Citing "technical limitations," Netflix has removed native support for Apple's AirPlay.
It's far from an explanation, and it's a vague reason at best, but the company has now elaborated on why it dropped support.
Netflix No Longer Supports AirPlay
As reported by The Verge, Netflix is pulling the plug because Apple is partnering up with other TV brands for AirPlay 2, and as a result, there won't be any digital identifiers on AirPlay 2 that'll let the company distinguish those devices.
"With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn't a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV vs. what isn't) or certify these experiences," Netflix said, explaining that this move was to "ensure our standard quality of viewing is being met."
As Mac Rumors points out, Netflix updated its official support page regarding using a mobile device to watch on a TV.
"Airplay is no longer supported for use with Netflix due to technical limitations," it now reads under "iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch."
It should be noted that users can still open Netflix through the official app on Apple TV and other devices.
What This Means For Users
AirPlay has always been a handy feature to have around because it let users cast videos, photos, and music to other supported devices such as Apple TV and smart speakers at a tap of a button. In other words, Netflix subscribers could stream their movies and shows in a snap because of AirPlay. However, now that it's going away, they're losing a convenient way to get their Netflix fix.
It's unclear whether Netflix could bring AirPlay support back in the foreseeable future or not, but at any rate, the "technical limitations" here aren't exactly clear in that they aren't referring to issues with functionality but rather that the company just can't make sure the viewing experience of its users are on par with its standards anymore.
