Author:
Randy Alexander
Date Of Creation:
24 April 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Over the years, Netflix finally launched the feature to delete movies and shows from its "recently watched" list on its Netflix account. Congratulations to those watching Netflix, now no one can discover your secret anymore! And yet, you can use the "Profiles" function so that people using the same account can't see the "recently watched" list. Unfortunately, the portable version doesn't have the recent show and movie deletion feature. You need to be signed in to Netflix in your web browser to edit recently viewed content.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Delete recently viewed movies and shows
Log into the Netflix website, not the app. On your computer or tablet, log in to https://www.netflix.com using a web browser. According to Netflix's customer service side, the mobile app can't access this option, but the mobile web browser can.
- If your mobile device doesn't have a web browser, sign in on your computer. Changes made on one device are synchronized with the other after 24 hours.
Select a profile. In the list of names that appear after signing in, select your profile. Each profile will have a separate activity list.- If the list doesn't appear, look in the top right corner of the screen and look for the name and square picture (usually a face). If this is not your profile, click on this image and select your profile icon.
Access the Viewing Activity page. Visit https://www.netflix.com/WiViewingActivity to see a list of recent shows. You can access this page by clicking the square profile icon in the top right corner, selecting Your Account in the drop-down menu, then scrolling down and selecting Viewing Activity in the drop-down menu. My Profile.- If you use Netflix on a device other than your computer, and the Recently Watched list is empty, try restarting your device.
Click the gray "X" to the right of the movie title. This is the "recently watched" movie delete button. It may take up to 24 hours for movies to disappear from the list on other devices, but it may also be faster.
Removed a TV series. Click the X next to each episode. Message appears including Remove series link? (Remove series); Click this button and the entire series will disappear from history within 24 hours.
- This section wants to refer to the "series" in the North American style, ie each episode of the TV show spanning many years.
Method 2 of 2: Manage viewer settings with Profile feature
Visit the profile page on a supported device. You can use your computer, PS3, PS4, or the Netflix Windows 8 app. Sign in to Netflix and hover over the square thumbnail and name in the right corner. Click Manage Profiles and you will be taken to the settings described below.When you make the edit, the changes will be synced to the entire device, although you need to restart the device to take effect.
Use profiles to separate your viewing history. Create a new profile for each member (up to 5 profiles) by clicking Add Profile and entering a name. Netflix will ask you to choose a profile each time you log in, and won't let other users see your rating and movie viewing history.
- The files are not password protected so they are easily swappable. This method is only suitable for when you want to keep your Recently Watched useful "Recently Watched" list including things you want to see. This is not a guaranteed method to hide information from family or others.
Create a temporary profile to avoid adding the list of recent views. Before watching the program you want to keep secret, you can create a new profile by clicking Add Profile or the big plus sign next to it. After viewing, return to the profile manager page and click Edit next to the temporary profile name, then select Delete Profile. Click on Delete Profile again in the message to confirm.
- Note up to 5 profiles can be active at the same time.
Delete all Netflix history by switching to a new profile. This will remove all reviews and content from "My List" so make sure you don't keep it. any content before implementation. Create a new profile using the Add Profile button, then delete the old profile.
Create a child or teen profile. Click on Edit next to the child's profile. The from Adults will turn into a drop-down menu. You can select Teens, Older Kids, or Little Kids, and then click Done to save your changes. Anyone using this profile sees only age-appropriate movies and shows, as determined by the country's age rating system and Netflix.
- There is no way to password-protect profiles, so children can still log into other people's accounts and view adult content.
- In Germany, you can create a password and are asked to enter it when watching movies and shows (FSK-18).
Advice
- If the above methods don't work, you can browse multiple movies to push the old ones off the list. You may have to watch up to a hundred movies to completely clean up your "recently watched" list, but just 10-20 movies can make the history of the secret watch less obvious.
- Netflix is experimenting with a "private mode", with which the movie won't be added to the "recently watched" list. However, this mode is only available to select users. If you want the opportunity to use this feature before it goes live, sign in to your computer, open Your Account, click Test Participation. Click the pop-up button and turn the switch to the "On" position.
Warning
- Deleting the profile will delete all ratings and movie collection from "My List".
- Profile is not password protected. Children can also easily switch to another profile and access content that is not allowed on their profile.
