In this article, you are going to learn how to Natively Watch Netflix on the Raspberry Pi 3. The Raspberry Pi is an amazingly affordable device which can achieve so much. A great way to use a Raspberry Pi is as a low cost media center or streaming device. Software like Kodi and Plex can transform the $35 Raspberry Pi into a very powerful media box.
If you really enjoy this article, consider checking out my TechWizTime YouTube Channel. And for an awesome source of Raspberry Pi Accessories, check out my Raspberry Pi Amazon List. With that said, let’s get the Netflix on Raspberry Pi tutorial started!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
- Raspberry Pi 3 (preferably), 2 or 1
- 8GB MicroSD Card
- Keyboard and Mouse
- Etcher
- VPN for Netflix from other regions 🙂
Getting Netflix on the Raspberry Pi 3
Before we get started, you will need to have installed Raspbian Pixel on your Raspbery Pi. You can write the Raspbian image using the tool Etecher. Once you have done that, we need to boot the Raspberry Pi into Raspbian.
Along the top taskbar, you need to click on the Terminal icon (the black icon with the >_ symbol). Now that the terminal is open we need to type in the following command.
wget https://github.com/kusti8/chromium-build/releases/download/netflix-1.0.0/chromium-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb
This will start downloading the custom compiled Chromium browser that includes the Widevine DRM. Widevine is required to make Netflix work but is missing from the standard Raspberry Pi Chromium that’s installed by default. The next thing we need to do is install the downloaded package.
sudo dpkg -i chromium-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb
This should only take a few moments to install. Lastly, we need to reboot the Raspberry Pi, so go to the Raspberry menu and choose Shutdown. Here you just need to choose the Restart option. Please Note: In some circumstances, you may need to reboot up to three times before Netflix works.
Enjoy Netflix on your Raspberry Pi 3
To launch Netflix on the Raspberry Pi, go to the Raspberry menu and under the Internet menu, you need to choose Netflix Launcher. This will automatically start the new pre-compiled Chromium and start at the Netflix page. Make sure you put in your Netflix username and password and you are done!
Raspberry Pi Netflix Completed!
Congratulations, you’ve just installed Netflix on the Raspberry Pi 3. You won’t have to stream from another PC or run any x86 emulation software.
Were you able to get Netflix running? Did you have any problems during the tutorial? Then leave a comment below.
Hi, I tried on my Pi 3 but after the second step I’ve get the following
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo dpkg -i chromium-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb
(Reading database … 133588 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack chromium-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb …
Unpacking chromium-browser (56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011) over (56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011) …
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of chromium-browser:
chromium-browser depends on libxcb-image0; however:
Package libxcb-image0 is not installed.
dpkg: error processing package chromium-browser (–install):
dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.13-1) …
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.0.2-5) …
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-6) …
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.22-1) …
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.58) …
Errors were encountered while processing:
chromium-browser
pi@raspberrypi:~ $
And Netflix Launcher never opnened.
I’ve looked into the issue and created an installer script that will take care of most issues should they arise. If you are experiencing issues, try this but be aware it does remove CHROMIUM so you may loose settings, bookmarks, history etc.
https://github.com/TechWizTime/chromium-build
Instructions are on the GitHub page.
I couldn’t understand why but after these… it sudenly works!
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt-get purge chromium
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Package ‘chromium’ is not installed, so not removed
You might want to run ‘apt-get -f install’ to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
chromium-browser : Depends: libxcb-image0 but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try ‘apt-get -f install’ with no packages (or specify a solution).
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ apt-get -f install
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock – open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sufo apt-get -f install
bash: sufo: command not found
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt-get -f install
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Correcting dependencies… Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
libxcb-image0
The following NEW packages will be installed:
libxcb-image0
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 11 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 23.1 kB of archives.
After this operation, 32.8 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
Get:1 http://mirrordirector.raspbian.org/raspbian/ jessie/main libxcb-image0 armhf 0.4.0-1 [23.1 kB]
Fetched 23.1 kB in 2s (8,785 B/s)
Selecting previously unselected package libxcb-image0:armhf.
(Reading database … 133588 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack …/libxcb-image0_0.4.0-1_armhf.deb …
Unpacking libxcb-image0:armhf (0.4.0-1) …
Setting up libxcb-image0:armhf (0.4.0-1) …
Setting up chromium-browser (56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011) …
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.19-18+deb8u9) …
pi@raspberrypi:~ $
I’m going to give this a shot myself and see if I can simplify it for other users. Thanks for letting me know!!
Nice article. I had the same issue with the dependency. Purge and -f install fixed it.
“sufo” Classic Gaston 🙂
With you and Jonathan, they helped me to finish with days of trial and error. Finally I have netflix. Thank you very much, and sorry for my english, I wanted to let you know. Greetings from Argentina.
managed to get this going but the frame rates are so bad it is hardly worth it! Is there a way to improve this or do I need to try again?
Check out my Top 10 Tips for Better Performance in Netflix on the Raspberry Pi here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkmFJ17oCdw
does the netflix can watch on 1080P
It’s the same for me. Bad quality and bad framerate. That goes for youtube as well, so I guess it’s something to do with the operating system and graphic acceleration. My guess is that it’s this bad for everyone. It’s frustrating that it’s like that when something like OSMC on a raspberry pi plays without hitch. Netflix sucks for not creating their own kodi addon.
