How to Download Netflix APK on Android TV (And Make It Work)

Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by Tim Wells

Netflix has always done things a bit differently when it comes to Android TV devices.

You’d think that Netflix would want to make it easy to download their app so you can give them money, and well…you’d be wrong.

Depending on what Android TV you have, you may have seen an error message like this:

Error:
This version of Netflix app is not compatible with your device (-13)

Netflix error: The version of Netflix app is not compatible with your device (-13)

Netflix has a tight leash on what devices can play its app.

We’re talking Apple-level control freak here.

On the one hand, I can see their logic. Netflix wants to control everything, so they’re sure you’re getting the best experience.

But part of me thinks they’ve made deals with the major hardware manufacturers to make some additional royalties on the side.

Netflix is actively shutting out Android TV box owners from being able to watch the Netflix subscription that they’re paying for on their devices. 

Is there any way around it?

Can you actually watch Netflix on your Android TV and TV box?


Can I watch Netflix on Android TV?

The main thing you should take away from this article is that there is a way to watch Netflix on your Android TV or TV box.

Is it the best quality? Not always.

Is it easy? Not really.

Now that I’ve inspired you with confidence let’s go into more detail on those questions.


Is There a Netflix 4K or HD APK for Android TV?

The biggest complaint I hear from people (myself included) is that Netflix doesn’t look good on most Android streaming players.

My primary streaming device is an NVIDIA Shield TV hooked to a 55″ Sony Android TV.

Yes, I hook one Android TV device up to an actual Android TV. Don’t judge.

My point is that Netflix looks fantastic on it. 

Then I go to another TV running Netflix on my MINIX Android box, and it looks like crap.

Why?

It’s Netflix’s fault.

Netflix limits HD and 4K playback to “Netflix Certified Devices.”

Each time you start it, the app checks to see what device it’s running on. If it’s not on Netflix’s approved list, one of two things will happen.

If your videos play, they’ll be limited to SD resolution. In other cases, Netflix will give you an error and not stream videos at all.

So even though every new version of Netflix’s app is 4K\HD compatible, it will not work on your device unless it’s Netflix Certified.


What is a Netflix Certified Android TV Box?

If you have a smart TV that runs the official Android TV operating system, Netflix has you covered.

Many smart TVs already have Netflix included.

Major manufacturers have a “Netflix Recommended TV” logo on their marketing materials and the box. It’s a quick way to check that your Android TV is Netflix certified without too much digging.

The news isn’t so good if you have an Android streaming media player. What’s worse, it doesn’t matter if you’re running pure Android or Android TV.

Netflix lists all streaming media players they’ve certified to run their app in 4K and HD.

Spoilers: It’s a really short list.

The funny is that this list has gotten smaller over the last few years.

Technology has gotten better with every new streaming media player. However, Netflix still limits you to the same five players: Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, NVIDIA Shield, and Roku. 

That’s it.

So what does that mean for Android users?

We’ll probably have trouble getting Netflix to work on our Android TV devices.

Let’s talk about why.


Why is Netflix not working on my Android TV?

The most common error you’ll likely get on your Android TV box is Netflix telling you, “this app is not compatible with your device.”

Netflix’s help documentation tells you to go download the latest version and try again.

But that’s not going to fix the issue.

For years, Netflix has been limiting what devices can use their apps. We already discussed how their “Netflix Certified” device program limits what devices can play content in HD and 4K.

In 2017, Netflix confirmed that new Android app versions would block rooted devices. With version 5 of their app, they’ve focused on Google’s Widevine DRM platform.

The community has since found workarounds, but it’s obvious that Netflix hasn’t been too kind to Android TV box users over the past few years.

I’m going to show you the latest workaround below.


How do I Download the Netflix APK for Android TV?

The first place to look is one of Netflix’s official help pages to find an old version of their app that doesn’t rely on DRM technology.

The trouble is that Netflix shows you how to download version 4.16 of their Android app. At the time I’m writing this article, we’re several updates into version 7 of their app.

I think their “fix” for this error is meant to get you to buy one of their certified devices.

However, I’m going to show you how to download version 6.26.1. It was the final release before the DRM check was added. 

Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of anyone successfully getting the latest Netflix update to work on their system. Version 7 of the app will download, but you’ll get the familiar “device not supported” error.

So version 6.26.1 is as good as it gets for now. Any older versions will also work.

