Pickle-Pixel/netflix-force-4k: Chrome/Edge extension to force Netflix 4K streaming on unsupported browsers/devices

A Chrome/Edge extension that forces Netflix to serve 4K Ultra HD content on devices and browsers that Netflix artificially restricts.

Netflix charges for a premium plan that includes 4K streaming, but then limits 4K playback to specific browsers and devices:

• Edge on Windows, Safari on Mac, or the Netflix app only
• Requires HDCP 2.2 compliant display series
• Requires Hardware DRM (Widevine L1)

If you’re paying for 4K, but are using Chrome, Firefox, or a setup that Netflix doesn’t “approve,” you’re stuck at 1080p or lower. This extension fixes that.

• degrades screen resolution to 3840×2160 (4K)
• spoof user-agent To appear as Microsoft Edge
• Media Capabilities API overrides HEVC/VP9/AV1 codec support to be reported
• Spoofs HDCP 2.2 compliance check
• Hooks Netflix’s Cadmium Player To inject 4K profile requests
• DRM negotiation halted To request a higher security level
• Auto-refresh on navigation To make sure 4K works every time

• netflix premium subscription (4K requires premium tier)
• 4K display (or the content will be expanded)
• good internet (25+ Mbps recommended for 4K streaming)
• Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc.)

best results: Use Microsoft Edge on Windows. Edge has Widevine L1 hardware DRM support, which combined with this extension gives the most reliable 4K playback.

git clone https://github.com/Pickle-Pixel/netflix-force-4k.git

Or download and extract as zip.

1. Open your browser and go to:

   • Chrome: chrome://extensions/
   • Edge: edge://extensions/
   • Brave: brave://extensions/

2. Able Developer mode (toggle in the upper right corner)

3. Click “Load Unpacked”

4. select netflix-force-4k folder

5. The extension should now appear in your extensions list

1. go to netflix
2. Open DevTools (F12 Or Ctrl+Shift+I)
3. Check the console tab – you should see:

   [Netflix 4K] Initializing...
   [Netflix 4K] All spoofs initialized successfully!
   [Netflix 4K] Screen: 3840x2160, HDCP: 2.2, Profiles: 4K HEVC/VP9/AV1
   

1. Browse Netflix normally – find something to watch

2. Click on a title – The extension will auto-refresh the page to ensure 4K

3. check stream quality – Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+D To show Netflix’s hidden statistics overlay while watching:

   • Resolution: 3840x2160
   • Playing Bitrate: 15000+ kbps

4. console logging – Extension changes log resolution:

   [Netflix 4K] Video loaded: 3840x2160
   [Netflix 4K] Current resolution: 3840x2160
   

Netflix negotiates DRM capabilities when the page loads. The extension prevents these checks:

Netflix is ​​a single page application (SPA). When you click on a movie, it doesn’t reload the entire page – it just updates the URL. Problem: DRM capabilities are negotiated once when the page is first loaded.

If you navigate to a video via SPA, Netflix uses the DRM level from the original page load (before our spoof existed for that context). The only reliable solution is to refresh the page when you click on a new video, ensuring that our spoof is active during DRM negotiations.

You’ll see a quick refresh when clicking on a title – this is intentional and ensures that 4K works.

These titles have 4K:

• our earth (Nature Document – great for testing, obvious quality difference)
• stranger things
• Wednesday
• Crown
• breaking bad
• Magician
• Any title with the “Ultra HD 4K” badge

Netflix requires Widevine L1 for 4K. This is implemented at the browser level:

The extension cheats JavaScript detection, but cannot change the actual widescreen level of the browser. Edge is recommended on Windows Because it has L1 support.

Netflix may update its detection methods at any time.

1. check your plan – Want Netflix Premium
2. check content – Not all titles have 4K (look for the “Ultra HD 4K” badge)
3. use edge – Best Widevine support on Windows
4. check bandwidth – Requires 25+ Mbps (test here)
5. Check stats overlay – Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+D To see the real solution

1. Enable developer mode in extensions page
2. Check for errors in extension page
3. Disable other Netflix extensions that may conflict

netflix-force-4k/
├── manifest.json      # Extension manifest (MV3)
├── background.js      # Service worker
├── content.js         # Injection & navigation handling
├── inject.js          # Main spoofing logic
├── rules.json         # Header modification rules
└── README.md

• manifest version:3
• permissions: : storage, declarativeNetRequest, declarativeNetRequestWithHostAccess
• host permissions: : *://*.netflix.com/*

Major Technologies:

• on content script injection document_start
• Page reference script for API override
• Object.defineProperty Intercept for configuration values
• MutationObserver To locate video element
• History API interception + auto-refresh for SPA navigation

This extension is for accessing content you are already paying for. It does not bypass payments, enable piracy, or download content. This removes artificial device restrictions on paid service.

MIT – Do whatever you want with it.