I'm facing a frustrating issue with Netflix on my Windows 11 PC. Even though I have all the necessary hardware to support 4K streaming, Netflix keeps capping playback at 1080p. I've done thorough testing, and I really believe this is more of a problem on Netflix's end with device authorization rather than something wrong on my side. My setup includes Windows 11 (fully updated), the latest Microsoft Edge browser, and an NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPU, paired with a 4K QD-OLED monitor. I've already checked my internet speed, which is between 160-190 Mbps, and confirmed that HDR, HEVC decoding, and PlayReady DRM are all functioning correctly. Has anyone else encountered this issue and figured out how to achieve 4K playback on Windows 11? Additionally, is Netflix perhaps limiting 4K support for certain configurations?
4 Answers
Have you tried using Google Chrome? Some users have noted that Chrome has more flexibility for streaming options.
I’ve got a gigabit internet connection and I can stream true 4K on other platforms with the same PC setup. It seems like Netflix might just be limiting 4K playback for some Windows configurations. You might want to contact their support to see if this is a known issue.
I might just do that. It seems odd since everything else is working fine except Netflix.
Make sure you have the right HEVC codec installed! There are free and paid versions—look for the "HEVC Video Extensions" from Microsoft in the Store. It's crucial for 4K streaming on Netflix. Also, double-check that your Netflix subscription allows for 4K playback; that could be a factor too! Good luck!
I actually bought the paid version from Microsoft and it's installed. Do I need to do anything extra in Edge to set it up for HEVC and PlayReady?
The Netflix app is essentially bridged through Edge on Windows. If you're encountering issues, try clearing the cache in Edge or reinstalling the app. Sometimes that helps refresh the connection.
I've cleared cache and reinstalled the app, but it's still stuck at 1080p. It's frustrating!
According to Netflix's support, only Edge is fully compatible with 4K streaming on Windows. So switching browsers might not help.