How to Remove Continue Watching on Netflix on Smart Tv

Struggling with unwanted shows cluttering your Netflix Continue Watching row on your Smart TV? This guide walks you through simple, device-specific steps to clear or hide titles so you can enjoy a cleaner, more personalized viewing experience.

Key Takeaways

You can’t permanently delete the Continue Watching row, but you can remove individual titles or hide entire rows using Netflix’s built-in tools.
Removal methods vary by Smart TV brand—Samsung, LG, Sony, and others each have slightly different interfaces and options.
Use the Netflix website or mobile app to manage your viewing activity if your TV remote lacks navigation flexibility.
Hiding a title stops it from appearing in recommendations and prevents it from auto-playing previews.
Clearing viewing history resets suggestions, giving you a fresh start with tailored content.
Parental controls can limit what appears in Continue Watching for child profiles.
Regular maintenance keeps your feed clean—review and remove unwanted entries weekly.

Introduction: Why Bother Removing Continue Watching on Netflix?

You’re settling in for a cozy movie night, grab the remote, open Netflix on your Smart TV—and there it is: that dreaded “Continue Watching” row filled with shows you barely started, guilty-pleasure binges you’d rather forget, or kids’ cartoons that somehow took over your profile. It’s distracting, cluttered, and honestly a little embarrassing when guests are over.

The good news? You don’t have to live with it. While Netflix doesn’t let you delete the entire “Continue Watching” section (it’s a core part of their interface), you can remove individual titles, hide them from view, or even clear your entire viewing history to reset your recommendations. And the best part? It’s easier than you think—whether you’re using a Samsung, LG, Sony, or another Smart TV brand.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through every method to clean up your Netflix Continue Watching row on your Smart TV. From quick remote tricks to using your phone or computer for more control, we’ve got you covered. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to keep your Netflix feed fresh, relevant, and free of unwanted distractions.

Understanding How Continue Watching Works on Netflix

Before diving into removal steps, it helps to understand why titles appear in “Continue Watching” in the first place. Netflix uses an algorithm that tracks your viewing behavior—how long you watched, whether you paused, skipped intros, or abandoned a show after one episode. If you’ve watched more than two minutes of a title, Netflix assumes you’re interested and adds it to your Continue Watching row.

Visual guide about How to Remove Continue Watching on Netflix on Smart Tv

Image source: beebom.com

This feature is designed to help users pick up where they left off, but it can quickly become cluttered. Maybe you started a documentary out of curiosity but lost interest, or your kid watched five minutes of a cartoon before switching to YouTube. Now that title sits there, taking up space and influencing your recommendations.

Important to note: Netflix does not allow users to disable the Continue Watching row entirely. It’s a core part of the user experience across all devices. However, you can remove individual titles or hide them so they no longer appear—even on your Smart TV.

Method 1: Remove Titles Directly from Your Smart TV (Brand-Specific Guide)

The most straightforward way to remove a title from Continue Watching is to do it directly on your Smart TV using the Netflix app. However, the exact steps vary slightly depending on your TV manufacturer. Below, we break it down by the most popular Smart TV brands.

Samsung Smart TVs

Samsung TVs running Tizen OS (most models from 2015 onward) offer a relatively user-friendly Netflix interface. Here’s how to remove a title:

Open the Netflix app on your Samsung TV.
Navigate to the “Continue Watching” row using your remote.
Highlight the title you want to remove.
Press and hold the Enter/Select button on your remote for about 2–3 seconds.
A menu will appear. Select “Remove from Continue Watching”.
Confirm your choice when prompted.

Tip: If the menu doesn’t appear, try pressing the Options button (often labeled with three dots or a gear icon) instead of holding Enter.

LG Smart TVs (webOS)

LG’s webOS platform powers most of their Smart TVs, and the Netflix app integrates well with it. Follow these steps:

Launch Netflix from your LG home screen.
Use the Magic Remote to hover over the unwanted title in the Continue Watching row.
Press the Up arrow on the remote to reveal a toolbar.
Select the “Remove” icon (usually a trash can or “X”).
Confirm the removal.