Note: If you’re a Kodi user, there’s a fully-supported Netflix addon for Kodi 18 and 19. Check out my step-by-step tutorial for more details!


What You’ll Need to Get Started

In this next section, we’ll download and install the Netflix 6.26.1 APK. But there are a couple of things you need before we get started.

First, you’ll need an internet browser on your Android TV box. In this walkthrough, I’m using Google Chrome.

Even though it’s definitely not my favorite web browser for Android TV, it came pre-installed. Plus, many people try downloading Chrome on their Android TV box because they’re familiar with it on their Windows PC.

I can suffer by using Chrome for a little bit to make it more relatable. 🙂

The second thing you may need is a file manager. Depending on how you’ve configured your Android TV box, you may be able to directly install the Netflix APK from Chrome.

If not, you’ll need a file manager to do it. It’s not a big deal, but it adds an extra step to the process. Just check your Downloads folder to find the Netflix APK file.

If you don’t have a file manager for your Android TV, I highly recommend checking out my head-to-head shootout article. I compare six of the most popular Android TV file managers and tell you what I use daily.


Step 1: Uninstall the Netflix App

The first thing you need to do is uninstall the Netflix app that doesn’t work. This process won’t work if you try to install this version on top of what you already have.

It’s best to start with a clean slate.

To do that, open your Settings menu. If you don’t have a Settings icon on your home screen, you can get to it by clicking on the All Apps or App Drawer icon, depending on your device.

Once you’re in the Settings menu, click on Apps.

Scroll down the list until you find the Netflix app. You may have to click into the System Apps section if it’s not in the main index.

Once you find it, click Uninstall.


Step 2: Download the Netflix APK

We will download version 6.26.1, build 15 31696 of the Netflix Android APK from APKMirror.com. 

Note: We won’t be installing the Android TV version of the Netflix ZPK. Instead, we’ll be installing the pure Android version.

Open your web browser of choice. Again, for this example, we’ll be using Google Chrome. However, you can use whatever browser you’re comfortable with if it can download files and save them to your internal storage.

In the URL bar, you can get to APKMirror in two ways.

Browse to APKMirror.com

You can type APKMirror.com in the URL bar and navigate their menu system.

This site has thousands of APK files, so I recommend checking them out.

It’s worth noting that there are seventeen pages of Netflix apps, so finding the correct version to download may be challenging.

If browsing through pages of download files isn’t your thing, you can use one of these two links to get you to the APK file you need.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/netflix-inc/netflix/netflix-6-26-1-build-15-31696-release/

Or you can enter the following code directly in the Downloader app to get you to the same place:

16192

I created the Downloader app shortened version because it’s much easier to type into your Android box using an airmouse.

Either way, both links will take you to the same page.


Step 3: Download and Install the Netflix APK

Once you’re there, scroll down until you see a red button that says Download APK. Click on it to start the download process.

If you’re using Chrome, you’ll see a pop-up window on the bottom of the screen asking you to verify the download.

Click OK to continue.

If you’ve enabled Apps From Unknown Sources, you’ll be able to install Netflix from Chrome by clicking Open in the following pop-up box.

If not, you’ll need to open your favorite file manager app and go to your Downloads folder. 

Either way, the installation process should only take a few seconds.

Once you see this screen, click on the Install button in the lower right-hand corner. Once it completes, you can exit this screen and return to your home screen.

Be sure to delete the downloaded file after you’re done.


Step 4: Launch Netflix

After the installation, Netflix will appear in your App Drawer or All Apps screen, depending on your device.

Click on the Netflix icon to launch the app.

Now for the moment of truth.

I tried this process on two different devices. The first was my SkyStream Pro running the official Android TV operating system. The second was my MINIX U22-XJ running pure Android.

Both opened up the Netflix app flawlessly.


Wrapping it Up

It’s frustrating that we need to go through all this to watch Netflix on the Android TV device we want. After all, we’re paying for a Netflix subscription, and it’s not like they have to develop a new app.

All they need to do is drop the restrictions they imposed on us and give us a better Netflix experience.

If you’re as frustrated as I am, let Netflix support know that you want to watch Netflix 4K and HD on whatever Android TV device you want.

Finally, if you’re a Kodi user, check out my tutorial on installing the fully-supported Netflix addon for Kodi here!

Tim Wells