Netflix only available in H264

optimus.prime2026

Hi,

I am downloading Cobra Kai and The Crown, but it defaults them to H264. I’ve tried other series and movies, but it’s always H264. I have selected H264 under settings for Netflix and double check before download.

Is this a bug or a change with Netflix?

I am based in the UK and I subscribed for the basic package (HD with ads).

Stan001

I think it was talked about at least once before; Netflix, for some reason or another, almost completely eliminated H265, ~~except for the RED NETFLIX titles.~~
I did check via USA, Cobra Kai, and I get H264, VP9, and AV1.
I prefer AV1 and have been using that for a long time.
So try it and see or stick with H264.

ADDED: In fact now I checked a few RED NETFLIX movies, and there’s no H265 there either.

Germania

Stan001 Netflix, for some reason or another, almost completely eliminated H265

I wrote in June 2025 (here)

Apparently, H265 is usually (or always) no longer offered for
new releases - it’s obsolete since AV1 is offered as HDR10

But “Cobra Kai” is not offered in H265

Germania

MrGrackle Has anyone looked at Cobra Kai with 7014? OP? Is h265 offered with the 4K plan only?

Germania But “Cobra Kai” is not offered in H265

Why do you think that the offer changed with 7014 ? and yes I tested with Premium plan

Stan001

I wrote in June 2025 (here)

I just don’t have the memory anymore. I know something was talked about.
I make out fine, as I said, using AV1, and that seems to be the fix, unless people are ok with H264.
I got H.264, VP9, and AV1 for Cobra Kai.
But it was also stated VP9 is unreliable on Netflix now as well.
So it’s either H264 or AV1.

simchris

We moved to only using the AV1 if available as it works.

anecdotal:
AV1 is a superior, open-source, and royalty-free codec, offering roughly 30% better compression efficiency than H.265 (HEVC), making it ideal for streaming high-definition (4K/8K) content at lower bitrates. While H.265 is more mature, faster to encode, and widely supported on older hardware, AV1 provides better visual quality

fanatic

AV1 is the way to go. smallest file sizes and such smooth streaming. All of my files are either H265 or AV1 unless only H264 is only available.

TheRaven

Only problem is I can’t play AV1 on my Nvidia Shields 🙁

Stan001

TheRaven

All then that can be suggested is look for Nvidia Shield support to see if there is a resolution.
I did a brief Google search playing av1 on Nvidia Shield. Kodi and Jellyfin came up, good chance Plex also would work.
Check with Nvidia Shield support forums and via reddit. (https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+play+av1+on+nvidia+shield)

And I guess my question is if users access Netfix app on Nvidia Shield does it just then always default to H264?
Also seems to me Nvidia should be reevaluated, as av1 has been around long enough every platform or player should have support for it. Most youtube videos use av1. But most also seem to offer H264 or vp9.

TheRaven

Stan001
I never considered using AV1 until I read this thread about Netflix, so I grabbed a Netflix AV1 file and it would not play on Plex using my shield. FYI, Plex is set to not transcode. It might work if I transcode, but my servers are old and slow. I found a recent article online about Nvidia updates or new models in the future. It said that it would not be possible to update existing shields to play AV1 for some technical reason. And there is no new model on the horizon, at least that is public. My library is a mostly H264 with some H265, usually just for 4K. And the few things I get from Youtube I get vp8 4K. I just started getting some Netflix in H265 only because it is HDR. This is not a big deal so I am just going to wait to see if it becomes an issue.

But thanks for responding.

Stan001

TheRaven But thanks for responding

your welcome. Something will come along there where many posts coming up with the Google search of other disappointed Nvidia Shield users. And yeah with my knowledge of Plex it most likely will be transcoding it. I don’t know as much about jellyfin or how they handle avi to Nvidia Sheild, but sometime might be worth looking into, and Kodi as well.
I have them all installed on my PC along with Plex to see maybe I can make use of one or all if them, i tend to favor Plex. Kodi’s down fall for me is there is no app for Roku.
At least Plex and Jellfin do, and Jellyfin is growing fast because it’s no charge with free open source.
And has support as well. Kodi was free last i checked as well.

Stan001

Lately I have been accused of locking topics too much, so I will leave this open, but the consensus is only H.264 and AV1 are available for Netflix.
You might find videos in VP9 as well on Netflix. If you do find H.265, it’s a very rare thing, as stated here > https://forum.dvdfab.cn/d/463696-setting-h265-dv-offer-no-fallback-error-210/4

0xFeedBeef

weren’t there a bunch of cases brought by some patent troll against vendors who use H.265 recently?

Stan001

0xFeedBeef weren’t there a bunch of cases brought by some patent troll against vendors who use H.265 recently?

I don’t know; I doubt Netflix will admit it; They say AV1 is much more efficient.
AV1 works for most, but as one user pointed out, there are outdated devices that have issues playing AV1.

Germania

Apparently, H265 is usually (or always) no longer offered for
new releases - it’s obsolete since AV1 is offered as HDR10

I will also depend on each user’s needs and the number of files. They can use Handbrake, and batch convert to H.265 or H.265 10 bit. It does it very fast, but it can become tedious. Or use Plex, Jellyfin, or Kodi to watch them, and there are also other options, too many for this community to support.

MrGrackle

Stan001 I don’t know; I doubt Netflix will admit it; They say AV1 is much more efficient.
AV1 works for most, but as one user pointed out, there are outdated devices that have issues playing AV1.

Unless your device was made in the last 1-3 years or so, it won’t touch AV1. So all these devices that are now forced to play h264 means more bandwidth will probably be used.

This just makes no sense.

Has anyone looked at Cobra Kai with 7014? OP? Is h265 offered with the 4K plan only?

Can I hope to assume if I prefer Dolby Vision that is still offers h265? They did not offer that in AV1 before. Unless they too now offer DV in AV1?

fanatic

MrGrackle Unless your device was made in the last 1-3 years or so, it won’t touch AV1. So all these devices that are now forced to play h264 means more bandwidth will probably be used

That’s not true. I bought my NVidia Shield back in 2016 and it plays all av1 files perfectly.I use jellyfin to play them. VLC works as well as plex.

MrGrackle

fanatic That’s not true. I bought my NVidia Shield back in 2016 and it plays all av1 files perfectly.I use jellyfin to play them. VLC works as well as plex.

Mixed results myself with Nvidia Shield. Stuttering sometimes.
But will it pull AV1 from streaming services?

Cats4U

fanatic

A Shield bought in 2016 is a 2015 Shield. Neither the 2015 nor the 2017 model Nvidia Shield (nor even the 2019 Pro model) supports hardware decoding for AV1. Jellyfin is transcoding AV1 to either H.264 or H.265. The 2015/2017 Shield will also not play H.265 Dolby Vision files. H.265 HDR10 files can be played on a Shield.

There has been some talk recently from Nvidia that they are possibly working on a new Shield model that can handle all the currently used video files.
Phandroid

fanatic

Cats4U A Shield bought in 2016 is a 2015 Shield. Neither the 2015 nor the 2017 model Nvidia Shield (nor even the 2019 Pro model) supports hardware decoding for AV1. Jellyfin is transcoding AV1 to either H.264 or H.265. The 2015/2017 Shield will also not play H.265 Dolby Vision files. H.265 HDR10 files can be played on a Shield.

That’s correct. I totally forgot to add that the files were transcoded.

Jewelcat2023

I appreciate the time people are taking to help people like me understand the technical functioning of the app , I think everything was working for me in 7.0.1.3 and then I saw that there were problems with the current update.I am going to wait for next update before i try downloading anything from netflix again.