Netflix‘s home screen is a curated experience, which sounds helpful until you realize what it’s actually curating out. The platform’s algorithm is designed to surface content most likely to keep you watching, which tends to mean popular, familiar and broadly appealing, not the vintage Italian thriller, the obscure documentary or the quiet indie drama you’d happily commit to if you could only find it. The good news is that Netflix hasn’t removed any of it. It’s just made it harder to find, unless you know the codes that bypass the home screen entirely and drop you straight into the content hiding behind it.

The solution? A slew of secret Netflix codes that can help you sift through everything Netflix has to offer. Using these codes, of which there are dozens of options, lets you browse through all kind of niches, such as action thrillers (43048), deep sea horror (45028) or supernatural sci-fi (2760). They’re a direct way to find content that matches your interests without relying on the standard interface.

Stop letting an algorithm dictate your date night and start taking control of the library. Sift through everything summery for the season, for example, and then some. Here’s the full list of secret codes you need to unlock the most romantic corners of Netflix for 2026.

For more, check out our favorite sci-fi movies on Netflix and learn how to share your favorite Netflix clips via text message or social media.

What are the secret category codes on Netflix?

Netflix codes are a set of unique numerical identifiers that can help you find specific genres or sub-genres in the Netflix library on the streamer’s website (not the app).

Typically, you’re constrained to the genres available via the main Netflix menu. There’s no way to choose by specific category other than what’s been chosen for you when you log on. Using these codes opens up an entire library of options for you to choose from, helping you better settle on what to watch for the night. It can even help you discover shows and movies.

Adding these codes to the end of Netflix URLs allows you to directly access collections of movies and TV shows that fall under your chosen category. For example, if you’re short on time and want to queue up a shorter movie, you could check the 90-Minute Movies category with the code 81466194. Are you looking for something for your entire brood to enjoy? The Family Movie Night collection, designated code 2013975, is filled with favorites that even Grandma can enjoy.

There are more than 36,000 codes to choose from, so don’t worry about memorizing them or trying random sequences. Resources such as Netflix-Codes.com have an entire directory to sift through, allowing you to search for what you would like to watch and find corresponding codes in no time.

How do I find secret menus of movies and shows?

There isn’t an all-encompassing Netflix secret menu per se. Instead, you will use URLs with special codes to display certain curated collections of movies and shows.

Netflix-Codes.com has a good list of the streaming platform’s hidden genre categories and subcategories. In total, there are approximately 20 top-level categories, covering genres such as animation, foreign films, and classic movies. Within those main genres are many more hyper-specific subgenres denoted by numeric codes.

All you need to do is find the category you want, copy the related code and append it to the end of a Netflix URL. Right now, ’tis the season for holiday flicks. You’ll find plenty of options there to scroll through while hanging out with loved ones this year.

What kinds of categories does Netflix offer?

There’s much more to Netflix than what you’ve been scrolling through. At last count, there were more than 36,000 unique categories to explore. The entirety of the categories available on Netflix begins with broad main genres, such as Action, Comedy and Drama, but they become more specific as you delve even deeper.

There are straight-to-the-point collections like Movies Directed by Women (code 2974953), or more specifically targeted curated lists, like Supernatural Soaps (code 81238162), just in case you like your werewolves with a side of angst and romance.

Rather than relying solely on the standard homepage categories or Netflix’s algorithm, you can use these secret codes to pinpoint and explore different nooks and crannies of the catalog to find hidden gems.

What are the secret codes for summer content?

Now that summer’s on its way, you’ll want to check out some seasonal content. We’ve scoured the web and tested URLs on the Netflix website to collect all of the codes we could find that link to summery movies and TV shows. 

How do I find more Netflix codes?

If you’re not comfortable with editing Netflix URLs, you can use a browser extension to access the secret menus. The Better Browse for Netflix extension for Chrome is a great choice. Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for Better Browse for Netflix. (Note that this extension is unavailable for Firefox users.)

2. Click Add to Chrome.

3. Click Add Extension.

4. Log into your Netflix account in a new tab.

If the extension is installed, you’ll see a Browse All option at the top of your Netflix home screen next to My List. Click it to scroll through the subgenres or to search through specific categories.

Alternatively, you can use the FindFlix: Netflix Secret Category Finder browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. This add-on will create a drop-down menu complete with Netflix categories for your browser, which you can scroll through by clicking the FF icon that appears at the top right of your screen. There’s no need to scroll Netflix natively with this add-on, and it features 7,500 categories alphabetized for your convenience. A third way is through the Netflix Codes website. Here’s how:

1. Visit Netflix-codes.com in any PC or mobile browser.

2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore.

3. Tap the code next to the genre or subgenre you want.

4. If you’re on a device that has the Netflix app installed, the app should open and take you directly to the genre or subgenre you chose. If you don’t have the app installed, it’ll open Netflix through the browser and you can view the specific movies and shows available.

5. Tap the title you want to watch and it’ll start playing.

Finally, if you’re comfortable with creating custom URLs, you can use Netflix codes manually in your browser. Here’s how:

1. Visit Netflix-codes.com on any PC or mobile browser.

2. Find the genre or subgenre you want to explore.

3. In another tab, type in http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER, but replace INSERTNUMBER with the specific genre or subgenre code. For instance, http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/81466194 will take you to “90-Minute Movies.”

4. If done correctly, you’ll be taken to Netflix to peruse the titles available in that section.

Simply repeat this process the next time you find a code for a Netflix category you’d like to explore. You can do this as many times as you’d like.

For more Netflix tips, learn how to get the most out of Netflix on your phone or mobile device and how to improve picture quality on streaming services.