How to Remove Continue Watching from Peacock: A Complete Guide

Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, offers a vast library of movies, TV shows, and live sports. While the ‘Continue Watching’ feature is designed for convenience, it can sometimes become cluttered with shows you’ve abandoned or accidentally started. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to remove items from your ‘Continue Watching’ list on Peacock, ensuring a cleaner and more personalized streaming experience.

Understanding the ‘Continue Watching’ Feature on Peacock

The ‘Continue Watching’ section on Peacock aggregates all the titles you’ve started watching but haven’t finished. It’s a helpful tool for quickly resuming your favorite shows or movies. However, it can become a source of frustration when:

* You’ve lost interest in a show and don’t want it cluttering your list.
* You’ve accidentally started watching something and want to remove it.
* You’ve finished a show, but it remains in ‘Continue Watching’ due to a glitch.

Unfortunately, Peacock doesn’t offer a direct, one-click ‘remove’ button for items in the ‘Continue Watching’ section like some other streaming services do (such as Netflix or Hulu). Instead, the process usually involves watching a short portion of the content or using a specific workaround.

Methods to Remove Shows from ‘Continue Watching’ on Peacock

Here are several methods you can use to remove unwanted shows and movies from your ‘Continue Watching’ list on Peacock. The effectiveness of each method may vary depending on the device you’re using and the specific title you’re trying to remove.

Method 1: Watching to the End (The Obvious Solution)

This is the most straightforward method, but it’s not always practical. If the show or movie is nearing its end, simply watch it until the credits roll. Once the title has completely finished playing, it should automatically disappear from your ‘Continue Watching’ list.

**Steps:**

1. **Locate the title:** Find the show or movie you want to remove in your ‘Continue Watching’ section.
2. **Resume playback:** Click on the title to resume watching.
3. **Watch until the end:** Let the episode or movie play until it reaches the very end, including the credits.
4. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** After the title finishes playing, go back to your ‘Continue Watching’ section to see if it has been removed. This sometimes requires refreshing the page or app.

**Pros:**

* Simple and direct.
* Guaranteed to work if the show is truly finished.

**Cons:**

* Not feasible for long shows or movies you don’t want to watch.
* May still require a manual refresh.

Method 2: Fast Forwarding to the End (The Time Saver)

If you don’t want to sit through an entire episode or movie, you can try fast-forwarding to the end. This method simulates watching the title to completion and often triggers its removal from ‘Continue Watching’.

**Steps:**

1. **Locate the title:** Find the show or movie you want to remove in your ‘Continue Watching’ section.
2. **Resume playback:** Click on the title to resume watching.
3. **Fast forward:** Use the fast-forward controls to skip to the final few minutes of the title. Some devices allow you to drag the progress bar directly to the end.
4. **Watch the end credits (or the last few seconds):** Allow the title to play through the end credits or at least the last few seconds of the content. This helps Peacock register that the title has been completed.
5. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** After the title finishes playing, go back to your ‘Continue Watching’ section to see if it has been removed. You might need to refresh the page or app.

**Pros:**

* Faster than watching the entire title.
* Relatively effective for removing shows.

**Cons:**

* Might not work for all titles.
* Requires manual fast-forwarding, which can be tedious.

Method 3: Rewinding and Quitting (The Restart Trick)

This method involves rewinding the title to the beginning and then exiting the playback. The theory is that by rewinding, you’re essentially resetting the progress, and Peacock may remove it from ‘Continue Watching’ as if you never started it.

**Steps:**

1. **Locate the title:** Find the show or movie you want to remove in your ‘Continue Watching’ section.
2. **Resume playback:** Click on the title to resume watching.
3. **Rewind to the beginning:** Use the rewind controls to go back to the very start of the episode or movie. Ensure the progress bar is at 0:00.
4. **Exit playback:** Immediately exit the playback by going back to the main Peacock menu or closing the app.
5. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** Go back to your ‘Continue Watching’ section to see if the title has been removed. Refresh the page or app if necessary.

**Pros:**

* Quick and easy to try.
* Can be effective in some cases.

**Cons:**

* Not always reliable.
* May not work for all devices or titles.

Method 4: Using a Different Profile (The Profile Switch)

If you have multiple profiles on your Peacock account, you can try watching the unwanted title on a different profile. This can prevent it from appearing in your primary profile’s ‘Continue Watching’ section.

**Steps:**

1. **Switch profiles:** If you have multiple profiles, switch to a different profile from the one where the title is appearing in ‘Continue Watching’.
2. **Locate the title (optional):** If the title shows in the second profile’s ‘Continue Watching’, follow previous methods to remove it (fast forward, watch to the end, etc.). If it does not show in the second profile, simply continue with the next step.
3. **Switch back to your original profile:** Switch back to your primary profile.
4. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** The title should no longer be in your primary profile’s ‘Continue Watching’ section.

**Pros:**

* Can be a quick workaround if you have multiple profiles.
* Keeps your primary profile clean.

**Cons:**

* Requires multiple profiles on your account.
* Doesn’t actually remove the title from Peacock’s system, just hides it from your primary profile.

Method 5: Clearing Watch History (The Universal Reset)

While Peacock doesn’t offer a direct ‘clear watch history’ button, some users have reported that periodically clearing their browser cache and cookies (for web browser users) or clearing the app’s cache (for app users) can sometimes help remove items from ‘Continue Watching’. This is more of a general troubleshooting step and might not always work, but it’s worth trying.