Note: On older LG models, you may need to press the Options button (three horizontal lines) instead of the Up arrow.

Sony Bravia Smart TVs

Sony TVs typically run Android TV or Google TV, which have slightly different navigation. Here’s what to do:

Open Netflix on your Sony TV.
Navigate to the Continue Watching row.
Highlight the title you want to remove.
Press and hold the OK button on your remote.
Select “Remove from Continue Watching” from the pop-up menu.
Confirm your selection.

Tip: If holding OK doesn’t work, try pressing the Menu button (often labeled with three dots) instead.

Vizio SmartCast TVs

Vizio TVs use SmartCast, which supports the Netflix app via built-in Chromecast or the Vizio SmartCast app. The process is similar:

Open Netflix through SmartCast.
Go to the Continue Watching row.
Highlight the title.
Press and hold the OK or Select button.
Choose “Remove” from the menu.
Confirm.

Note: Some older Vizio models may not support in-app removal. In that case, use the web or mobile method below.

Other Brands (TCL, Hisense, Philips, etc.)

Many budget Smart TVs run Roku, Android TV, or proprietary systems. The general process remains the same:

Open Netflix.
Navigate to Continue Watching.
Highlight the title.
Press and hold OK/Select or press the Options button.
Look for a “Remove” or “Hide” option.
Confirm.

If you don’t see a remove option, your TV’s Netflix app may be outdated. Check for app updates in your TV’s app store.

Method 2: Use the Netflix Website for More Control

Sometimes, your Smart TV remote just isn’t cutting it—especially if the menu options are buried or unresponsive. That’s where the Netflix website comes in handy. You can manage your viewing activity from any computer or smartphone, and changes sync instantly across all devices, including your Smart TV.

Step-by-Step: Remove Titles via Netflix.com

Open a web browser and go to netflix.com.
Sign in to your account.
Hover over your profile icon in the top-right corner and select “Account”.
Under the “Profile & Parental Controls” section, click on the profile you want to manage.
Scroll down to “Viewing activity” and click it.
You’ll see a list of everything you’ve watched, including titles in Continue Watching.
Find the title you want to remove and click the “Hide” icon (a small eye with a line through it).
The title will disappear from Continue Watching and won’t influence your recommendations.

Pro Tip: You can hide multiple titles at once. Just scroll through the list and click “Hide” on each one. This is especially useful after a binge-watching session you’d rather forget.

Why Use the Website?

More reliable: No remote quirks or laggy menus.
Full history access: See everything you’ve watched, not just what’s on your TV.
Bulk actions: Hide multiple titles quickly.
Works on any device: Use your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Method 3: Use the Netflix Mobile App

If you don’t have a computer handy, the Netflix mobile app (iOS or Android) offers the same viewing activity controls as the website. It’s perfect for quick cleanups on the go.

How to Remove Titles via the Mobile App

Open the Netflix app on your phone or tablet.
Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
Tap “Account” (this opens your account page in a browser within the app).
Scroll to “Profile & Parental Controls” and select your profile.
Tap “Viewing activity”.
Find the title you want to remove and tap the “Hide” icon next to it.
The change will sync to your Smart TV within minutes.

Note: The mobile app doesn’t let you remove titles directly from the Continue Watching row on your phone—only through the Account > Viewing Activity section.

Method 4: Clear Your Entire Viewing History

Got a lot of clutter? Instead of removing titles one by one, you can reset your entire viewing history. This clears all Continue Watching entries and gives Netflix a fresh start with your recommendations.

How to Clear Viewing History

Go to netflix.com and sign in.
Click your profile icon and select “Account”.
Under “Profile & Parental Controls”, choose your profile.
Click “Viewing activity”.
At the bottom of the page, click “Clear all viewing activity”.
Confirm when prompted.

