5 Ways to Clear a Persistent Netflix Status Bar

The little DVD kiosk that is now an empire in the streaming market. Like many streaming platforms, Netflix has cut a path to the top with tons of original programming and an immense library of stream-on-demand content. Netflix has been around for a long time, and they’ve certainly had their ups and downs.

In terms of the Netflix app, it’s genuinely solid, most of the time. Does that mean it has no faults? Absolutely not. In fact, it would be a real challenge trying to find a streaming platform that never has any issues. One such issue is the Netflix status bar remaining visible on the screen.

Nothing breaks immersion more than trying to watch a movie or some other program with the status bar, play bar, or whatever you want to call it, remaining on the screen.

Tapping or clicking the screen away from the status bar does the trick. But what to do when nothing makes it go away?

5 Potential Ways to Fix Netflix Status Bar Won’t Go Away

1. You’re Dealing with a Glitch

It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your Netflix app or you need to delete it altogether.

It could be some things. Of course, we couldn’t possibly list all the potential sources behind this glitch since there are hundreds, if not thousands, of possibilities.

The thing is, most of those possibilities are solvable with a simple reset. Not a reset of the device but a reset of the app. Now, you can restart your device, which will accomplish the same thing while also getting rid of anything else outside the Netflix app.

However, for the most part, you should just be able to close out the Netflix app and restart it without jumping through any additional hoops. If you’re watching Netflix through a browser, restarting that browser is essentially the same thing as restarting the app.

In fact, watching Netflix through a browser actually makes it more susceptible to the things going on within the browser than watching it as an app, constrained to its own ecosphere.

Restarts typically free up space taken with cache history and eliminates some potential background processes that could be ruining your Netflix experience.

It all depends on what platform you are using to watch Netflix. Speaking of cache…

2. Clear Cache

You can do this whether you’re watching Netflix on a web browser or enjoying it on an app.

That goes for watching it on a Firestick or Roku device as well. All of these platforms allow you some degree of control over deleting or otherwise removing the cache.

Cache is nothing more than background data that’s fairly immediate. For instance, when you watch a movie on Netflix, Netflix’s “For You” category will likely change at the conclusion of the movie, closely matching the genre of the program you just watched.

It’s how Netflix caters to your interests as you watch it. Of course, the scope of your cache expands exponentially if you’re watching Netflix on a web browser, because you’re dealing with far more than just Netflix.

On a PC, you only have to press CTRL + SHIFT + DEL.

Your browser should display a list of checkboxes or something similar (depending on which of the many browsers you’re using), allowing you the opportunity to either wipe the entire cache or be more selective.

If you’re watching it on an app, you can generally go to the app in your iOS settings or on the Google Play Store and deal with the cache from there. There is a separate window for dealing with apps, particularly smart TVs, FireSticks, Roku devices, and Chromecast.

Open the settings menu on your smart TV, locate your apps, then specifically locate Netflix. From here, you should be able to delete the cache, the entire app, or be more selective, depending on the platform.

3. Disable Plugins or Close Other Apps

Plugins (customizable software additions or extensions) running in the background are sometimes troublesome when you’re doing specific things, such as streaming content on a web browser. On smartphones, other apps that are open and running in the background have the potential to do the same thing.

While there’s no way of knowing if plugins or background apps are actively causing the problem on your Netflix app, you accomplish two things by closing them. The first is that you save more battery. The more apps you’re running, the more resources you’re chewing up. Of course, this doesn’t apply on a PC.

However, the second part does, which is the potential for the plugins or background apps to be disruptive to your streaming experience. The solution is simple enough. On iOS and Android devices, simply close out the other background apps while you’re watching Netflix.

On a PC or Mac, stop the plugin extensions within the browser. Stopping them shouldn’t hurt anything; you can always access them when needed.

iOS

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and to the right (upside down L)
2. You’ll see a card stack format, with each card representing an open app
3. Go through the cards, swiping each one up and off the screen to close it completely
4. Do this for all open apps you aren’t currently using, except Netflix

Android

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and stop in the middle, holding the screen
2. Let go of the screen when the card stack pops up
3. Like on iOS devices, swipe up and away each app you want to close
4. Be careful not to swipe away Netflix accidentally

PCs and Macs

There’s no bullet point list here because so many browsers and plugins exist. Writing a point-by-point instruction would probably put you to sleep. That said, every browser has plugins, which are usually accessible at the top right-hand corner of the screen.

The symbols are different, depending on the browser, but they are typically very tiny and within a separate tab at the top of the screen. For instance, Opera uses a cube symbol at the top, right of the screen. If you click on it, a drop-down menu will provide you with some options.

These include managing extensions and removing them altogether. Unpinning them will not make the extension stop working or effectively remove it. It only makes it more difficult to access.

4. Update Your Netflix App, Smart Device, or Browser

With almost no exception, software developed for consumers requires periodic updates. That goes for your browser, the apps on your smart device or smart TV, and the apps on your iOS or Android device.

For the most part, we have these things defaulted to automatic updates, but It’s not always so and the automated process can be turned off.

iOS

1. Open the App Store
2. Type “Netflix” in the search bar
3. When Netflix pops up, there will be an update tab next to it if it requires one
4. Tap the update tab

Android

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Type “Netflix” in the search bar
3. Tap the update tab if it pops up next to the app

As far as PCs, Macs, smart TVs and smart devices are concerned, updating individual apps is different from device to device. However, for the most part, updating the browser or app is fairly simple. With smart TVs and devices, it’s usually a matter of going into the Settings menu, locating the app, and updating it.

5. Restart Your Device

We left the simplest solution for last. Simply turn off your device, give it a few minutes, and turn it back, on when you’re ready. Restarting a device usually clears up the simplest of issues.

And, honestly, a status bar that won’t go away is a fairly simple issue, especially when stacked up against a network-crippling virus, or something along those lines.

Restarts have been effective since the day the first computers hit the store shelves, and it works across all devices that allow you to stream content.

Try it with your FireStick, Roku, Chromecast, iOS device, Android, smart TV, PC, or Mac. Just make sure you give it a few minutes before you power it back up.

Final Thoughts

There are worse things in the world, but it’s definitely aggravating when the status bar refuses to vacate the screen. However, the above five options should do the trick regardless of what platform you’re enjoying Netflix on.

Besides, movies and shows are so much better when you’re truly immersed and invested in the story, a difficult thing when you simply can’t take your eyes off that silly status bar.