The INSIDER Summary:Netflix doesn't always play the highest quality video possible.HittingControl+Alt+Shift+S allows you to bring up a menu that can override the quality settings.Netflix has a few other hidden menu settings available for power users.Video streaming has been around roughly since the start of the internet, but it rarely goes well. The experience of watching videos on YouTube and elsewhere on the webis a grab bag of incompatible plugins, weird cropping, and choppy consistency.One of the great technological innovations of Netflix is just howsmooth its video streaming technology is. Video files are huge and internet speeds never seem to be fast enough, so it's astonishing how Netflix offers such a stable platform for streaming video inso many different places, from smartphones to smart TVs.One wayNetflix ensures smooth streaming is by toggling its video quality based on how much bandwidth your internet connection has. If you have a fast internet connection with a lot of bandwidth, Netflix will serve you sterling HD video. If your connection isn't as strong, it'll downgrade the resolution of the video.This can be frustrating.Filmmakers and producers put in countless hours into their work, and that work deservesto be seen at the highest quality possible. In many cases, even with a slow connection, it makes sense to wait for a high quality video to load rather than playit immediately in low quality. You can directNetflix to play videos in higher qualityin the Account Settings, but it still won't always serve you the best possible video.Luckily, there's a secret menu on Netflix, as noted by a Redditor, that will let you change the video streaming quality. Since discovering it, it's changed the way I watch stuff on Netflix. I always opt for the better experience of higher quality streaming.If you're on a computer, hitControl+Alt+Shift+S to bring up the menu. Some users have also reported it working with a keyboard-connected gaming console or smart TV, but your mileage may vary.It'll be superimposed on top of the video, like this:From here, you can select theaudio and video bitrates, then hit "Override." Higher bitrates are higher quality. Selecting multiple bitrates allows Netflix to choose from those specific different options depending on your internet speed.(The "CDN" part of the menu refers to how your computer is connecting to Netflix's servers. You can just ignore it.)It makes a huge difference. As an example, I tooka shot from "Twin Peaks" streamed with a180 bitrate and compared it to the same momentwith a bitrate of2260.Here's the 180 bitrate shot. Both character's facial features are ill-defined, and the image looks fuzzy.Now here's the 2260 bitrate version. Take a close look. The colors are less muddled,it's easier to see how Cooper's brow is furrowed, and Sheriff Truman's hair is better defined.If you don't think they look very different, think about looking at those images for hours and hours, which is how you actually watch Netflix. It makes a difference.When you log out of Netflix, watch a different video, or refresh the page, the settings will reset, so you'll have to set them again.High quality streaming, of course, uses up more data, so while using this hack, keep in mind whateverdata caps your internet service provider mayhave.Netflix has a few other secret menu shortcuts.Control+Alt+Shift+Dbrings up detailed video and audio information about your stream, andControl+Alt+Shift+L brings up a log of technical Netflix activity during your streaming session.Alt+Shift+Left Click also brings up some more granular data about your Netflix stream, as well as some useful options like changing the timing between the video and audio streams and even uploading your own subtitles, but it doesn't work on Mac computers.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Meet the MQ-25A Stingray ' the US's response to threats like China's 'carrier killers
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