Important: This action is irreversible. Once cleared, Netflix will no longer use your past viewing data to suggest content. It may take a few days for new recommendations to appear based on your fresh activity.

Method 5: Use Parental Controls to Limit Continue Watching

If you share your Netflix account with kids, you might want to prevent certain titles from appearing in Continue Watching—especially if they’re not age-appropriate. Netflix’s parental controls can help.

Set Up a Kids Profile

Go to your Netflix Account page.
Under “Profile & Parental Controls”, click “Add Profile”.
Select “For Kids” and customize the content maturity level.
Only titles appropriate for that level will appear in Continue Watching for that profile.

Restrict Content on Adult Profiles

In your main profile’s settings, set a maturity lock.
Choose the maximum maturity level (e.g., “Teen” or “Adult”).
Enter a PIN to prevent changes.
This limits what can be watched—and thus what appears in Continue Watching.

Bonus: You can also disable autoplay previews in profile settings, which reduces visual clutter on your home screen.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with clear instructions, things don’t always go smoothly. Here are solutions to the most common problems users face when trying to remove Continue Watching titles on Smart TVs.

“I Can’t Find the Remove Option on My TV”

This usually happens on older TV models or outdated Netflix apps. Try these fixes:

Update the Netflix app: Go to your TV’s app store and check for updates.
Restart your TV: Power it off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.
Use the website or app: If the TV interface is buggy, manage your activity online instead.

“The Title Keeps Coming Back”

If a removed title reappears, it’s likely because someone (or something) started watching it again—even for a few seconds. Check for:

Autoplay features: Disable autoplay in your profile settings.
Shared profiles: Make sure other users aren’t restarting the show.
Kids accidentally pressing play: Use a PIN to lock playback.

“My Remote Doesn’t Have an Options Button”

Some basic remotes only have directional arrows and OK. In that case:

Try pressing and holding the OK button for 2–3 seconds.
If that doesn’t work, use the Netflix website or mobile app method.
Consider upgrading to a universal remote with more buttons.

“Changes Aren’t Syncing to My TV”

Netflix syncs across devices, but sometimes there’s a delay. Try:

Force-closing and reopening the Netflix app on your TV.
Signing out and back into your Netflix account on the TV.
Waiting 10–15 minutes—changes can take time to propagate.

Pro Tips for a Cleaner Netflix Experience

Removing unwanted titles is just the first step. Keep your Continue Watching row fresh with these smart habits:

Review Weekly

Set a reminder every Sunday to check your Continue Watching row. Remove anything you’re not genuinely interested in. This prevents clutter from building up.

Use Multiple Profiles

If you share your account, create separate profiles for each person. That way, your Continue Watching row only shows content you’ve watched—not your partner’s true crime obsession or your teen’s anime phase.

Disable Autoplay Previews

Those auto-playing trailers can be distracting—and they sometimes trigger Continue Watching entries. Turn them off in your profile settings under “Playback settings.”

Hide Instead of Delete

Remember: You can’t delete titles from Netflix’s servers, but you can hide them from your view. Use the “Hide” feature liberally—it’s the closest thing to deletion.

Reset After Binges

After a weekend-long series marathon, clear your viewing history to reset your recommendations. This helps Netflix learn your real preferences instead of just suggesting the same genre over and over.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Netflix Feed

Your Netflix Continue Watching row should work for you—not against you. Whether you’re tidying up after a guilty binge, keeping your profile kid-friendly, or just craving a cleaner interface, you now have all the tools to manage it effectively.

From using your Smart TV remote to leveraging the Netflix website or mobile app, removing unwanted titles is simple once you know the steps. And with regular maintenance, you can keep your feed relevant, personalized, and free of distractions.

So go ahead—grab that remote, open Netflix, and start curating your perfect viewing experience. Your future self (and your guests) will thank you.