If you select the “Available for Download” option, you’ll be taken to Netflix’s download-friendly library. This library is broken down much in the same way Netflix’s main menu is.
Netflix is finally offering shows offline (Picture: Netflix) On Wednesday came the glorious news that finally Netflix were going to allow their millions of subscribers to download movies and TV.
One of the best things about the Netflix mobile app is that it lets you download movies and TV shows so you can watch them later, even if there’s no internet connection available. When a title you have downloaded is no longer available on Netflix, the download will expire and you will not be able to play it. See our Help Center for more information on why downloads expire and how to renew downloads.
In November of 2016, Netflix rolled out one of the features its fan base had been demanding since the company exploded in popularity all those years ago. The ability to take shows and movies offline is one of those features users assumed were impossible, thanks to how Netflix works, but in reality Netflix was working behind the scenes to bring downloadable content to smart devices for years. While it doesn’t totally offer complete freedom when it comes to downloading your favorite content, the ability to watch shows and movies while offline makes it a great choice for your commute to work on the subway, or when traveling for work on a plane. Offline play has made it one of the best ways to consume Netflix online, though as always, there are some limitations.
Still, it’s worth looking at how downloading works on Netflix, how the app can be a bit confusing at times, how to discover the best downloadable shows on the platform, and of course, some of our favorite downloadable shows and movies on Netflix. Let’s dive in.
How to Download Content on Netflix
First things first: Netflix makes it really easy to download shows on Netflix, and to figure out how much you have downloaded on your device. Diving into the application, it becomes obvious pretty quickly how you can download content to your devices. First things first, though: it’s important to note that Netflix can only save and download episodes to your smart devices, and trying to do the same thing to your Windows or Mac computer will result in failure. You’ll need a smartphone or tablet to download shows and movies, but generally speaking, that’s the only major restriction (update: using the Netflix app on Windows 10 allows you to download content to your Windows laptop; there’s no comparable app on MacOS, however).
From there, you have a few ways to find and download shows. You can start by clicking on your favorite show or movie from the main screen or from your list, which will allow you to see what can be downloaded on your device. Television shows will display a download icon to the right of every single episode that can be downloaded, while movies will feature four icons along the display, the last of which allows you to download the film to your device. At its core, these are the main controls for downloading content on Netflix, and if you can’t save something to your device, the download icon simply won’t appear when you go to download something.
Of course, there are some settings you’ll want to make sure you find before you continue watching shows on Netflix. The first is accessible by tapping on the Downloads tab at the bottom of the display. At the top of the screen, you should see an option for Smart Downloads. Depending on the space on your device, you might want to turn this off. If you can however, leaving this on can help make sure you’re always ready to go when you’re traveling with new episodes downloaded to your device. Smart Downloads track when you’ve finished watching an episode of a show you’ve downloaded onto your device and automatically deletes the watched episode and downloads the next available episode the next time you’re connected to WiFi. This feature is limited only to WiFi, so you never have to worry about your cellular data limits. And since it’s replacing a downloaded episode with another one, you should never have to worry about using extra phone storage.
It’s also worth making sure your download settings are on the right quality level for your internet download speeds and your phone’s storage. Netflix offers your downloads various quality levels, either when you select your download or from your app settings in the app. To get there, select the triple-line menu icon labeled ‘More,’ then choose App Settings from the list. Under Downloads, you can control several options, including the ability to change your video quality. Netflix offers Standard and High versions of these downloads, which allows you to select your quality or your download speed, depending on your current conditions. In our tests, standard seemed to come in at about 480p, while high definition was somewhere between 720p and 1080p, looking great on our device.
Downloads can be found in the download tab on your device, and you can erase or watch them from there.
What are the Limits on Downloading Content on Netflix?
As with any content made available through Netflix or other streaming services, limitations apply on nearly every single content option you could imagine. Yes, it’s true that you can mostly use Netflix’s download feature without running into issues or blocks on what you’re using, but as with anything, you should be prepared for some limitations to pop up as you use the service.
You can only download up to 100 titles on a single device. Netflix seems to include each episode of a series, so don’t go believing you can load your phone with every episode of Friends ever made without having to deal with an error message from Netflix.
