Bypass Netflix's Are You Still Watching prompts

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 7, 2018
Internet
|
13

When the streaming site Netflix suspects that you may not be watching anymore, it displays an "are you still watching" prompt that blocks playback until you confirm that you are indeed still binge watching Breaking Bad or Peaky Blinders.

Sometimes, that prompt is a godsend as it prevents that the entire season runs through while you are sound asleep in front of your computer or in bed. At other times, it can be quite the nuisance if you get the prompt while perfectly capable of watching yet another episode or ten on Netflix.

You may even have to get up to deal with the prompt depending on how you watch content on Netflix.

It is unclear why Netfix displays the prompts in first place. Some say that it is for the benefit of the company's customers, others that it helps Netflix save bandwidth by blocking playback until customers hit the continue button.

Are You Still Watching?

are you still watching netflix

Some Netflix customers may not mind that Netflix displays the prompt after some time while they are using the service. Others dislike it and want to disable it or at least bypass it so that they can watch unhindered.

While Netflix does not offer any options to disable the "are you still watching" prompts in the service's settings, it is possible to bypass them using browser extensions. Works only if you use a web browser like Chrome or Firefox to watch Netflix; if you use an unsupported web browser, a smart TV, or streaming device like Fire TV, you are out of luck currently.

Netflix Pause Removal for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome handles Netflix's continue playing prompts. The extension requires permission to access data on netflix.com but no other permissions besides that; good. Just install the extension and you are good to go.

A simple application for the lazy, to not have to click the "Continue Watching" button in Netflix. It will remove the UI Permanently, so you can continue your binge session.

The browser extension removes the "are you still watching" prompt permanently from Netflix as long as you have it installed in your browser of choice.

It should be clear that the extension should only be installed by Netflix users who find the prompts annoying and a nuisance. If you find them useful sometimes, you may not want to install the extension as you'd have to disable the extension each time you want Netflix to throw the prompts at you.

Chrome especially but also Firefox is home to dozens of extensions for Netflix. Many improve Netflix in other ways: the Flix Assist extension for Chrome skips the next episode countdown for instance, others may block spoilers on Netflix.

Now You: Do you watch video streams regularly?

Summary
Bypass Netflix's Are You Still Watching prompts
Article Name
Bypass Netflix's Are You Still Watching prompts
Description
Find out how to bypass Netflix's annoying "are you still watching" prompt that blocks the next episode from playing automatically until you react.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
Logo
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Frank said on January 24, 2021 at 5:10 am
    Reply

    It’s not just Netflix: now Amazon Prime Video and YouTube are getting in on the “Are you still watching?” craze. It’s ridiculous— I do NOT need a streaming service to babysit my viewing habits, and I will drop any service that continues to do so. I’ll stick with Hulu.

  2. Cindyrsdu said on November 19, 2020 at 9:09 pm
    Reply

    I’m sick of this message “Are you still watching” We pay for Netflix, it’s not free and to ask us this stupid question I’d beyond comprehension. I don’t care if I’m not watching, again we are the ones paying for the service. Either Netflix stop asking this stupid question or they will be dropped.

  3. Jeremy said on March 26, 2020 at 3:09 am
    Reply

    Just don’t understand why we don’t have the option to turn the ridiculous setting off. I think I’m canceling and just going back to dish. At least I can play my DVR all night nonstop.
    The Hulu commercials are ridiculous and Netflix will only play 1 or 2 episodes and stops.

  4. Kristi said on March 21, 2020 at 5:20 am
    Reply

    This is so annoying!!!!! Sometimes it hardly ever ask, but most of the time, especially lately, it is every episode!!!! I’m getting frustrated! May drop Netflix and get something else.

  5. Kevin Lee Myers said on February 16, 2020 at 7:51 am
    Reply

    It annoys me because I wake up to silence. I have to have the TV on and playing. Once it goes quiet I wake up just to hit “keep watching.” Every. 3. Episodes. Sick of it. Hulu rules because I can actually sleep for the most part.

  6. C.B. said on February 3, 2020 at 6:22 pm
    Reply

    It’s most irritating when you are listening to the live news and cleaning house or cooking and everything suddenly goes silent. You have to run back to the tv and find the remote to click “yes”. I heard you are monitoring my fit bit to see if I’m moving but what if it is charging or I have it on a necklace and am standing still cutting food. First, stay off my fit bit. If I’m moving is none of your business. Second, I am paying for the service, let it play all night if I want. I know how to turn on my timer if I want it to cut off. I use it to entertain my 18 months old while I cook her dinner and every single episode it cuts off or asks if we are still watching. What a pain. If they can’t find a fix I’m going somewhere that if they do that at least I’m not paying for it.

  7. KAREN BROWN said on December 31, 2019 at 4:29 am
    Reply

    None of these extensions really work. At first you think it’s great then the extension itself starts malfunctioning and causing problems as bad if not worse than netflix’s pause. I know. I have tried them all.

    1. null said on August 27, 2021 at 8:15 am
      Reply

      If your watching videos on YouTube TV on a Roku TV or any other smart TV you still get the messages I thought it was freaking YouTube or Google that was pulling this crap nobody should have a right to control anybody watching a freaking TV is so ridiculous and then they didn’t got the balls to put their name out there so people can dog them in the dirt on media for doing such a screwed upCurse on people

  8. Dicez said on April 23, 2019 at 1:55 am
    Reply

    Its time to go to Hulu, Amazon or any free services. Netflix do not see how ridiculous this is. Give us options, we are paying for it. They make billions of dollars to supply us with entertainment but yet refuse to give us what we want. I say, go spend your money else where. Youtube tv is cheaper. Philo is waaaaay much cheaper for live tv. And Pluto, Tubetv is free. Hulu is $5 a month. Why spend what you dont get with Netflix? SWITCH! until they start looking out for the customers.

  9. Chris said on November 17, 2018 at 2:01 am
    Reply

    It used to be every 3 episodes, or roughly 90 minutes Netflix would do this. Now it is after EVERY episode. Extremely annoying.. Going to drop my subscription and stick with Hulu.

  10. john said on August 29, 2018 at 6:09 am
    Reply

    Well this is annoying because the method you are posting here only works for netflix in internet browsers. It does not work for the netflix phone/ tablet app and it won’t work for those of us watching netflix from an HDTV device such as a roku…. Netflix says on their website you can disable this “still watching” feature under your account settings however when you do that and you are watching a show or series you are required to press ok on your remote to get the next episode to play which is even more annoying because now I have to stop auto play and press next/ ok for the next episode to play! So it doesn’t really resolve my issue. Oh well so much for that. I guess I will have to turn the “still watching” feature back on and deal with it. If you come up with another fix that works for roku and or the netflix app let us know please and thank you.

  11. P said on July 7, 2018 at 10:09 pm
    Reply

    Martin, you need crypto donation button. btc, ltc, bch, xmr. Thx.

  12. annoying said on July 7, 2018 at 10:05 pm
    Reply

    As annoying as early Sony bravia tvs with their power saving ir sensor that can not be turned off..fine if you fall asleep so that the screen turns off but sound still playing then the whole tv after an hour but if we’re watching a movie we have to wave our arms around every now and then

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.