Netflix is launching a global test today on Android devices that will allow subscribers to set a timer for their viewing period.
The new feature allows people to choose between four timer settings: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or the end of what people are watching. After the selected time limit expires, the Netflix app will stop. This should, in theory, help to conserve battery life on Android devices, while ensuring that episodes do not continue to play automatically. (Falling asleep to Bridgerton without worrying where you left off!)
While the test is limited to selected users globally with Android devices at the moment, Netflix will explore bringing it to other devices, including televisions and desktops, depending on how widely the product is adapted and whether subscribers seem to like it, according to the company .
To use the feature, follow the instructions below:
- Choose and play your favorite TV show or movie on your mobile device.
- In the upper right corner, subscribers will see a clock icon labeled Timer.
- Touch Timer.
- Select 15, 30, 45 minutes or “Finish presentation”.
The feature is currently only available on adult profiles. Although it seems like a perfect resource for children, especially with regard to screen time, it is not currently available. The company may make a version of the feature more applicable to account profiles designed for children in the future. It depends on how well the test is received. Rather than simply tapping on a clock icon and setting the timer, the childrens resource may need to be a little more difficult to access because children tend to touch screens.
Personally, I like to think of it as a sleeping tool. If you’re someone like me, who falls asleep watching Netflix or Disney Plus or whatever it is on your phone, turning it off when an episode ends is a very good feature.
Update on Friday, January 29, 12:24 pm ET: Updated with additional information from Netflix about which Android users can access the feature.