Netflix briefly plays nice with Apple TV integration — quickly disappears to crush your dreams

The Apple TV 4K (2022) remote in front of a TV with the tvOS home screen.
(Image credit: Henry T. Casey / Tom's Guide)

For a brief moment today people who own an Apple TV and also want Netflix integrated into their lists were able to see the sun. Unfortunately for them, the clouds quickly closed in.

Some users in the US were being prompted to connect their Netflix accounts to the Apple TV app. It appeared to end the streaming service's long refusal to allow third-party platforms to aggregate its content.

For those who could get it, they could add some Netflix content to their Apple TV app watchlist or the continue watching section. Though as reported by some Reddit posters, it wasn't totally working correctly with one person saying that it wouldn't allow licensed content or actually remembered what you were watching.

Still, it's a popular and much requested feature with many comments on Reddit celebrating its existence even in a slightly wonky form.

Neither Apple or Netflix officially announced this change, and apparently it wasn't available outside of the United States. Some assumed this was part of a slow rollout on both companies parts.

However, it wasn't to meant to be.

Netflix still says...No

A TV with the Netflix logo sits behind a hand holding a remote

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

This brief window has seemingly shut for good as the temporary support for the watchlist has already disappeared.

A Netflix spokesperson told The Verge that the brief window of support was an error and has been "rolled back." There were no other details provided.

Tom's Guide has reached out to Netflix for clarification and more details. It appears that the feature can work with Netflix and Netflix didn't appear to deny that it's working on integration.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman tweeted that he heard it a was a bug of some sort. Which makes sense for how quickly the capabilities were up and taken down, especially in its apparently borked state.

While a universal watchlist is one of the compelling features offered by Apple TV app, Netflix has avoided allowing Apple TV users to get Netflix content on the watchlist. It also won't integrate with Google TV.

In 2018, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings said, "we prefer to have our customers watch our content on our service." And the service was among those that by-passed in-app subscriptions to avoid paying Apple's App Store fees, though Apple has softened that recently, largely thanks to EU regulations.

As it stands now, you'll need to have an Apple TV HD (4th generation or later) since Netflix stopped supporting older generations of Apple TVs.

For a brief moment things were different, but it appears Netflix has not changed its stance on integrating with the Apple TV app. You still need to browse and find content in the official Netflix app.

More from Tom's Guide

Scott Younker
West Coast Reporter

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. 

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Netflix logo on iPhone
Netflix is finally getting this much-requested feature for iPhone and iPad users — here's how it works
Apple TV app on Android phones and tablets.
Apple TV finally arrives on Android — here's everything you need to know
Mark (Adam Scott) holding blue balloons in "Severance" season 2
Apple TV Plus is free to watch this weekend — here are the shows I’d watch
Netflix
I love Netflix, but here’s the one feature that would make the streaming service even better
Tom's Guide Awards 2023: Apple TV 4K
Prime Video on Apple TV just got a whole lot better — here's how
Netflix logo on a TV screen next to a vase of flowers
How to get Netflix for free — here are 3 ways
Latest in Netflix
Cristin Milioti in "Black Mirror" season 7 coming to Netflix
‘Black Mirror’ season 7 trailer teases some of the darkest episodes yet — here’s when you can stream it
Josh Hartnett in Trap
Netflix top 10 movies — here’s the 3 worth watching right now
Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) , Keats (Chris Pratt) and Dr. Amherst (Ke Huy Quan) in "The Electric State" on Netflix
Netflix’s new sci-fi movie with Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt is now streaming — and it’s an action-packed blockbuster
(L-R) Natasha Lyonne as Rachel, Elizabeth Olsen as Christina and Carrie Coon as Katie in "His Three Daughters" streaming on Netflix in September 2024
I’ve streamed 38 Netflix movies in the last year — here’s the 5 best you’ve (probably) haven’t seen
Michael Keaton, Joan Baez and John Mulaney at "Everybody's Live with John Mulaney" at The Sunset Gower Studios on March 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
John Mulaney's new Netflix live talk show gets this one thing right
Soledad Villamil as Ema in "Caught" coming soon to Netflix
Netflix’s latest mystery thriller show just got its first trailer — and it looks like the perfect binge-watch
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Saturday, March 15 (#643)
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Ultra just tipped to replace Pro Max in new leak — with these key upgrades
RCS messaging on an iPhone
Forget green bubbles — iPhones will soon get encrypted RCS messaging to Androids
CAD renderings of the Google Pixel 10 Pro
Latest Google Pixel 10 leak could make you want to skip it altogether
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 — analysts say it will be massive hit even with price hike
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso in Ted Lasso season 3
‘Ted Lasso’ season 4 is official — here’s what Jason Sudeikis revealed