Netflix is revamping its mobile app to include a vertical video discovery feed, with plans to launch this update by the end of April 2026. The company confirmed this change, which is one of the most significant updates to the streaming app’s interface in years, as reported by multiple sources.
What’s Actually Changing
The new app design will feature a vertically scrolling video feed — similar to TikTok or Instagram Reels, but focused on Netflix content. Users will be able to swipe up through short clips and previews of shows and movies, making it easier to discover new content in a familiar format.
Netflix aims to “better reflect our expanding entertainment offering and make it easier for members to engage how and when they want.” Essentially, they want you to spend more time exploring content within the app rather than staring at a static grid of thumbnails, trying to decide what to watch.
This vertical feed is part of a larger redesign of the mobile app, not just an added feature. The entire layout is being revamped to enhance user experience.
Why Netflix Is Going This Direction
Netflix isn’t the first streaming service to explore the vertical video format. YouTube has Shorts, Instagram has Reels, and Snapchat has built its identity around the vertical screen. This format works because using your phone in a vertical position is natural, and swiping up is effortless.
The bigger issue for Netflix has been “decision fatigue” — that frustrating moment when you open the app and find yourself scrolling for 20 minutes without making a choice. A video-forward discovery feed aims to show you a 30-second clip of a show, which could entice you to start watching faster than a thumbnail and description can.
Netflix has been testing similar preview features for years. The autoplay previews on its TV app, which start playing trailers as you hover over a title, reflect this idea. The mobile redesign takes that concept even further.
The Apple TV Timing Is a Bit Awkward
This mobile overhaul comes at an interesting time. Just a day before this announcement, Netflix faced criticism for changes to its Apple TV app. Reports indicated that users were frustrated with the switch to a custom video player on that platform. Rolling out a well-received mobile redesign shortly after could help change the conversation, even though the two updates seem to be separate development paths.
| Company | Netflix |
|---|---|
| Ticker | NFLX |
| Stock Price | $107.79 (+0.07%) |
| CEO | Ted Sarandos |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Los Gatos, CA |
| Sector | Streaming |
What This Means for You
If you use Netflix on your phone, expect the app to look and feel quite different by the end of the month. Instead of browsing through rows of titles, you’ll swipe through video previews to find something to watch. It’s like how you might spend time on TikTok, but with the goal of landing on a full-length show or movie.
For those who already find the TikTok-style format engaging, this could make discovering new content easier. However, if you prefer a more methodical browsing experience, it might take some time to adapt. It’s still unclear whether this vertical feed will be the default or just an optional mode in the app.
Keep in mind that feeds like this are designed to capture your attention. While Netflix’s swipeable format is great for discovery, it also encourages you to stay in the app longer.
What People Are Saying
“Honestly if it helps me stop staring at the home screen for 15 minutes before giving up and rewatching The Office again, I’m for it.”
“Everything doesn’t have to be TikTok. I open Netflix to watch a movie, not to scroll forever.”
Further Reading
- Netflix is prepping a mobile revamp with a TikTok-style vertical video feed and all — Android Authority
- Netflix embraces vertical video with major mobile app update — The Verge
- Netflix Is Introducing Vertical Video to Its Mobile App This Month — CNET
What To Watch
- End of April 2026: Netflix’s redesigned mobile app is set to roll out. Keep an eye out for news on whether the vertical feed will be opt-in or the new default.
- User response: How users react and engagement metrics will likely influence Netflix’s approach to the vertical format. If people like it, expect it to expand throughout the app.
- Competitors: Watch for whether Max, Disney+, or Peacock follow suit with similar updates. Netflix often leads the way in streaming UI decisions.
- Apple TV situation: The ongoing issues with Netflix’s Apple TV app player changes remain unresolved — it’s worth paying attention to whether the company will change course there.
Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a digital culture journalist at Explosion.com covering social media platforms, streaming services, and the creator economy. With 4 years reporting on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and the apps that shape daily life, Ava specializes in explaining platform policy changes and their impact on everyday users. She previously managed social media strategy for a tech startup, giving her firsthand experience with the platforms she now covers.
