#Scener netflix for mac how to

You have to use the control+up (Mac) or alt+tab (Windows) view to manually drag the chat window into the fullscreen playback window, or else you'll just be stuck watching a video with no chat to read. The only other major usability difference between the two apps is that Netflix Party lets you go fullscreen without any trouble, while Scener makes it marginally more difficult. It's a little weird, but in practice, Scener's pretty easy to figure out.

That is, once everyone manually hits play after the host hits play. Whoever is in control can freely browse Netflix, HBO, or Disney+, but once playback starts, it'll automatically sync up for everyone. Only one user can be in control at a time, as signaled by a small remote icon in the chat window. Similar to its Netflix counterpart, the easiest way to spread Scener around is with a URL to send to your friends.Īssuming everyone gets in the room with the extension installed, they'll have the option to turn on their mics and cameras, or just text in chat. Click the Scener extension icon in the upper right to open the app in two separate Chrome windows, one for playback and one for chat. Unlike Netflix Party, you can get a room going at any time. Like Netflix Party, everyone needs to have the Chrome extension installed. It's relatively bare-bones, but putting together a watch party and getting all of your friends in the chat only takes a few minutes. Once you exit playback, the chat window closes and people can only re-convene when a new party has started. That's pretty much it! You can't really browse Netflix while engaged in a Netflix Party. Scener lets you browse around before you start playback. By default, everyone can pause or play whenever they want, but the person who starts the party can choose to be the only one in control, if they so desire. As soon as they do, a chat bar will pop up on the right side of the screen and everyone's video will sync up. Then, pause the content before it starts in earnest, click on the red 'NP' icon in the upper-right corner of your browser window, and send the link to your friends.Ĭlicking on that link will take your friends to the Netflix Party room, where they'll need to click the Netflix Party icon in the upper right. Once that's taken care of, figure out what you want to watch on Netflix and click through to the point where you're actually on that show or movie's watch page. Also, everyone involved needs to also have a working Netflix login. The first thing you have to do is make sure you and everyone else you plan to watch Netflix with has the Chrome extension installed. Netflix Party is strikingly simple to set up. Got everything installed? Good! The setup processes for both apps are slightly different, but not too difficult to understand.

#Scener netflix for mac how to

Related Video: Here's how to watch Netflix with friends while social distancing It's tough to watch Netflix without a Netflix account. Lastly, it should go without saying that you need login credentials for Netflix or HBO, depending on which app you're using. You'll want to familiarize yourself with this setup because clicking those icons is an important part of using both apps. If you're not familiar with Chrome extensions, any that you have installed will show up in the upper-right corner of your browser window, to the left of the icon denoting which user is logged in at the moment. Scener can be downloaded here and Netflix Party here. That means no watching on your smart TV, gaming console, smartphone, or streaming device. Both of these services are Chrome extensions right now, and that's the only way to use them. How do I get this 'party' started?įirst, you'll need a laptop or desktop computer with Google Chrome installed. So, which one is better for a watch party? That's not a question with an easy or straightforward answer, but that's why we're going to break down how Netflix Party and Scener stack up in the group streaming game. Across the arena, stands Scener, an app with an official HBO partnership, more versatility, but also a little bit more of a setup hassle. Its breezy setup and self-explanatory name make it an appealing option for anyone who just wants to watch The Office with their friends, at least until that show leaves Netflix. Scener and Netflix Party are two of the most recognizable group streaming video apps, but it can be tough to know which is best for your social distancing needs. Group streaming is a massive priority right now, with plenty of folks still stuck at home for the time being.