Netflix is taking on podcasts, in a way, by rolling out on audio-only playback mode in its Android app. The feature was first discovered in an APK breakdown from back in October and now it seems like the feature has started to roll out. The feature has appeared as a server-side update, and if you have it, you’ll see a new “Video Off” button at the top of the full-screen player. Tapping that makes the screen go black, leaving you with audio-only playback.
The audio-only feature for the Netflix Android app was first spotted by XDA Developers back in October. Now, a fresh report by Android Police states that a server-side rollout has started bringing this feature to the Android app. As per the screenshots shared by the publication, a Video Off option can be seen on the top of a video, and tapping on it shows a black screen with just the controls on it.
You can also control the mode from within the app settings by selecting a setting called “Audio Only.” Tapping that will give you the option between “Always On,” “Headphones or External Speakers” and “Off.” This mode can help in saving data whether you are on Wi-Fi or not. It also allows you to multitask, just like podcasts. However, there probably aren’t many shows you can enjoy without actually watching the video.
In fact, Netflix already produces its own podcasts, but ironically, they’re only available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other audio-only services. Audio-only playback is now rolling out to the Netflix Android app, but it might take a while to reach your region.
