As you may know, Netflix does not work on Linux. But do not worry, there are some tweaks that can be done for you to watch movies on Netflix.
The Netflix-desktop package contains open source packages including Wine customized to run Netflix, Microsoft’s Silverlight browser plugin, needed by Netflix. This works on Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10, 12.04, but it works better for Mac OS X or Windows.
This is how you install Netflix-Desktop on Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal and Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin.
This is what you have to do:
$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ehoover/compholio
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install netflix-desktop
If you want to remove Netflix-Desktop, do:
$ sudo apt-get purge netflix-desktop
$ sudo apt-get autoremove
$ sudo apt-add-repository --remove ppa:ehoover/compholio
$ rm -rf .wine-browser/
This works awesome for me. Don’t expect to get HD, but the video and audio is great- audio is synced, no screen tearing, no choppiness, super easy to install. (Ubuntu 13.04, Pentium 2.7ghz Sandy Bridge [with Intel built-in graphics])
Thank you! I am so thankful there is an alternative to Microsoft or Apple! So much work involved in the Linux community and I am a newbie, but I SO appreciate the efforts of all of you! It feels like America back in its infancy, and I am part of the rebellion! Long live Linux!
Thank you! I’ve been trying to get Netflix to work on my Ubuntu laptop for ages and now it does.
Seemed a little gittery, but that could be contention on my connection, otherwise, it works and I can now safely ditch Microsoft completely!
How awsome. Netflicks on Unbuntu 13. LOVE IT!! Thanks for people who know more than me.
Doesn’t really do it for me. Works, but video is way too choppy to watch. I’m using an underpowered little netbook though, so not completely unexpected.
good. It works on my computer.
Fantastic, I’ve been trying to get wine to work with Neflix for awhile now! Easy to install and works great, thanks a lot!
Running Netflix Desktop on Linux Mint 15. Works fine but I have a dual monitor set up and Netflix desktop opens full screen on the smaller monitor. I would like to watch it on the bigger of the two screens which is my Panasonic tv.
Any idea how I can do this please ?
I realize that this is quite late but perhaps you havent solved it. You can get the Netflix app on your secondary screen by going out of full screen (press F11). Then simply drag the app to the appropriate desktop and resume full screen by pressing F11 again.
Installs ok but after logging in it seems to stay on the same page, the only difference being the “Sign out” link on the top right corner. No list of movies to choose from, just the sign up page. Any ideas?
Good going boys…I got netflix on my ubuntu too. Somehow missed visiting this website before…Long live linux
It works like a charm! Thank you sooooo much.
Works great thanks
Thanks! This is brilliant! Just installed and tried it, works as expected.
@Ben: For me HD works, after some buffering time.
Thank you for posting this!
It works, just. Got three quarters of the way through a movie, paused and couldn’t resume. Tried resuming only to have the movie start at the beginning. Trying to forward through the movie causes it to hang. Solution, punch your laptop screen till it breaks. Thankfully I now have a reason to buy a new laptop with windows on it. Ubuntu you suck bad.
Will not run on 14.04 – at least insofar as I have tried with this.