Clips” from series, films and specials tailored to their tastes
Related: How TikTok Hooks Users with Short Show and Movie Clips
• Full-length series and movies will still need to be horizontallyhttps://t.co/LUqiMzfNef pic.twitter.com/uzZx22ar9r
— Variety (@Variety) April 30, 2026
Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, spoke to Business Insider about the new feature, saying, “Members are able to explore the breadth of our catalog in a more snackable and streamlined way by simply swiping through the feed. We’ve also made it easy to jump directly to watch titles or add titles to MyList for later.”
However, as Variety reported, this is something of a “baby step” for the streamer, as “users will have to continue watching full-length series and movies horizontally, by rotating their smartphones 90 degrees.”
Netflix also introduced “Clips,” a vertical video feed that is intended to work like a “personalized highlight reel that helps you decide what to watch or play next, without endless scrolling,” per Netflix’s press release.
Stone told Business Insider, “As members use the Clips feature over time, and as we add more types of content to the feed, we’ll be able to further personalize the experience so the most relevant entertainment for that member surfaces at the right moment.”
“Mobile is an important part of how Netflix members stay connected to the entertainment they love,” she said in a statement. “With our enhanced navigation and Clips, our new vertical video feed, we’re building on past learnings to deliver an experience designed for the way members want to enjoy Netflix on their phones: for the moments in between, to discover a new title, or a quick laugh.”
She continued, “Our vision is to make our mobile experience as entertaining as what you watch, delivering increasingly personalized, immersive experiences for any mood or moment. This is just the beginning.”
These new features are part of Netflix’s ongoing efforts to win back viewers who might have been lured away by shortform content like TikTok videos and Instagram Reels.
Read Next: Will Disney+’s New Feature Actually Win Over Gen Z Viewers?
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +1Share:
– Content: +3