Depending on your plan, you can download content to either one, two, or four devices at a time. This will likely match whatever your pre-existing plan is, whether that be one, two, or four devices streaming content at once. If you’re unclear what your current plan is, you should dive into the account settings on your device to learn what you’re paying for.
Content you download to your devices doesn’t last forever. After you download an episode or film to your device, you typically have about 30 days to watch it before you have to redownload the show or film. Titles that have less than seven days before expiring on your device will display the amount of time you have left. This all has to do with the way Netflix signs content deals with major companies. Some content expires just 48 hours after you begin watching it back, so make sure you pay close attention to what’s going on on your device by using the tab on the bottom of the app.
Are All Netflix Originals Available to Download?
What Is Available To Download On Netflix On Youtube
Most Netflix Originals are available to download on your devices, but not all of them are. Most of this depends on the production companies these shows are made with. While Netflix produces a wide variety of content, some of their shows are picked up from outside sources or selected as a revival from other networks. Arrested Development, for example, has five seasons streaming on Netflix; two of them were produced as Netflix originals. That doesn’t matter, however, as none of the five seasons are available for download. Likewise, Gilmore Girls: A Day in the Life is also unavailable for download, and that too is a continuation and revival of a pre-existing property.
That said, not ever rebooted show from Netflix is unavailable to download. Fuller House and both Wet Hot American Summer series are continuations of pre-existing content, and they both are available for download on your device. All of Trailer Park Boys’ output from both the pre-Netflix days and the current Netflix lineup are available to be saved and watched offline. And shows like Queer Eye or Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return also remain as downloadable content to this very day.
Generally speaking, Netflix Originals are available to download, with only some content being featured as an exception to the rule. This makes it reliable to be able to take your favorite Netflix shows offline and on the go. Netflix Original Movies, too, are typically available for download, though as Netflix begins to go after more upper-class Oscar gold with content like Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma, we’ll have to see if that applies for everything.
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Okay, enough chatter about downloading content on Netflix. Let’s take a look at some of the best shows and films to download today.
By Conner Careyupdated on 02/04/2019
Watching Netflix offline was a dream until fairly recently. In the past, watching Netflix offline wasn't possible because there was no way to download Netflix movies or TV shows. But that’s all changed and now learning how to download Netflix movies and TV shows for offline viewing is easy with a quick how-to. We’ll cover how to download movies from Netflix, how to watch offline, whether or not you can download Netflix on Mac or PC, which Netflix downloads are available, and how to change Netflix settings from standard to higher video quality for your downloads. Subscribers have been wanting to watch Netflix offline on their iPads or iPhones for years, and now Netflix has made it easy. Here's how to watch Netflix offline on iPhone and iPad.
Related: How Much Data Does Netflix Use on iPhone? (& What to Do About It)
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We all want to know how to download Netflix movies onto our iPads or iPhones, especially for long flights and car rides with children, where offline Netflix would be a godsend. Luckily, Netflix finally gave the people what they want. With a little planning ahead, you can download Netflix movies or TV shows and then watch them offline. When you download Netflix content, it’s saved offline to your iOS device, such as your iPad or iPhone.
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While Netflix has made it easy to download movies and TV shows to your iPad or iPhone, the same cannot be said for offline Netflix movies on Mac. This is largely due to the fact that there is no official Netflix app for Mac. I’ll cover my recommendations for watching Netflix offline on a Mac below, but it’s not something I condone and is in violation of Netflix’s Terms & Conditions. But on your iPad or iPhone, you can download and watch all the Netflix movies and shows that can fit on your device.
Can You Watch Netflix on an Airplane?
In one word, yes! But make sure you plan ahead. When you’re packing for your trip, get on your iPhone or iPad and figure out what content you want to download for offline viewing. Use our tip below to do it. Then when you’re on the plane, the Netflix movies or TV shows you downloaded will be ready and waiting. When you’re done watching, be sure to delete the saved content, as it does take up space on your iOS device. Now, let’s jump into how todownload and watch Netflix offline.
How to Download Movies from Netflix & Watch Offline on iPad or iPhone
First, you need to update (or download) Netflix. To do this, open the App Store, tap Updates, and tap Update next to Netflix. Once your Netflix app has the latest update installed, open the app.
When you first open the app after updating Netflix, you’ll likely see the screenshot below informing you of the new offline watching feature. You can tap Find something to download or dismiss it.