**For Web Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge):**

1. **Clear browsing data:** Go to your browser’s settings or history menu. Look for an option like “Clear browsing data,” “Clear history,” or “Privacy.” The exact wording varies depending on your browser.
2. **Select cookies and cache:** Make sure to select the options to clear cookies, cached images and files, and other site data.
3. **Choose a time range:** Select a time range, such as “All time” or “Last week.” Clearing all data is usually the most effective.
4. **Clear the data:** Click the button to clear the selected data.
5. **Restart your browser:** Close and reopen your browser.
6. **Log back into Peacock:** Log back into your Peacock account.
7. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** See if the unwanted titles have been removed.

**For Peacock App (iOS, Android, Roku, Smart TVs):**

The process varies slightly depending on your device. Here are general instructions for common devices:

* **iOS (iPhone, iPad):**
1. **Offload App:** Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage).
2. **Find Peacock:** Locate the Peacock app in the list.
3. **Offload App:** Tap “Offload App.” This removes the app but keeps your documents and data. You can also choose “Delete App” to completely remove the app and its data.
4. **Reinstall App:** Tap “Reinstall App” (if you offloaded) or download it again from the App Store (if you deleted).
5. **Log back into Peacock:** Log back into your Peacock account.
6. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** See if the unwanted titles have been removed.
* **Android:**
1. **Go to Settings:** Open your device’s Settings app.
2. **Apps:** Find the “Apps” or “Applications” section (the exact name may vary).
3. **Find Peacock:** Locate the Peacock app in the list.
4. **Storage:** Tap on “Storage” or “Storage & Cache.”
5. **Clear Cache:** Tap “Clear Cache.” Optionally, you can also “Clear Data,” but this will reset the app and require you to log in again.
6. **Re-open the Peacock App:** Launch the Peacock app.
7. **Log back into Peacock:** Log back into your Peacock account (if you cleared data).
8. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** See if the unwanted titles have been removed.
* **Roku:**
1. **Highlight the Peacock channel:** On your Roku home screen, highlight the Peacock channel.
2. **Press the * button:** Press the asterisk (*) button on your Roku remote.
3. **Remove channel:** Select “Remove channel.” Confirm the removal.
4. **Restart Roku:** Go to Settings > System > System restart > Restart.
5. **Add the channel back:** Go to Streaming Channels, search for Peacock, and add the channel back.
6. **Log back into Peacock:** Log back into your Peacock account.
7. **Check ‘Continue Watching’:** See if the unwanted titles have been removed.
* **Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.):**
The process varies depending on the TV brand and operating system. Generally, you’ll need to go to your TV’s settings menu, find the “Apps” or “Applications” section, locate the Peacock app, and clear its cache and/or data. Refer to your TV’s user manual for specific instructions.

**Pros:**

* Can resolve various app glitches and issues.
* Might remove unwanted titles from ‘Continue Watching’.

**Cons:**

* Not guaranteed to work.
* Requires logging back into your Peacock account.
* Can be time-consuming.

Method 6: Contacting Peacock Support (The Last Resort)

If none of the above methods work, your last resort is to contact Peacock support. They might be able to manually remove the titles from your ‘Continue Watching’ list or offer further assistance.

**Steps:**

1. **Visit Peacock’s Help Center:** Go to the Peacock Help Center website (usually found by searching “Peacock Help”).
2. **Search for relevant articles:** Search for articles related to ‘Continue Watching’ or watch history.
3. **Contact support:** If you can’t find a solution in the help articles, look for a “Contact Us” or “Support” option. This might involve submitting a support ticket, starting a live chat, or calling a phone number.
4. **Explain the issue:** Clearly explain the problem you’re having and the steps you’ve already tried. Provide details such as the specific titles you want to remove and the device you’re using.
5. **Follow their instructions:** Follow any instructions provided by Peacock support representatives.

**Pros:**

* Potentially the only solution if all other methods fail.
* Direct assistance from Peacock staff.

**Cons:**

* Can be time-consuming.
* Might not always be successful.

Why Peacock Doesn’t Offer a Direct Remove Option

Many users have wondered why Peacock doesn’t provide a simple ‘remove’ button for items in ‘Continue Watching’. There are several possible reasons:

* **Technical limitations:** Implementing a direct remove feature might require significant changes to Peacock’s infrastructure.
* **Design philosophy:** Peacock might believe that the current system is sufficient for most users.
* **Data collection:** Keeping track of what users have watched, even partially, might be valuable for data analysis and content recommendations.
* **Future updates:** Peacock might be planning to add a direct remove feature in a future update.

Tips for Preventing ‘Continue Watching’ Clutter

Here are some tips to help prevent your ‘Continue Watching’ list from becoming cluttered in the first place:

* **Avoid accidentally starting shows:** Be careful when browsing through titles to avoid accidentally starting shows you don’t intend to watch.
* **Finish what you start:** Try to finish watching shows or movies you start, even if you’re not particularly enjoying them. This prevents them from lingering in ‘Continue Watching’.
* **Use profiles wisely:** Create separate profiles for different family members or viewing habits. This helps keep everyone’s ‘Continue Watching’ lists organized.
* **Regularly clear your watch history (if possible):** As mentioned earlier, periodically clearing your browser cache or app data can help remove unwanted titles.

Conclusion

Removing items from the ‘Continue Watching’ list on Peacock can be a bit of a hassle, as there’s no direct ‘remove’ button. However, by using the methods described in this article – watching to the end, fast-forwarding, rewinding, using different profiles, clearing watch history, or contacting Peacock support – you can usually clean up your list and enjoy a more streamlined streaming experience. Hopefully, Peacock will introduce a more user-friendly ‘remove’ feature in the future. In the meantime, these workarounds should help you manage your ‘Continue Watching’ section effectively.