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The latest report from Android Police suggest that major online streaming giant, Netflix, is now testing out an audio-only mode for its Android app.
Netflix has been adding tons of new features to its Android app in the recent past. It got a variable playback speed feature as well as a screen lock feature that locks the screen while watching content, preventing accidental touches.
Fast forward to now, it is testing an audio-only mode that will allow users to watch their favorite content in the background and listen to its audio. Not sure how this feature would be beneficial, it is now rolling out for users.
Well, one reason to buy a Netflix subscription is that it boasts a huge library of content and that too “video” content. However, this audio-only mode will stream only the audio of the video content.
The new toggle was spotted by some Netflix Android app users. Once you toggle the switch, you will be able to turn off the video stream entirely. And stream only the audio from that piece of video.
Although this feature seems odd for an online video streaming platform like Netflix, it may come in handy if you want to stream the vast library of stand-up comedy.
This new Netflix audio-only mode is showing up as a server-side update
A small number of Netflix subscribers are experiencing this new audio-only feature popping up on their Android app. Notably, this is a server-side update appearing for Netflix Android app version 7.84.1 build 28 35243.
Apparently, this feature was first spotted by XDA Developers back in October in an APK Teardown. If you are also experiencing this change then, you may notice a new ‘Video off’ button will show up at the top of the full-screen video player.
Once you tap on this ‘Video off’ button, it turns on the audio-only mode in Netflix. This will leave you with a blank screen with only audio playing in the background.
Moreover, all the controls including play/pause, timeline, speed, screen lock, episode, subtitle, and next episode buttons still show up. Surprisingly, the brightness slider also shows up, which does not have any use in audio-only mode.
The only new thing that you will see on your screen is the toggle to turn the video back on. This toggle will show up in the same place where the button to turn it off was displayed.
Android Police also spotted this new ‘Audio Only’ option in the Settings menu. Tapping on this new option lists down three options; Always On, Headphones or External Speakers, and Off.
You can choose when you want to use this Netflix audio-only mode. At present, it is unclear when Netflix plans to push this new feature to all the users. In the meantime, all you can do is keep the Netflix app updated on your Android phone.
