Google adds ‘Watchlist’ to search so you can track TV shows and films

It was bound to happen: After weeks of self-isolation, you’ve officially watched everything on your Netflix and Hulu recommendation lists. Now, if you’re reaching for your phone to Google “what to watch,” you might notice a new feature.

On Wednesday, Google announced in a blog post that it has updated Search to include a “Watchlist” feature across its mobile platforms. 

To use it, simply start by Googling a movie or a TV show. Then tap the bookmark icon in the preview window after that and you’ll see your selection appear under the Watchlist tab the next time you Google “my watchlist” or search for something to stream. Google “what’s a good show to watch” and you can even add personalized recommendations to your Watchlist.

Don’t like what you see? Well, it might have to do with whether you allow Google products — like Search, YouTube, and Chrome — to track your activities. If you’re logged into a Google account with the “web & app activities” feature enabled, you’ll see recommendations based on your activities — including your ratings for movie and TV shows — on Google products. 

Recommendations will otherwise be based on what’s new, what’s mentioned on the web, and what’s trending across Google products like Search, YouTube, and Chrome. 

The feature is only available on mobile for now, though. So if you’re watching a movie on your laptop, then it might be a good idea to keep your phone handy.