How to Stream Netflix and Other Services on Discord

Use the live stream feature to watch movies and shows with friends

by
Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale
Writer
Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal.
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Jon Martindale
Updated on December 16, 2020
reviewed by
Lisa Mildon
Lisa Mildon
Lifewire Tech Review Board Member & Writer
Lisa Mildon is a Lifewire writer and an IT professional with 30 years of experience. Her writing has appeared in Geekisphere and other publications.
our review board
Article reviewed on Feb 19, 2021
Lisa Mildon

What to Know

  • Sign into Netflix, Amazon Prime, or another streaming service from a browser or streaming app.
  • Connect to a Discord server > select the Settings icon > Game Activity > Add it > select the streaming service > Add Game. Exit Settings.
  • Finally, select the Screen button > Select the app or browser window > Choose your Streaming settings > Go Live.

This article shows you how to stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other video streaming service, as well as any of your own movies and TV shows, from Discord.

How to Stream Netflix on Discord

Streaming Netflix and other platforms through Discord require adding your browser or the Netflix app as a "Game," so Discord knows to stream it. Here's how to stream Netflix on Discord in just a few quick steps.

These steps also apply to Amazon Prime, Disney+, and a variety of other streaming services.

  1. Open a browser window or the Netflix application and log in as necessary. 

    Netflix

  2. Open Discord and connect to a server (or make your own Discord server) where your role has permission to share your screen with others.

  3. Select the Settings icon in the bottom left corner.

    Where to adjust settings in Discord.

  4. Select Game Activity from the left-hand menu.

  5. Select Add it from the top of the screen. Then choose your browser window with the active streaming service or the Netflix application from the drop-down menu and select Add Game.

    The Game Activity menu inside Discord.

  6. Exit the Settings menu and select the Screen button in the bottom-left.

    Selecting the right screen to share in Discord.

  7. Select the app or browser window that you want to stream.

    Selecting from screens to share in Discord.

  8. Choose your preferred Streaming settings. Anything over 720p and 30 FPS will require a Discord Nitro account.

    Screen sharing adjustments in Discord.

  9. Select Go Live to begin streaming.

  10. You'll see a preview window with your Netflix stream. Start the movie or TV show, and you should see it appear in the preview, but it may pause if you click away to save system resources.

    Double click or tap on it to get a larger view of the stream, as well as your webcam if you're also streaming yourself.

How to Stream Your Own Films and TV Shows on Discord

To stream any locally stored movies or TV shows in Discord, follow the same steps as Netflix above. Except, instead of opening a browser window, you need to open the content in your preferred video playing application, such as VLC or Windows Media Player.

From there, you'll need to add that application using the Game Activity menu, as above and
then begin your stream.

What Else to Know About Discord Streaming

To stream movies and TV through Discord, you need to add the service as a game first. You can use a streaming app or go through a browser. Depending on your browser, you might need to disable hardware acceleration to make it work. Then queue up the movie or show you want to watch.

Make sure you have permission to stream. Some Discord servers and roles restrict that to certain users. And before sharing your screen, be sure to hide any sensitive information. Streaming your PC can open you up to data or identity fraud if you're not careful.

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