How to Set up Netflix on Windows Media Center in Windows Vista

By
Mark Baggesen
Mark Baggesen
Writer
  • Southern Methodist University
  • University of Massachusetts/Amherst
  • The University of British Columbia
Mark Baggesen is a former Lifewire writer who has 20+ years' experience and has in web development, communications, web analytics, and databases.
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Updated on May 31, 2022

What to Know

  • Open Windows Media Center in Windows Vista. Select the Netflix icon. Choose Install > Open Website > Run.
  • In the Install Netflix in Windows Media Center screen, choose Install Now > Next > Finish.
  • Enter your name and password. Choose Remember Me > Continue. Select a title and choose Play.

This article explains how to set up and access Netflix on Windows Media Center in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate versions.

Access Netflix via Windows Media Center

You can play Netflix movies in your web browser from any version of Windows, but Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate can stream Netflix right from the desktop through Windows Media Center. When you use Windows Media Center to watch Netflix, you can view movies and TV shows on not only your computer but also your TV, if you set it up to connect to Windows Media Center. 

To start, open Windows Media Center and locate the Netflix icon. If you don't see it, go to Tasks > Settings > General > Automatic Download Options > Download Now to get the Netflix WMC installation package.

Once you do that, restart Windows Media Center.

TV + Movies option in Windows Media Center

Start the Netflix Installation Process

  1. Select the Netflix icon.
  2. Click the Install button.
  3. Choose the Open Website button.
  4. Click Run to launch the Netflix Windows Media Center installer.

You might see a security message from Windows. If so, just click Yes or OK and continue the process.

Continue the Netflix Installation and Install Silverlight

  1. At the "Install Netflix in Windows Media Center" screen, click Install Now to install Netflix.
  2. Click Install Now on the "Install Microsoft Silverlight" screen.
  3. Choose Next when you see the "Enable Microsoft Update" screen.

Finish the Installation and Start Netflix

Wait until the installation is complete.

  1. Click the Finish button on the "Restart Windows Media Center" screen.
  2. When WMC restarts, it will open the Netflix login screen. Enter your username and password, check the Remember Me box, and click Continue.
  3. Select a title you want to watch.

If you haven't yet set up a Netflix account, the screen at Step 2 also gives you that opportunity, or you can go to Netflix.com through your web browser.

Select a Movie and Play It

When the movie description opens you are just seconds from watching your movie:

  1. Click Play to begin the movie.
  2. At the "Netflix Sign-In Required" screen, click Yes. The movie will start playing in Windows Media Center.
  3. Adjust the WMC settings to your taste and enjoy the movie.

Windows Media Center isn't supported in every version of Windows, and some versions that do have it are different than the edition included in Windows Vista. This is why you can't watch Netflix from Windows Media Center in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows XP.

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