Netflix has become a savior for millennials during the coronavirus pandemic. The streaming service has gained a lot of new subscribers amid the lockdown as it is home to some of the best TV shows and movies.
Netflix is available with different subscription plans including the Basic plan, Standard plan, and Premium plan. Among the mentioned Netflix plans, the Standard plan offers HD streaming and 4K streaming is available in the Premium plan.
But, if you are planning to purchase the Netflix Ultra HD or HD streaming plans, there are some system requirements that you must meet. Check out the points mentioned below to see whether your system will be able to stream Netflix Ultra HD and HD or not.
Also Read: Best Netflix Chrome Extensions To Get The Most Out Of Netflix
System requirements for HD Netflix streaming on Windows 10
- A Windows 10 computer with the latest feature update.
- Official Netflix application (or any web browser) and a screen with a resolution of 720p.
- 7th Generation Intel Core or better processor.
- Internet connection with a speed greater than 5 Mbps.
- Netflix streaming quality is set to Auto or High.
Requirements to stream Netflix 4K UHD on Windows 10
- A computer or tablet with the latest updated version of Windows 10.
- Official Netflix app or Microsoft Edge browser.
- A 60Hz screen with 4K resolution.
- 7th Generation Intel Core i3, i5, i7 (or newer) processor or NVIDIA GTX 1050 (or better) GPU with a minimum of 3 GB of RAM.
- Internet connection with a speed greater than 25 Mbps.
- Streaming quality should be set to Auto or High.
Note: If you are unable to stream Netflix Ultra HD after fulfilling all the requirements, it means you need the HEVC extension. HEVC extender is a necessary component used on PCs to play Ultra HD 4K video. You can get the HEVC video extension from the Microsoft Store for free.
You cannot stream Netflix 4K UHD on Google Chrome
One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot run 4K UHD titles on Chrome browser even after you have met all hardware requirements and obtained the Premium plan. The reason is that Chrome provides software DRM protection that people can often misuse to record Netflix shows in UHD quality and distribute them illegally. To avoid this scenario, Netflix does not allow 4K UHD streaming on Google Chrome.
Now, if you think your internet connection and your desktop meet the Netflix 4K UHD streaming requirements, you can go for the premium plan. But if your hardware is unable, you need to buy Standard plan or Mobile only plan because you won't be able to stream 4K content on Netflix.
However, you can purchase the premium plan if you want to share your account with others, as the premium plan offers four screens. Apart from that, you must meet the requirements to stream 4K Netflix content; otherwise, the premium plan will be of no use.
