Netflix Launches 'Moments' Feature for Sharing Clips on Mobile Apps, Precedes 2024 UI Overhaul

Netflix has launched 'Moments,' a feature for Android and iOS that allows users to save and share specific scenes from movies and TV shows. This feature bypasses previous anti-piracy limitations and is part of a broader UI overhaul that began in May 2024. The redesign includes a new navigation system, real-time recommendations, and a TikTok-style vertical video feed. 'Moments' enables users to bookmark scenes as timestamped markers, shareable via links. The UI update aims to enhance user experience with personalized content discovery and a refreshed visual design.

A New Way to Capture and Share Netflix Highlights

For years, Netflix users have struggled to share specific scenes from their favorite shows and films due to the platform’s strict content protection policies. Even taking screenshots was often blocked. With the introduction of Moments at the end of 2024, Netflix has addressed this challenge by embedding a native clip-saving tool directly into its mobile apps.

To use Moments, viewers simply tap the screen during playback to reveal the control interface, where a Moments button appears in the lower-left corner. Tapping this button opens a dedicated screen displaying thumbnails of previously saved clips for the current title. Users can then tap "Save" to bookmark the current scene, which is automatically trimmed to begin a few seconds before the selected point to ensure context.

These saved clips are not standalone video files but rather timestamped playback markers. When a user taps on a saved Moment, the Netflix app resumes playback from that exact point in the episode or film. Each clip can be shared via a link through any installed messaging or social media app, or copied to the clipboard. Recipients must have the Netflix app installed to view the shared Moment.

All saved Moments are accessible through the "My Netflix" tab, a personalized hub introduced as part of the broader UI redesign. From there, users can view, delete, or share their saved clips. However, the feature currently lacks a search function, making it difficult to locate specific Moments once the list grows.

Exclusive to Mobile Devices

At launch, Moments is only available on Android and iOS platforms. The feature does not extend to Netflix’s web interface or other devices such as smart TVs or streaming boxes. However, shared links can be opened on any device with the Netflix app installed, allowing for cross-device viewing of shared Moments.

The feature is tightly integrated with the mobile app’s playback system, and all saved Moments are synced across a user’s mobile devices. This ensures that clips saved on one phone or tablet are accessible on another, provided the user is logged into the same account.

UI Overhaul: A New Look and Smarter Recommendations

The release of Moments is part of a broader evolution in Netflix’s user experience strategy. In May 2024, Netflix began rolling out its first major UI overhaul in over a decade. The redesign affects TVs and connected devices first, with mobile and web updates expected to follow.

One of the most noticeable changes is the relocation of the navigation bar from the left side of the screen to the top. This new layout provides quicker access to key sections such as Search, Shows, Movies, Games, and the newly introduced "My Netflix" tab. The "My Netflix" section serves as a personalized dashboard, consolidating a user’s watchlist, in-progress titles, and saved Moments.

The visual design has also been refreshed. Gone are the traditional rows of portrait posters; in their place are larger, rounded content boxes with dynamic backgrounds that respond to the selected title. This change aims to make browsing more immersive and visually engaging.

Real-Time Personalization and Vertical Video Feed

Netflix’s new UI is not just about aesthetics—it also introduces smarter content discovery tools. The platform now offers real-time, AI-driven recommendations that adapt based on user behavior. For instance, someone who just watched a romantic comedy like "Set It Up" might immediately see a new row of similar rom-coms appear on their homepage.

In addition, Netflix has launched a vertical video feed reminiscent of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. This feature, available on Android and iOS, showcases short clips from Netflix Originals. Users can scroll through these teasers, tap to watch the full program, or save the title to their list. The clips are curated from the "Today’s Top Picks for You" section, ensuring that the content is tailored to individual viewing preferences.

Feature Removals and Additions

While the new UI brings several enhancements, it also retires some long-standing features. The "New & Popular" and "Categories" sections have been removed. These previously offered fixed rows like "Worth the Wait" and "Top 10," which many users relied on to discover trending content. Netflix has not announced direct replacements for these features, but the company appears to be shifting toward a more fluid, algorithm-driven discovery model.

Other notable additions include a ChatGPT-like conversational search tool powered by OpenAI, allowing users to describe what they’re in the mood to watch in natural language. This tool is currently being tested on mobile platforms.

Executive Insights and Rollout Timeline

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters discussed the UI overhaul during a sit-down with NBC’s TODAY show, emphasizing the company’s goal to reduce "decision fatigue" and make content discovery more intuitive. He also noted that half of all Netflix viewing now includes subtitles and that a significant portion of new subscribers are opting for the ad-supported plan.

The new UI began rolling out globally on May 19, 2024, starting with TVs and connected devices. Mobile and web versions are expected to follow in the coming months. The Moments feature, however, is already live and available to all users on Android and iOS.