However, the typical way you’ll access downloadable Netflix content is by tapping the Menu icon in the upper left corner that looks like three horizontal lines.
From the menu, tap Available for Download.
Find a show or movie you want to download for offline viewing. Tap on it.
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Look for the download button. Tap the download button to download a full movie. You’ll need to download each individual episode of a series.
Where to Find Your Netflix Downloads: My Downloads
Once your show or movie has downloaded, open the main Menu up again and tap My Downloads. Your list of downloads is easily accessible from here.
Tap on the show or movie you have downloaded to watch it offline.
Movies to Watch on Netflix: Options to Download
There are far too many movies and TV shows available for download on Netflix to list here, which is a good sign for subscribers who want to watch Netflix offline. Some popular titles available for download on Netflix include:
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
Sherlock
The Crown
Stranger Things
And so much more. If you’re looking for something in particular, visit the Available for Download tab, found in the main menu on Netflix. Then tap the search icon, find the show or movie you’re looking for, and tap on. If you see a download icon, it’s available for offline viewing. If not, you’ll need the good old Wi-Fi connection to watch it.
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Netflix Download Limit & How to Delete Downloads
Netflix limits the amount of content you're allowed to download at any one time; if you've exceeded the limit, you'll see a notice like the one below on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
Once you’re ready to remove a download from your offline viewing list, you can swipe left on the download and tap the X to delete it.
Or tap Edit in the upper right corner and tap the X next to each download you want to remove.
How to Delete All Downloaded Netflix Content
In the Netflix app, open the main menu by tapping the three horizontal lines.
Scroll down and tap App Settings.
Tap Delete All Downloads.
Confirm Delete.
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Why Does My Netflix Download Say Expired & What Can I Do about It?
Netflix movies and TV shows expire at different times. Downloaded content with less than seven days left before expiration will show you how much time is left in the My Downloads section of the Netflix app. Some downloaded content expires 48 hours after you press play; in this case, you’ll be able to see how many hours are left in the My Downloads section. Since downloaded Netflix movies and TV shows expire, I recommend downloading content the night before your trip, especially if you’re planning to watch Netflix offline on a plane.
What if a show expires before I got a chance to watch it?
Get back to a Wi-Fi connection, delete the download, then re-download the movie or TV show from Netflix. The expiration timer will start over.
Netflix Download Storage & Changing Video Quality
In the Netflix settings menu, you can see a snapshot chart of your device and how much storage is used, how much storage is free, and how much storage Netflix downloads are taking up. At a glance, it’s easy to tell whether or not there’s enough space to download more content or if you need to delete some older movies and shows first.
In the settings, you can also change the Video Quality of downloaded Netflix content. By default, this is set to Standard as it’s able to download content faster and use less storage. But you can change this setting and select Higher, which will use more storage but improve picture quality. To see the storage chart and adjust video quality:
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In the Netflix app, open the main menu by tapping the three horizontal lines.
Scroll down and tap App Settings.
The chart of your iPhone’s data usage will be at the bottom.
Tap on Video Quality to switch from Standard to Higher, or vice versa.
Related: How Much Data Does Netflix Use? (& What to Do About It)
How to Download Netflix on Mac or PC
There isn't an official Netflix app in the Mac App Store, which means there’s no way to download Netflix content for offline viewing like there is on your iOS devices. And while there is a Netflix app for PCs running Windows 10, the app doesn't allow you to easily download Netflix to watch offline. There is no official way, approved by Netflix, to download content on a Mac or PC for offline viewing. Doing so breaks Netflix’s Terms & Conditions, so proceed at your own risk if you decide to do it anyway. Other bloggers have recommended recording your screen as the best way to save Netflix content offline. You can find plenty of apps or software that can record your screen. Of course, you’ll have to play the movie or TV show on Netflix while it records, which is pretty annoying. But you are breaking the rules, so what do you expect.
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Hopefully, Netflix will offer a solution to this in the future; I know a lot of people prefer to travel with their laptop. I’d be happy to download a Netflix app on my Mac if it meant I could save movies and TV shows for offline viewing later. In the meantime, you can watch Netflix online in a browser window (Chrome, Safari, etc.) while we all wait for a Netflix app for Mac.
Top Image Credit: Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock.com
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