Netflix will be launching a new “Shuffle Play” feature in the first half of this year, which is exactly the kind of thing we need during these pandemic times—a way to make our binge sessions last even longer. While you wait, there are a few clever workarounds you can use to shuffle through Netflix’s vast library of content right now.
Browser extensions that randomize Netflix
If you’re a Chrome user, I recommend checking out the following:
ShuffleFlix: Lets you jump to a random episode for whatever series you’re watching. You won’t just get some random Netflix show you have no interest in viewing; instead, the experience is akin to all those times you would turn on Law & Order and swear you’ve never seen the episode you happened upon, even though you’d probably actually seen it six times already over your years of watching reruns.
Randflix: Same deal, different extension. If you’re having issues with ShuffleFlix, Randflix is a good alternative.
Firefox users can try:
Netflix Shuffle: It’s the Firefox version of those other “shuffle through a random episode” extensions. It only works with a certain list of shows, though, making the option less impressive for Firefox fans. If you only care about one show—say, The Office—you can probably find specific randomizer extensions for that, too.
Better Netflix: This addon drops a bunch of useful features into Netflix’s web-based UI, including support for ultrawide displays, the ability to change the volume using your mouse’s scroll wheel, and a button you can use to skip through random Netflix shows.
Anyone can try:
Netflix Roulette: Though not a browser extension or anything that’s directly tied into Netflix itself, this website can at least pick a random show or movie for you to watch (based on whatever parameters you give it). If you’re feeling indecisive, like I am every time I stare at Netflix’s sprawling list of content, Netflix Roulette will get you out of a menu and into a movie ASAP.
iOS Shortcuts for Netflix shuffling
If you like to watch Netflix on iOS, you have a few options to help you pull up random Netflix content (or episodes of a particular series). Here are two general ones, and here is one that lets you pick from lists of Netflix’s very best movies. That’s not quite “random” in the sense that you’re hitting a button to shuffle through shows and movies, but it’s something.
As for Android...
I haven’t found a good option for Android, which is a bummer. The Upflix app can help you pick shows to watch randomly, but that’s not as good as a dedicated shuffle button. JustWatch is another one you can use to at least search through what’s available on Netflix, but, again, we want a randomizer. There’s also What The Hell Should I Watch On Netflix?, which I appreciate for its blunt approach, as well as Flixboss.
Honestly, you’re probably best-off using Netflix Roulette to identify something to watch, then pulling that up on your Android as normal.
This story was originally published in August 2020, and was updated on January 20, 2021 to include more software recommendations.