Netflix’s controversial update rolling out to millions, despite subscribers branding it ‘ugly’ and ‘unusable’
Netflix is rolling out a dramatic new design worldwide. And some subscribers really aren’t happy about it.
It’s the first major overhaul to the Netflix interface in over a decade, with Smart TVs owners starting to see the new design arrive from May 19, 2025. Netflix Chief Product Officer, Eunice Kim said: “The new Netflix TV experience is still the one you know and love — just better.”
The streamer, which boasts over 300 million paid subscribers worldwide, hopes the redesign will result in simpler, more intuitive design to help viewers find content more efficiently. The roll-out comes a few days after Netflix confirmed that it would block streaming on older Fire TV Stick devices.
Here are some of the new features subscribers can expect to see when the redesign releases:
Discover Your Next Great Watch More Easily: Netflix is moving all of the information you need to make an informed choice front-and-centre. That way you can better focus on what makes each title relevant for you, with callouts like “Emmy Award Winner” or “#1 in TV Shows” in the corner of the artwork.
More Visible Shortcuts: Until now, shortcuts to Search and My List have been hidden away on the left-hand side. The redesign moves these to the top of the page where they’re more noticeable and easier to access.
Better Realtime Recommendations: Netflix has overhauled recommendations on the homepage, so these are more responsive to your moods and interests in the moment. Expect the suggestions from Netflix’s clever algorithms to change throughout the day too.
Elevated Design: Netflix says its new homepage has “a clean and modern design” that’s designed to “better reflect the elevated experience you’ve come to expect on Netflix”. Of course, that’s entirely subjective… so we’ll let you be the judge of whether this is an improvement on the last redesign that rolled-out in 2013.
Discussing the process of rebuilding the Netflix experience, Eunice Kim explained: “When we first started thinking about this project, we wanted to create an experience that was more flexible for our broad entertainment offerings, more intuitive and responsive to our members’ needs, and capable of elevating the most thrilling moments on Netflix.”
Sky Stream has never been this affordable. The broadcaster has just launched an affordable new bundle of channels and on-demand services, dubbed TV Essentials. It includes its plug-and-play Sky Stream box, over 100 live channels including Sky Atlantic — the exclusive home of shows like Game of Thrones, And Just Like That, and The White Lotus. You’ll also find a subscription to Netflix and Discovery+ included too and can upgrade to Sky Cinema and Sky Sports at an extra cost.
The most visible difference between the previous design and the new experience is the location of the navigation shortcuts. Rather than sitting on the left-hand side, these now appear at the top of the interface, offering quick access to Search, Home, Shows, Movies, Games, and the MyNetflix menu of settings and subscription options.
The latter is also where you’ll find a definitive list of Continue Watching shows, documentaries, and films, as well as saved titles that you’ve marked to watch at a later date.
Netflix has overhauled its recommendations, so these will now update in real-time as you browse, responding to your viewing history and browsing behaviour to better match your current mood. So, if you linger on several Romantic Comedies one evening while browsing, then it’ll start suggesting similar titles — assuming that’s what you’re in the mood to watch at that particular time.
Netflix Chief Technology Officer, Elizabeth Stone said: “One of the reasons I joined — and why I stay — is because this company has always had a unique ability to marry incredible tech with incredible entertainment. That’s our superpower. Obviously, everything starts with great shows and movies that people love.
“But if you think about all of the areas where Netflix has a big advantage — our reach, our recommendations, our fandom — tech enables all those things.”
Accolades for individual shows, films, and documentaries will now be displayed in larger text, making it easier to read from your sofa. Callouts like “Emmy Award Winner” or “#1 in TV Shows” will be shown in the right corner of the artwork for shows.
While the roll-out started earlier this month, Netflix has warned that it’ll take “several weeks” for the makeover to reach everyone’s televisions worldwide. You’ll know you’ve received the update when a welcome message appears to guide you through your upgraded homepage.
Unfortunately, not all devices will receive the new interface, however. Some older TVs and streaming devices will be excluded from the update, though Netflix hasn’t specified which models will be affected.
UK viewers should start seeing the changes appearing on their screens throughout late May and early June, with the rollout happening gradually rather than all at once.
Reaction to the redesign has been mixed across social media platforms.
On Reddit, many users expressed frustration with the change. One commenter wrote: “Wow. The one thing Netflix does right and they’re going to ruin it,” while another complained: “So they’ve decided to permanently roll out the ugly unusable app they’ve been testing for months? I had it and HATED it.”
Some viewers specifically criticised the prominence given to Netflix’s gaming offerings, with one asking: “Does anyone ask for this?” Others worried the redesign might signal future price increases, with one user commenting: “That means more price hikes soon. Sigh.”
Netflix’s current monthly subscriptions include Standard with Ads at £5.99, Standard at £12.99, and Premium at £18.99. The streamer increased its monthly subscriptions for new and existing UK subscribers earlier this year.
Comment
byu/Somethingman_121224 from discussion
innetflix
Comment
byu/Somethingman_121224 from discussion
innetflix
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Your Android phone is about to unlock ‘biggest update in years’Best VPN deals Upgrade to Google’s latest Android phone for under £15
Beyond the TV interface, Netflix is also updating its mobile experience.
You’ll soon have access to AI-powered search features on iOS devices, allowing you to search using natural language like “I want something funny and upbeat.”
The streaming giant is also testing a vertical feed of clips similar to TikTok, designed to make content discovery “easy and fun.” This feature will let you immediately watch full shows or movies, add titles to your list, or share them with friends. These mobile updates are expected to roll out in the coming weeks as part of Netflix’s broader strategy to enhance content discovery across all platforms.