Buzz
With its large screen, you’d expect Peloton to make it simple to enjoy movies while cycling. However, until now, the display was limited to workout-focused material. Surprisingly, some Peloton riders—myself included—have discovered that a Netflix app is already quietly active on the Bike. Here’s how to activate it.
A quick note: It’s unclear how widespread this app is or if Peloton might remove it unexpectedly. Peloton has been experimenting with an “entertainment” feature during rides, but so far, it has only included YouTube TV (distinct from standard YouTube). Beta testers once had access to Prime Video, but that feature has been discontinued. There’s optimism that Netflix will soon join the Entertainment lineup.
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Original Peloton Bike
Peloton Bike+ featuring a swiveling display and auto-resistance
How to stream Netflix on your Peloton
There are a couple of methods to potentially access Netflix on your Peloton. One older workaround involves using the system’s built-in debug browser to navigate to netflix.com. However, the new Netflix app appears to be accessible through one of two primary methods.
First, the method many users claim works (though it didn’t work for me):
Select the settings menu located at the top right corner of your screen.
Navigate to the Apps section.
Search for the Netflix app and tap its icon to launch it.
I discovered the app through this method, but it wouldn’t launch from the menu. (Tapping it had no effect, and there was no option to open the app.)
However, here’s what did work for me. It’s akin to the browser hack but ultimately uncovers a functional Netflix app that displays your cycling metrics alongside your chosen movie or show:
Log in to your Peloton as you normally would.
Tap the three-dots menu in the lower right corner of the display and choose About.
The About screen will appear as a white box in the center. Repeatedly tap the bottom right corner of this box. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...
A new black screen will emerge. I noticed two icons: the system browser and a Netflix app. Tap the app to launch it.
Here’s a video demonstrating the process:
Once the app is running, you’ll need to sign in to your Netflix account. After that, you can stream shows and movies as usual. A vertical bar on the right side of the screen will show your cadence, resistance, elapsed cycling time, and more. (You’ll need to press “start” to begin tracking your ride.)
Last night, I streamed a 30-minute episode through the app. The show appeared to focus on archaeology but repeatedly suggested that Gobekli Tepe was constructed by an enigmatic advanced civilization from outer space. (It wasn’t Ancient Aliens, but a similar program that should have skipped the alien theories and delved deeper into Gobekli Tepe, an incredibly fascinating site with many known and unknown aspects.)
By the conclusion, my workout history included an “Entertainment” ride, complete with a performance graph and all standard metrics. The previous browser-based Netflix hack didn’t track workouts or provide real-time metrics. So, if you’ve been eager to binge-watch your favorite series while cycling, see if the hidden Netflix app is available on your device.
