Netflix to launch TikTok-style vertical video feed by end of April

Netflix Adds TikTok-Style Vertical Video Feed to Mobile App

Netflix is preparing to roll out a redesigned mobile app featuring a vertical video discovery feed by the end of April, the company revealed in its Q1 2026 shareholder letter released Thursday. The update brings a format popularized by TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts directly into the streaming giant’s mobile experience.androidauthority

A Bet on Mobile-First Viewing

The redesigned app will let users swipe through short clips from Netflix shows and movies, then tap to watch, save, or share full episodes or films. In its shareholder letter, the company said the revamp will “better reflect our expanding entertainment offering” and make it easier for members to engage “how and when they want”.androidauthority

The move is not entirely unexpected. Netflix had been testing a vertical video feed on mobile throughout 2025, and co-CEO Greg Peters discussed plans to expand the feature during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call in January, noting that the format would eventually incorporate new content types like video podcasts. Netflix said its podcast programming is already “over-indexing on mobile and during daytime viewing,” reinforcing the case for a phone-first redesign.hollywoodreporter

AI-Powered Discovery

Alongside the vertical feed, Netflix has been deepening its investment in artificial intelligence across the platform. The company launched a generative AI-powered search tool last year, built on OpenAI’s ChatGPT, that allows subscribers to search for content using natural-language prompts like “I want something scary, but not too scary”. Chief Product Officer Eunice Kim said at the time that the company recognized “swiping vertical on social platforms provides a simple way to explore video content”.techcrunch

Separately, Netflix completed its acquisition of InterPositive, a stealth AI filmmaking startup founded by Ben Affleck, in March. That deal, valued at up to $600 million according to Bloomberg, focuses on post-production tools that help filmmakers edit footage rather than content recommendations.techcrunch

Earnings Context

The app overhaul comes as Netflix reported Q1 2026 revenue that beat Wall Street expectations, with the company reiterating full-year guidance of 12 to 14 percent revenue growth and a 31.5 percent operating margin. Netflix also said it expects to roughly double its advertising business to about $3 billion this year. The shareholder letter also disclosed that co-founder Reed Hastings plans to depart the company’s board.youtube