How to Watch Netflix With Spatial Audio on iOS

You can get a 360-degree surround sound experience with Netflix, thanks to Apple's spatial audio. Here's how to enable it.

Thanks to the iPhone's spatial audio feature, which creates a 360-degree surround sound experience, you can binge-watch Netflix in a more immersive way.

If you have the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, here's how you can use spatial audio with Netflix.

The Requirements of Using Spatial Audio With Netflix

Before you use spatial audio on Netflix shows and movies, there are a few things you need to know.

First, you can only use spatial audio on Netflix if you have the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. If you have regular AirPods or other types of earbuds, this won't work.

Related: What Is Spatial Audio and Is It Different From 3D Positional Audio?

Also, you need an iPhone that supports spatial audio. This feature is available on the iPhone 7 or later. Your iPhone must also have iOS 14.3 or a later version installed.

Finally, not every movie or show on Netflix supports spatial audio, though much of it does. You'll need to look for content with Dolby Atmos or 5.1 surround sound.

How to Watch Netflix With Spatial Audio

Make sure you have your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max connected to your iOS device. Then, follow these steps:

1. Open the Netflix app.
2. Choose the movie or show you want to watch.
3. Once the movie or show is playing, open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen.
4. Press and hold the volume slider in the middle of your screen. This will open the volume settings.
5. Tap Spatial Audio in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
6. Leave the Control Center and resume your movie or show.

Image Gallery (2 Images)

And you're set! You'll now start watching Netflix with spatial audio instead of standard audio.

Can You Tell the Difference Using Spatial Audio on Netflix?

If you can't tell the difference with spatial audio enabled, don't worry; you're not alone on this one. We couldn't tell the difference at first, either. The truth is, at first, you'll feel as if you just turned the volume up.

But after you use spatial audio for a while, you'll notice the difference if you turn it off. It's also possible that you didn't notice any difference because, as we mentioned before, not every movie or TV show supports spatial audio.

Related: Apple Music's Spatial and Lossless Audio: Can You Tell the Difference?

Take Netflix to a Whole New Level

Spatial audio changes the way we consume our favorite shows and how we listen to music. If you have AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, and your iPhone supports this feature, there's no reason not to try spatial audio when you're watching Netflix.

Once you're done, you can try a VPN to see what the rest of the world is watching.

About The Author

Sergio Velasquez (49 Articles Published)

Sergio is a writer, a clumsy gamer, and an overall tech enthusiast. He's been writing tech, video games, and personal development for almost a decade, and he isn't going to stop any time soon. When he's not writing, you'll find him stressing out because he knows he should be writing.

More From Sergio Velasquez