Whether you’re considering a Netflix subscription for the first time or want to make sure your new PC can play your TV shows, here’s some good news: Netflix works on almost any computer and doesn’t need any special hardware. More important than your computer’s power is your Internet connection speed, as faster speeds allow for better looking videos and less lag. If you don’t know your speed, check with your Internet service provider or test the speed yourself.
0.5 megabits per second as the absolute minimum speed 1.5 Mbps recommended minimum speed 3 Mbps recommended for standard-definition video 5 Mbps recommended for HD video 25 Mbps for Ultra HD, available only with the highest subscription option and on certain videos.
Keep in mind that these speeds refer to the speed available to Netflix. If several computers in your house are downloading files or watching videos online, your connection to Netflix might not run as fast as your ISP’s advertised speed. If you use Internet Explorer on Windows 8.1, an up-to-date copy of Google Chrome or Safari on Mac OSX 10.10 or above, you don’t even need to install any new software. These browsers play Netflix through a built-in HTML 5 player. Firefox and older versions of Internet Explorer and Safari require the Silverlight plugin, which you can download from Microsoft. Each device’s Netflix app varies slightly in design, but in general, they work similarly to Netflix on your computer. The one major difference: some devices use an activation code rather than an account name to sign in. If you open Netflix on your device and see a code, enter it on the activation page on Netflix’s website to link your account.
