Netflix Is Testing a Return of the Left-Hand Menu on Its TV App
Netflix’s TV app has gone through a lot of changes recently. In May 2025, the streamer rolled out its first major homepage redesign in years, moving search and My List from a sidebar to the top of the screen and turning My List into a My Netflix hub.
At the time, Netflix executives said the new look was simpler, easier, and more intuitive. The design also replaced static tiles with larger boxes that expand when selected, which Netflix said members preferred.
Now Netflix appears to be reconsidering part of that change. What’s on Netflix reports that the streamer has started testing a new TV app layout that moves the main menu back to the left side of the screen.
The test began on November 3. The menu appears as a slim rail of icons that expands into a full panel when users move onto it. The panel shows the user’s profile and a Switch Profile option at the top. Below that are Search, Home, Shows, Movies, Games, and My Netflix, and more options could be added over time.
The test also changes how titles are previewed. Instead of playing inside the tile, video for the selected title now plays much larger near the top of the screen, with the logo, genre, season count, maturity rating, and synopsis layered over it. Rows in the test show 6 tiles at once, so viewers can see more titles without scrolling. Labels such as “New Season” and “#1 in Shows” carry over from the current design.
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— Netflix (@netflix) November 3, 2026
Several elements from the 2025 redesign remain in place. Rounded tiles, adaptive background colors, and the My Netflix hub are all still there, and What’s on Netflix compared the overall layout to a classic console-style menu. The current design drew some criticism after launch. In particular, removing categories and the New & Popular section from the main menu frustrated some viewers.
Categories later returned as a dedicated row, but What’s on Netflix doesn’t expect them to return to the main menu soon. The new layout seems aimed at helping viewers jump more quickly to what they want to watch. Netflix hasn’t said how many people are seeing the new design. Because it’s a test, there’s no guarantee it will reach everyone or keep its current form.
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— Netflix (@netflix) November 3, 2026
The streamer’s last major redesign took about 11 months to go from first test in June 2024 to its global rollout starting May 19, 2025. If this test follows a similar path, it could be a while before most viewers see it.
The layout test is one of several changes Netflix has been trying out. On the same day, the streamer began rolling out AI Discover, a new TV tab that suggests titles using AI-generated themes based on moods, groups, or how much time viewers have. AI Discover is currently limited to a small group of U.S. members watching in English on supported TVs. It doesn’t include a chat box, but it lets users refine themes and tune recommendations.
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— Netflix (@netflix) November 2, 2026
Netflix has also tested a redesigned TV video player and refreshed its desktop website, which has mostly rolled out globally. For now, viewers will have to wait and see whether the left-hand menu becomes permanent.
Which Netflix TV app navigation layout do you prefer?
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