How to Watch Netflix on Switch: App Alternatives & Hacking Method

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Learn how to watch Netflix on your Nintendo Switch

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: February 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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Can I watch Netflix on Nintendo Switch?

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Alternative Streaming Apps

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Hacking Your Nintendo Switch

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Downloading Netflix

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Warnings

The Nintendo Switch is not only popular as a gaming console, but as a full entertainment system. However, if you're trying to watch Netflix on your Switch, there is unfortunately no official app to do so—however, there are a number of alternative streaming apps you can get on your Switch. If you are tech savvy and are willing to accept that your Switch may break, however, you can mod your Switch to run Android so you can watch Netflix.

Things You Should Know

While Nintendo doesn't have an official Switch app for Netflix, you can watch YouTube, Hulu, Funimation, and Crunchyroll on their official Switch apps.
To get Netflix on your Switch, you must hack it to install an Android OS on it.
Hacking your Switch is not recommended, and can end up with your console breaking or not working anymore.

Section 1 of 4:

Can I watch Netflix on Nintendo Switch?

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No, there is no way to watch Netflix on your Switch without hacking it. Netflix doesn't have a native app on the Nintendo Switch, so the only way to get Netflix on your Switch is to hack it to run an Android OS.
- Hacking your Switch is not recommended as it will void your warranty and can break your Switch. It's also an intensive process that requires quite a bit of tech savviness.

Section 2 of 4:

Alternative Streaming Apps

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There are a number of streaming apps available natively on Nintendo Switch. Hacking your Switch to add Netflix is not recommended, but if you're wanting to stream video on your Switch, consider one of these alternatives:
- YouTube
- Hulu
- Funimation
- Crunchyroll

Section 3 of 4:

Hacking Your Nintendo Switch

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1
Determine if your Switch can be hacked. Only certain Nintendo Switches can be hacked. To check if your Switch has been patched to where you can't hack it, go to ismyswitchpatched.com, select your Switch's serial number prefix, then type in the first 6 digits of your serial number. The tool will let you know if your Switch is patched or not.
- If your Switch is patched, you cannot hack it.
2
Download the Android OS ROM and other files from XDA. XDA is a forum focused on Android software development. The files you need to download are located in this forum post as well as this one, and are listed below. As always, download these files at your own risk.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- The ROM for your SD card size
- Shield-ifier (allows you to download games meant for NVIDIA Shield)
- Reboot2Payload (will reboot your device to Android when rebooting within the Android OS)
- GApps (installs the Google Play Store and other Google services)
- TegraRcmGUI (pushes exploit to Switch)
- balenaEtcher (will write the ROM to your SD card)
- Hekate version 5.0 (the bootloader)
Make sure to back up anything on the SD card that you want to save, as this process will delete everything on the SD card.
Make certain you've selected the correct card before clicking Flash.
5
Click Flash. This process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on your SD card's size and speed.
- Once the flashing process is complete, you can close balenaEtcher. You will see two new drives in your Windows Explorer—one larger one, and one that is 2GB. If you don't see these drives, eject the SD card and reinsert it into your PC.
Do not unzip these files before placing them in the partition.
Your Switch should be off at this point.
In order to enter RCM, you will have to modify your Switch in some way. Some common ways are to alter your Joycons with a metal bridge, plastic jig, or tin foil.^{[2]
X
Research source} XDA links to a number of methods to try in their Switch Android hacking thread. Note that modifying your Switch in this way can cause permanent damage.
9
Launch TegraRcmGUI on your computer. Complete the following steps to get your Switch into RCM:
- Select the Settings tab and select "Install Driver."
- Go back to the Payload tab and select the Hekate .bin file, then connect your Switch to your computer with a USB-A to USB-C (or USB-C to USB-C if your computer has a USB-C port) cable. TegraRcmGUI should say "RCM OK."
- Select Inject Payload. Once you see the GUI on your Switch, you can disconnect it from your computer.
10
Mount the SD card to your Switch. You can do so by following these steps:
- Tap More Configs and hold the volume up button. Then, tap Switchroot Android and continue to hold the volume up button until you get to the TWRP menu.
- On the TWRP menu, select Keep Read Only, then Mount. Check "System" and "Vendor", then tap the home button at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Install > Select Storage > Micro SD card > OK.
11
Install GApps, Shield-ifier, and Reboot2Payload. Tap the GApps, Shield-ifier and Reboot2Payload ZIPs and uncheck "Reboot after installation is complete", then slide the slider to the right.
- Wipe the Dalvik cache when prompted.
- You must install GApps before you first boot into Android. If you didn't install before booting, you'll need to start over by re-flashing your SD card.
- If asked to install the TWRP app, select "Do not install" and reboot your Switch, enter RCM again, then re-inject Hekate.
It may take a while, but after doing so your Switch will boot into Android.

Section 4 of 4:

Downloading Netflix

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To get Netflix, you must have installed GApps during the Android OS installation process.
You can install Netflix on your Switch with the Android OS just like an Android phone or tablet.
From here, you can watch Netflix just like you would on your other Android devices.

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Warnings

Hacking your Nintendo Switch is not recommended. Hacking your Switch can make your console's operating system completely inoperable (also called "bricking") and hacked Switches are not covered by Nintendo's warranty.

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