Went through the above steps. Have rebooted the device multiple times, but no Netflix Launcher is appearing under the Internet category. I’m rather disappointed, because these are the clearest instructions I’ve seen to date for newbie non-tech people like me. I just want to be able to watch Netflix in the bedroom along with playing some awesome old-school games 🙁
For 99% of people, this method works 🙂 In your case, there’s a few things you could try. Firstly, from terminal, I would try
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgradeThen, if you don’t mind losing all your bookmarks in Chromium (and settings), try using this script that I created https://github.com/TechWizTime/chromium-build
That might get you up and running with any luck 🙂
4.5
5
Hi. I get error M7121-1331-P7.
Work very well, with out any issues. Thanks!
Everything installed like a charm, but I also get the Netflix streaming error “M7121-1331-P7” whenever I open a video to watch. It seems like it’s loading for some time, but then gives this error 🙁
same here….
I managed to run netflix, however I cannot run it in fullscreen mode even increasing the GPU, youtube works perfectly even in 1080p after GPU memory increase.
Hi, 1080p full screen tv. It does not work properly, it does not work fluid. The resolution in full screen decreases. Any idea?
0.5
Any luck guys?
Hi thanks for the excellent write up. I am not very tech savvy especially when it comes to Linux but was able to get Netflix running on my Pi 3. I am curious if the chromium build has a limitation of only using a single thread or if it is something I have done or not done? I see choppy but watchable playback and only 50% CPU use.
Hello,
I tried to use these instructions for Amazon Video but they didn’t work. Let me know if they should be or if you plan to create separate instructions for that in the future!
It would be great if you could tell us how you recompiled Chromium.
Where did you get the source?
What alterations did you make?
what did you use to do the recompile?
I’m getting the same error. I looked it up on the NetFlix site, but nothing specific to act on that I could find.
So I’ve had the native Netflix Chromium for some time now and it’s worked just fine. The other night, I used it to stream from a different website (legal website), and it had some pretty horrific audio sync issues. Now Netflix is experiencing the same issues. I’m running upgrade, but are there any known issues that could cause this or any fixes you’re aware of (in case basic upgrade doesn’t work)?
Hi! i like to use the netflix browser in kodi or in retro pi. it can possible?
The first command does not work. When I type it, there are always this lines:
–2017-11-20 01:14:32– https://github.com/kusti8/chromium-build/releases/download/netflix-1.0.0/chromium-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb
Auflösen des Hostnamens »github.com (github.com)« … 192.30.253.113, 192.30.253.112
Verbindungsaufbau zu github.com (github.com)|192.30.253.113|:443 … fehlgeschlagen: Die Wartezeit für die Verbindung ist abgelaufen.
Verbindungsaufbau zu github.com (github.com)|192.30.253.112|:443 … fehlgeschlagen: Die Wartezeit für die Verbindung ist abgelaufen.
Erneuter Versuch.
And it tries again and again till 20. step.
Sorry, I know it is in german, I hope you can understand it.
And in Download there is a document named chromium-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb
add:
which is zipped.
It is not possible to open
Pingback: Install chromium to watch Netflix (in progress) – chenseya
I get picture but no audio. Any ideas?
the third step doesnt work, it says:
pi@LEXX:~ $ sudo dpkg -i chrom-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb
dpkg: Fehler: Auf das Archiv »chrom-browser_56.0.2924.84-0ubuntu0.14.04.1.1011.deb« kann nicht zugegriffen werden: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
Hi,
Thank you for the valuable Article. keep up the good Job.
Does this method works with OSMC as well? I have tried following the setups but in the last installation step I get below error messages, Any idea why?
dpkg: error processing package chromium-browser (–install):
dependency problems – leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60) …
Errors were encountered while processing:
chromium-browser
Thank you!
The install worked a treat for me – I followed the instructions and now I’m into Netflix.
I’ve got the Pi in a ‘dark cupboard’ with HDMI output hooked up to my projector and big screen in a separate room. Next challenges are to get rid of the lightning flash (shouldn’t be too hard) and get a remote touch screen working. Managing the Pi with VNC from a PC isn’t the most convenient thing, but at least it’s all up and running!
Thanks a lot 🙂
Update – I’ve got rid of the lightning flash. Not all USB cables are created equal! I went through my stock till I found one that delivered enough current to the Pi. And RealVNC’s viewer app from Google Play is working just fine on my Android phone as a remote for the Pi.
Issues – just a couple of annoyances, really:
1. – on selecting the Netflix Launcher I get a Chromium “Profile error occurred” pop-up that says “Your profile cannot be used because it is from a newer version of Chromium”
2. – After getting rid of the pop up, Chromium is open at the Netflix tab, but with a message that says “Restore pages? Chromium didn’t shut down correctly”. And I did close Chromium by clicking the “X” at top right before powering down the Pi.
3. – Chromium opens windowed, rather than full screen. It was full screen when I closed it.
Is it possible to get rid of these messages so that the Pi just opens in Netflix without having to do extra clicks?
But it’s a shame that the Pi can’t keep up with the Netflix frame rate. Videos and films are somewhat jerky. So while it’s been fun and good learning experience getting this far, the Pi will be a fallback Netflix player; the smart TV will remain the first choice.
Overall, great work Dereck Frost 🙂
Can you also make a guide on how to watch amazon prime videos natively on raspbian?
The problem with amazon’s primevideo.com is that it needs the latest versions of Firefox or chrome browsers which are not suitable with raspbian.