How to Watch Netflix with Space Audio on iOS

Spatial audio support is finally being implemented in the Netflix app for iOS. The feature should be available soon to all iPhone and iPad users who have iOS or iPadOS 14.6 (or higher).

Unfortunately, unlike other applications that support space audio such as Apple Music and Apple TV + that support a broad range of playback devices, Netflix only supports spatial audio using AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. In the future, support for more playback devices may be added. Apple also plans to offer space audio support for Mac and Apple TV devices in the future.

For now, though, you can watch Netflix content with 5.1 or Dolby Atmos surround sound on your iPhone and iPad via your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max:

1. Connect your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open the Netflix app and search for surround sound content (such as 5.1 surround or Dolby Atmos).
3. Open the control panel (swipe down from the top right of the device screen).
4. Hold down the volume slider to open the audio options.
5. Tap the space audio icon to turn it on.

You can also change the spatial audio in the iOS / iPadOS settings app below Settings> Bluetooth. Tap the button “I” icon next to the device name in the Bluetooth list, then scroll down and tap the button “Space Audio” slider.

Note that not all Netflix content will be played in spatial audio even when the feature is turned on; it only works on movies and TV shows with some sort of surround sound mix.

However, Netflix’s space audio release also includes preventative support for iOS 15’s space audio conversion feature, which uses AI to convert recorded or mono-recorded content to multichannel audio. The feature could theoretically add 5.1 surround sound to older movies and TV shows that only contain stereo playback. It should also work on other space audio compatible apps like HBO Max, Disney +, Apple TV + and Apple Music.

The forced spatial audio conversion option appears in the iOS and iPadOS audio options when you do thisUse a supported app and playback devices, but it will only work once you’ve installed the full version of iOS 15 later this year. or try the public beta.

[The Verge]