Netflix finally allows users to disable autoplay previews

Users have long criticised the feature

The Netflix homepage is seen on a computer in Washington, DC, on 10 July 2019. (ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)

Netflix has enabled users to disable automatic previews, after months of criticism about the feature.

The streaming platform announced the change on Thursday on social media. Users can now choose whether or not they want a preview to start playing when they hover over a specific programme. Until now, the previews always played and that option couldn’t be switched off.

“Some people find this feature helpful. Others not so much. We’ve heard the feedback loud and clear – members can now control whether or not they see autoplay previews on Netflix,” the company tweeted.

The message was first shared from Netflix’s US account then retweeted from Netflix’s UK account, indicating that the change is effective in both countries.

Netflix also shared a link to an explainer on how to switch off the feature. Users can do so on their own profile and the change will be effective on all devices, without affecting the profiles of other users on the account.

While signed into Netflix, users can click “manage profiles” in the menu. There, they can select the appropriate profile and check or uncheck the box that corresponds to the text: "Autoplay previews while browsing on all devices.”

The option appears under “autoplay controls”, next to “Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices”.

Some users rejoiced at Netflix’s announcement on social media, while others asked for more changes to the platform.

The automatic previews had long been a topic of controversy for Netflix users, with many complaining that it was disrupting their user experience.