When it comes to watching movies, my philosophy has always been that bigger is better. My favorite way to watch a film is at my local cinema, but when I’m at home, my 58-inch TV works just fine. I used to loathe the idea of streaming movies on my iPad, as I felt I couldn’t really enjoy my favorite films on my device’s small 11-inch screen, especially as 4K streaming Netflix is unfortunately not possible on iPad. However, I recently found myself wanting to give watching movies on my device another shot, and was pleasantly surprised to find that, with a few tweaks, the experience was actually pretty enjoyable, and might help me take my bedtime TV habit off the couch.
No matter whether you are watching the new season of Love is Blind or checking out Oscar-nominated films like Train Dreams or Frankenstein, these hacks will help you stream smarter on an iPad.
Optimize your iPad’s settings for video playback
Just a few taps can yield a better picture
If you haven’t taken a look at your accessibility settings in a while, as certain configurations in this area could be hampering video performance. Specifically the two settings you are looking for are Reduced motion and Frame limit which both should be toggled to off. Though having them on could reduce eyestrain and potentially optimize power usage, they will hamper any video playback, so if you’re trying to watch a movie, definitely ensure these are turned off.
Increase Netflix’s video playback quality
If you’ve got an iPad Pro and the highest tier of Netflix, you have a better option
Unfortunately, even if you pay for Netflix Premium, 4K playback is not possible on any iPad (or iPhone) model. However, you can stream select titles in HDR where available if you have an iPad Pro. To make sure that this setting is on, you’ll need to go in to the Netflix app and then, once you are signed in to your profile, tap My Netflix in the lower right-hand part of the screen. From there, tap the Menu, navigate to App Settings, and then toggle on HDR Playback.
Download movies
Avoid buffering and connection issues
No matter what tier of Netflix you have, you can download movies for later viewing. And while your Wi-Fi or cellular connection may be pretty strong, it’s not unusual to encounter buffering or playback issues, especially during peak times. Fortunately, you can download movies very easily for offline viewing. Simply navigate to the content you want to watch and look for the Downloads icon next to the title. Tap it, and you’ll be able to watch it, uninterrupted, when it is TV time.
Note: Not all TV shows or movies are available for download due to licensing restrictions.
Use headphones with spatial audio support on iPad Pro
Enjoy the highest-quality audio possible
While the iPad’s onboard speakers are great for listening to a podcast, they don’t exactly provide the clearest audio for watching a movie. Fortunately, Netflix Premium subscribers can experience spatial audio on iPad Pro models using AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or any other headphones that support spatial audio. To ensure that spatial audio is enabled, open Control Center, touch and hold the volume control, then tap Spatial Audio.
Silence notifications
Don’t let an email interrupt movie time
My iPad essentially lives in Do Not Disturb mode. Though I know my tablet is capable of receiving texts, emails, and social media notifications, when I’m trying to unwind, the last thing I want to see at the top of my screen is a notification about someone responding to a Reddit comment or an email reminder about a bill that is due soon. In order to turn all this noise off, I simply pull down from the right side of the screen, and set my focus status to Do Not Disturb. That way I can focus on the movie, and won’t be interrupted by anything.
Turn your iPhone into a remote
Great if you have a movie on while doing something else
When I’m watching a movie for the first time, I like to lock in and give my full attention to what’s playing on the screen. However, if I’m putting on 1986’s Labyrinth for the hundredth time so I can sing along to Dance Magic Dance while knocking out some chores, I probably will leave the iPad on a table somewhere while I move around doing other things. In these instances, it is helpful to have a remote to rewind or pause the movie when I’m far away from my device, and thankfully, there is a way to remotely control your iPad with your iPhone.
To accomplish this, go into the Accessibility Settings on your phone and select Control Nearby Devices, followed by your iPad. You can then pause, rewind, or do whatever you need with your iPad from across the room, which is very convenient when you are watching (or listening) to a movie from across the room.