Step-by-Step Tutorial: Downloading and Setting Up Netflix App on a Mac Computer

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Netflix App for Mac (Macbook Air/Pro/iMac) Ultimate Guide

Posted by Kaylee Wood | Last update: April 28, 2020

Searching for a standalone Netflix APP for Mac? You’re in the right place! This guide helps you easily watch Netflix movies on Macbook Pro/Air (macOS Catalina and before compatible). Scroll down to find where to download Netflix APP Mac.

For your binge-watching, we provide a list of Netflix 3D movies later in this article and Netflix 4K movie list at the end of the article which you might be interested in once you successfully set up Netflix App for Mac OS.

Where to Download Netflix Mac APP?

Bet you have Googled Netflix APP for Mac computer, but failed to find the results in any of the result page? Well, if you haven’t yet, save the efforts:

Because first, you’ll find Netflix Mac APP in iTunes Store only works for iOS (13 or earlier);
second, www.netflix.com doesn’t offer a Mac version for you to download, neither;
third, even if you visit the APP Store on Mac, only a list of non-authentic Netflix APPs will be listed out there.

Netflix APP for Mac Basic Info

So where’s the Netflix Mac APP? Well, truth is that rather than developing a standalone desktop Netflix Mac APP like they do for Windows 8.1/10, the company serves Mac users to watch Netlix movie/TV shows directly through web browsers like Safari, Firefox or Chrome (plug-in required).

Your easiest way out is to direcly download a best free alternative to Netflix APP for Mac here!

Want a closer look? Sure, if you’d like to replace the Netflix App for Mac, here’re 3 ways to watch Netflix movies on Mac. You can:

Method 1: Watch Netflix on Macbook Air/Pro in A Web Browser
Method 2: Get a Free Alternative to Netflix APP for Mac
Method 3: Pay $2.99~$6.99 Extra for 3rd Party APP to Access Netflix for Mac

Method 1: How to Open Netflix APP on Mac? You Can Just Watch Netflix in a Web Browser

Pay attention that not every browser can open Netflix for Mac.

First, if your 2019 Macbook Pro/Air is running Mac OS X El Captain or Yosemite, Netflix movie streaming is directly available in its native browser - Safari (latest version) - with the built-in settings for html5 video.
Second, should you be running Mountain Lion or earlier, follow theofficial instructions from netflix.com which describes how you can install a plug-in called Silverlight in order to watch, which we provide below:

Step 1: Vist www.netflix.com on your Mac computer, choose the New Year movies on Netflix you want to play.
Step 2: When a Silverlight dialog windows opens, hit “Install Now”, which takes you to install Silverlight.dmg, kindly notice that download location is different depending on your web browser.
Step 3: Right-click or hold Control on your Mac’s keyboard and select Silverlight.pkg, then select “Open” on the popping-up menu.
Step 5: Upon the warning “Silverlight.pkg is not from the Mac App Store. Are you sure you want to open it? Opening Silverlight.pkg will always allow it to run on this Mac.”, proceed with a “Yes”.
Step 6: Follow the installation wizard to successfully install Silverlight for Netflix Mac APP.

Notes: Should the Netflix plug-in Silverlight for Mac fails to download, you may also access it through Microsoft Silverlight website at https://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/Get-Started/Install/Default.aspx .
Pros: No extra cost.
Cons: Safari on Mac streams most of Netflix movies just fine. But if Netflix 4K Movies or Netflix 3D movies is also your cup of tea, then think twice. Just like Amazon Prime Video, they doesn’t make 4K content available on Netflix for Mac (or PC).
But is there still a way to watch Netflix 4K on Mac without hiccups? You can go by the No.2 method - a free alternative to Netflix for Mac.

Method 2: Free Alternative to Netflix APP for Mac

This is not exaggerating, but 5KPlayer for Mac - a free video player and downloader - supports not only Netflix 4K content, it also configures H.265 codec to render 4K streaming smoothly. It’s a second-to-non choice if you need a Mac-based Netflix client that combines movie download and playback 2-in-1.

5KPlayer - Free Netflix APP for Mac Alternative

Easily play Netflix 4K movies and 3D movies; the free 5KPlayer also rises as one of best VR video players now that Netflix has announced their VR plan. Since it can connect your Netflix APP on iPhone to Mac via AirPlay Mirroring, enabling you to send whatever movies streaming on your iPhone/iPad to Mac instantly with AirPlay technology (Wi-Fi required).

- Download Netflix movies on Mac superfast: Get an URL to a Netflix movie playing on Mac, 5KPlayer parses and downloads it in original quality.
- Create Netflix movies playlist on Mac: Organize all Netflix movie titles you like on Mac into a playlist.
- Connect HDTV so you can Watch Netflix 4K on TV .

What makes 5KPlayer better than other media players to stream Netflix movies/TV shows? Well, by configuring latest HD video codecs including H.264/H.265/MKV/VP8/VP9, 5KPlayer jumps all the way high to be a the best free 4K player , let alone downloading high-res videos on Macbook Pro/Air.

Now Get yourself the Mac version of 5KPlayer first, let’s cut straight to see how this free alternative to Netflix APP for Mac can download and play a movie.

Netflix APP for Mac Alternative: Download James Cameron Full Movie

Download, install and launch 5KPlayer for Mac , the best free Netflix APP for Mac alternative before you can download James Cameron Alita Battle Angel full movie 720p to watch.

Free download James Cameron Alita: Battle Angel movie MP4 1080p

Step 1: Find Alita: Battle Angel movie trailer in YouTube, copy the URL.

Step 2: Click the YouTube button on 5KPlayer, tap “paste and analyze” box. Remember to choose preferred format and resolution before tapping the download button.

Watch Alita: Battle Angel full movie

With 5KPlayer finished downloading the Alita: Battle Angel movie, you can directly watch this 4K movie with the free alternative to Netflix APP for Mac.

Note: This Netflix app for Mac also supports downloading multiple subtitles, movie soundtracks in playlists. You can preview and screenshot any frame you like.

Pros: No plug-in required (which is a must if you don’t have either 5KPlayer or the latest version of macOS Catalina).
Remote control available: with Netflix installed in iPhone, you’re free to start/resume where you left/switch movie titles without being tethered to the Mac’s range.
Money-saving: Netflix charges on device at $7.99 and $9.99 for 1 device and 2 devices respectively, but with 5KPlayer installed, you only pay for the least.
Cons: Movies may stop when receiving phone calls when you connect iPhone.

Method 3: Pay $2.99~$6.99: 3rd Party APP to Access Netflix APP for Mac

As you may already found in the Mac APP Store, a slew of unofficial Netflix APP client for Mac obtain themselves quite a few downloads selling from $2.99 to $6.99. These are APPs transmitting your original Netflix subscription content into a Mac desktop APP. But some users may find this method hiccupping quite often. Streaming via APP Flix, or even the top-rated FlixMaster won’t go as smooth as the authentic service on Mac computer. So if you can just do without an APP, Safari-based Netflix for Mac will suit fine.

Pros: Rendering APP-based Netflix for Mac experience.
Cons: Cost extra. Incompatibility issues may occur, taking you some time to check out this tutorial on Netflix won’t play [solved] .

Ok, that’s all for my recommendations. Now that we don’t have a standalone Netflix desktop APP for Mac, it goes up to you to choose: a plugin for browser will suit fine if you don’t need Netflix 4K content, and there’re plenty of 3rd party Netflix APP for Mac client.

But to get all functions you need at one stroke, it’s still the all-round alternative to Netflix for Mac - 5KPlayer !

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