It was a bit disappointing when an Android Netflix app was finally released, and many found out their phone wasn’t supported, but now the proud owners of rooted phones can get the app with a little bit of searching and some sneakiness.

UPDATE: Thanks to Dremth down in the comments we now have a little more insight into the changes needed for the build.prop file. Check out step 6 below.

1) Make sure you have enabled “side loading” apps. Check Menu > Settings > Applications, there you should have “Unknown sources”

2) The first thing you have to do is download the apk to your phone. All you have to do is follow this link in your phone’s browser and download it.

3) Once the apk finishes downloading, click the “download complete” notification, and you’ll be prompted to install it.

You now have Netflix! HOWEVER, there have been several reports of receiving an error “Sorry we could not reach the Netflix service. Please try again later. If the problems persists please visit netflix.com. (1005)” when trying to stream anything. The fix found so far is a bit of root magic, we’ll help you out with that below:

First, you have to be rooted, a quick search can find plenty of guides (a good place to start is XDA-developers) , and it’s usually pretty straightforward. Once you’re rooted follow on.

4) First you’ll need some sort of root file system editor such as ASTRO File Manager.

5) Using your new app, make a copy of build.prop from the /system folder, we’re going to be making a change to it, and if it breaks anything else, we want to be able to go back.

6) Go back to the build.prop file in /system and change these two lines:

If you are on 2.3 (Gingerbread):
ro.product.model=’your phone’s name’ to ro.product.model=Nexus S
ro.product.manufacturer=’whatever’ to ro.product.manufacturer=samsung

Any other 2.X (Froyo or Eclair):
ro.product.model=’your phone’s name’ to ro.product.model=Nexus One
ro.product.manufacturer=’whatever’ to ro.product.manufacturer=HTC

7) Reboot the phone and it should be working

Give it a try and let us know what phone you have and how it works!

50 COMMENTS

    • Make sure you aren’t moving to SD Card.  I initially had installed to SD card, and had issues. Went and tried the hacked versions, blah blah.  Moved to the phone proper and it worked just fine (market version, rooted G2).

  3.  After changing these settings — and assuring the props were still changed after a reboot — netflix lets me login and browse my queue…. everything except view the movies.  When I try to view, it tells me something to the effect of “Netflix is not available on your device. Please check the website for availability.”

      •  well i got the build to stick i was using Astro File Manager and switched up to Root Explorer. now i acutally got the netflix to load up and when it plays a movie….i only hear audio and in about 5 or 6 secs it auto closes and brings me back to the netflix homepage

    • Same deal for me on Samsung Captivate root running Serendipity at 1.2ghz

      Got it to load, but said NF is not avail in my device…

      I’ll try again once I have a computer and wifi in front of me.

      any specific galaxy s rom suggestions that may support NF.apk?

      • I am running GBread 2.3.3 (and can get you the files); I spoofed as Nexus S in build.prop, and rebooted, and it worked (I am rooted, and gave my file manager (SuperManager) root access, then modified the file from my pc, uploaded to SD; then used rooted file manager to transfer and overwrite new build.prop to system directory as above.  I believe I needed the NF adk that was meant to spoof; I have all the files if you don’t.. lemme know…

  4.  After changing these settings — and assuring the props were still changed after a reboot — netflix lets me login and browse my queue…. everything except view the movies.  When I try to view, it tells me something to the effect of “Netflix is not available on your device. Please check the website for availability.”

  5.  After changing these settings — and assuring the props were still changed after a reboot — netflix lets me login and browse my queue…. everything except view the movies.  When I try to view, it tells me something to the effect of “Netflix is not available on your device. Please check the website for availability.”

  9. Didn’t work. Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate), Firmware v2.2, rooted.
    Used “Absolute System Root Tool” to change the build.prop file. Although it has been changed the app tells me the service is not available for my device. Rebooting and reinstalling didn’t change anything. If someone could post their build.prop contents here, we could give it another try and maybe a small tweak will fix it.

  10. does not work on captivate running continuum v4 Custom ROM ..changed the model to Nexus S from GT-I9000…the manufacturer was at samsung and i kept it that way…why is it not working?

  11. does not work on captivate running continuum v4 Custom ROM ..changed the model to Nexus S from GT-I9000…the manufacturer was at samsung and i kept it that way…why is it not working?

  14. —ATTENTION—
    For those of you who can’t get it working:
    Download the apk from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13730742&postcount=16
    Use “Nexus One” and “HTC” for the device and manufacturer instead, because if you are on Android 2.2, using the Nexus S won’t work (Netflix only supports Android 2.3 Nexus S phones). Using “Nexus One” will work for both 2.2 and 2.3.
    This should work.
    -Motorola Droid 1

  18. Did anyone bother to even look at the file attributes for build.prop, it is listed as read only and even if te phone is rooted when you change the attributtes it goes right back, if it is read only you can edit the file but can’t save it. 

  19. root explorer works to edit build.prop  but i have a droid x and i tryed the Nexus S and Nexus One,samsung,HTC file changes and in netflix it says the phone isnt supported

  20. root explorer works to edit build.prop  but i have a droid x and i tryed the Nexus S and Nexus One,samsung,HTC file changes and in netflix it says the phone isnt supported

  21.  Can anyone with a Nexus One or Nexus S confirm that its build.prop lists device as “Nexus  S” (with that exact capitalization/spacing) and likewise for the N1 and their manufacturers? For instance I have the HTC Aria, but its listed by its code name of “liberty” in its build.prop. 

  23. Really wished it would have worked on my Gw…but saddly it didnt…BUT wait,theres more…happy to say,on the other hand, my covered HD2 android use the netflix app at a 100%…WINNING!

  26. Keeps saying download unsuccessful on my Droid 2 running GB 2.3.3. And I have unknown sources checked! Grrrr!

  27. Damn, I must have gotten extremely lucky… I installed the file from the link, opened it, the app said there was an update, downloaded that, logged in, started watching stuff. No need to do anything after step 3. Running on a Nook Color running CyanogenMod 7.0.3.

  28. Dude awesome pose I installed, it updated and workes like a charm ..im running on samsung captivate with froyo but spoofed it to gingerbread….if you want to know how to spoof….txt me at 4127368431 or email at krishna@teamgeek. I made myself so dont leak it all over the internet.

  29. Dude awesome pose I installed, it updated and workes like a charm ..im running on samsung captivate with froyo but spoofed it to gingerbread….if you want to know how to spoof….txt me at 4127368431 or email at krishna@teamgeek. I made myself so dont leak it all over the internet.

  31. IT’S POSSIBLE FOR EPIC 4G!!!!!

    worked like a charm on my Epic 4g; used a standard text editor on my pc to update build.prop file, and then used SuperManager with root permissions to overwrite old one in system directory.

    Your system settings should read:
    (and remember, this is for Samsung Epic 4g on Sprint..)

    Model Number: Nexus S
    Firmware Version: 2.3.3
    Baseband version: S:D700.0.5S.EF02
    Kernel VersionL 2.6.35.7
    Build Number: Gingerbread.EF02

  33. i have a lg optimus m by metro pcs it works just install it and update it will work but its laggy what do you guys think i should do thanks

  35. I love it , have it on my android HTc aria froyo ……v7, and works like a charm ,million thanks to all developers and contributors. Love yall guys

  36. I love it , have it on my android HTc aria froyo ……v7, and works like a charm ,million thanks to all developers and contributors. Love yall guys

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