It might seem like the whole world is constantly connected to the internet, but there are many situations where accessing the web just isn’t feasible – think of your last flight, for instance. However, even when you can’t get a reliable Wi-Fi or mobile signal, you can still enjoy your favorite Netflix content.
Netflix introduced the option to download shows and movies back in November 2016, and since then, the service has expanded its features for downloading. Now, you can adjust your Netflix settings to enable automatic downloads and deletions after you finish watching a movie or episode, ensuring you always have something to watch offline.
Want to learn how to tweak your download settings and make Netflix automatically manage your downloads with its Smart Downloads features? You’re in luck. We’ll also cover managing downloads for countries with restricted licenses. For more tips, check out Netflix’s hidden menu or read CNET’s reviews of various streaming services.
So, how do you download shows and movies from Netflix? If you’re familiar with using Netflix on your mobile device, you’ve probably seen the “Download” button below the “Play” button. Simply click it to start downloading a local version of the content you want.
You can download Netflix content on iPhone, iPad, Android, Amazon Fire devices, as well as Windows 10 or 11 computers and some Chromebooks and Chromeboxes. By default, Netflix downloads are set to use Wi-Fi only, but you can change this in your app settings.
Unfortunately, there’s no Netflix app for Mac yet, so Mac laptop users are out of luck when it comes to downloads (unless they’re running Windows on their Mac).
To download TV shows, you can click the download icon next to each episode individually. On Android devices, you also have the option to download an entire season of a show by tapping the “Download Season” button near the top of the movie or show listing.
Keep in mind that there’s a limit of 100 downloads per account across all devices, and each download has an expiration date based on its content license. Some downloads expire as soon as 48 hours after you start watching them. You can renew downloads, but some have a limit on how many times per year you can do so. If a movie or show is removed from Netflix, all downloads for that title will immediately expire.
You can manage your downloads by unselecting the checkbox next to each title to delete them individually. To remove all downloads at once, go to your App Settings and click “Delete all downloads” under Downloads.
In the Netflix app, you’ll find a “Downloads” tab (called “My Downloads” on Windows) where you can see all your downloaded content and play it. This tab also allows you to customize your download settings, including Smart Downloads.
So, what are Smart Downloads? This feature simplifies managing your downloads by offering two options: “Download Next Episode” and “Downloads for You.”
When you turn on Download Next Episode, Netflix will automatically delete episodes you’ve watched and download the next episode in the series. This feature is enabled by default in Netflix apps and is especially useful for binge-watchers.
Downloads for You takes automatic downloading a step further. After enabling this feature, Netflix will use your viewing habits and preferences to download content it thinks you’ll like. Once you’ve watched the downloaded content, it will be automatically deleted.
To turn on Downloads for You, go to the Smart Downloads settings (accessible via the Downloads tab or App Settings) and toggle it on. You can also adjust how much data Netflix will download automatically for each user profile, ranging from 0.5GB to 9.5GB.
Wondering which movies and TV shows you can’t download on Netflix? It depends on the content license for each title. Netflix tries to make as many titles available for download as possible, but some content may not be downloadable due to exclusive rights, unavailability for purchase, or other factors.
Geographical restrictions also apply to downloaded content. If you’re traveling in a country where Netflix doesn’t offer the title you downloaded, you won’t be able to watch it, even if you downloaded it in your home country. VPNs can sometimes bypass these restrictions, but Netflix actively blocks VPN usage and considers it a violation of its terms of use.
So there you have it – everything you need to know about downloading shows and movies from Netflix for offline viewing. Happy binge-watching!
