Netflix adds 4K streaming to Chrome Windows 11, Chromebooks

Netflix has expanded its 4K streaming support to include the Google Chrome browser, a significant change for subscribers who previously had to use other applications to access the highest video quality on desktop computers. The update, confirmed on a recently revised Netflix support page, is now available for users on Windows 11 and certain Chromebooks, though it comes with a strict set of hardware and subscription requirements.

The new capability means that subscribers on Netflix's Premium plan, which costs $26.99 per month in the United States, can now watch Ultra HD content directly within Chrome version 117 or later. Previously, 4K streaming in a browser was limited to Microsoft Edge on Windows and Safari on macOS. The expansion to Chrome, which commands nearly half of the U.S. browser market, makes the high-resolution format accessible to a much wider audience of desktop users.

However, access is heavily restricted by device and operating system. On Windows, the feature requires a PC running Windows 11 with specific hardware: an Intel 7th-generation Core CPU or newer, or an AMD Ryzen CPU, paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or AMD Radeon RX 400 series or newer GPU. The...