Netflix’s Brief Apple TV App Integration Was a Glitch, Not a Feature
For a moment, Apple TV users thought a long-requested feature had finally arrived—Netflix integration within the Apple TV app. However, that excitement has quickly turned to disappointment, as Apple has now confirmed to The Verge that the short-lived integration was actually a bug and has been completely rolled back.
The sudden appearance of Netflix as a connected service had sparked hope that Apple had finally reached an agreement with the streaming giant. But users quickly noticed something was off. While some managed to link Netflix to the Apple TV app, Netflix content failed to appear properly in the Continue Watching shelf. Others found that only select seasons of some Netflix series were displayed, while the “Add to Watchlist” button briefly appeared before disappearing again. These glitches led many to assume the rollout was still in progress.
That assumption, however, was misplaced. On Friday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman tweeted that he suspected the Netflix integration was just a mistake, stating that “it would be odd for Netflix to finally give in here.” Shortly after, Apple confirmed that the feature was never intended to roll out and had been removed.
This news is particularly frustrating for Apple TV users, as the Apple TV app already supports deep integration with other major streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Max, and Peacock. These services allow users to search for titles, add them to their Apple TV watchlist, and have their progress sync across devices. Without Netflix support, Apple TV’s universal search remains incomplete, forcing Netflix subscribers to switch between apps rather than managing all their content in one place.
For now, Netflix integration in the Apple TV app remains a wishful dream rather than a reality. While the mistake briefly gave users a glimpse of what could be, it seems Netflix has no plans to change its stance anytime soon.