Netflix Download - The Complete Guide

The Netflix download feature is an official function that lets you save movies and TV shows to your mobile device or PC in advance, so you can watch them offline.

Key characteristics:

• A legitimate, official feature (not illegal downloading)

• Available on select Netflix plans (some plans have restrictions)

• Files are encrypted on your device (cannot be copied to other devices)

• Downloads expire automatically after a set period (varies by title)

• Not all content is available for download (depends on licensing rights)

Supported platforms:

• iOS (iPhone, iPad)

• Android (smartphones, tablets)

• Windows 10/11 (Microsoft Store app)

• Select Amazon Fire tablets

Unsupported platforms:

• Web browsers (Chrome, Safari, etc.)

• macOS (Mac computers)

• Smart TVs and set-top boxes

• Gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox)

When downloads are most useful:

• Long-haul flights

• Commuting on subways or buses with spotty connectivity

• International travel (save on roaming data costs)

• When on a limited mobile data plan

• Downloading on Wi-Fi at home before heading out

To use the download feature, you'll first need the official Netflix app.

[iOS (iPhone/iPad)]

1. Open the App Store

2. Search for "Netflix"

3. Tap "Get" (free)

4. Authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID

5. Once installed, open the app

6. Sign in to your account

[Android]

1. Open the Google Play Store

2. Search for "Netflix"

3. Tap "Install"

4. Once installed, open the app

5. Sign in to your account

[Windows 10/11]

1. Open the Microsoft Store

2. Search for "Netflix"

3. Click "Get" or "Install"

4. Once installed, open the app

5. Sign in to your account

[Download Settings]

After installing the app, it's a good idea to review and adjust your download settings.

1. Open the Netflix app

2. Tap "More" or your profile icon in the bottom menu

3. Select "App Settings"

4. Under the "Downloads" section, configure the following:

• Download video quality:

- Standard (saves more storage; roughly 4 hours per GB)

- High (better picture quality; roughly 2 hours per GB)

• Download over Wi-Fi only:

- Recommended to enable (saves mobile data)

- Disable if you want to download using LTE/5G

• Smart Downloads (auto-download):

- Automatically deletes watched episodes

- Automatically downloads the next episode

- Extremely useful when binge-watching a series

• Download location (Android only):

- Choose between internal storage or SD card

Once you've found a movie or show you want to download, the process is simple.

[Downloading a Movie]

1. Search for the movie in the Netflix app

2. Go to the movie's detail page

3. Tap the "Download" button (downward arrow icon)

4. Wait for the download to complete (size ranges from tens of MB to several GB depending on quality)

5. The button will change to a checkmark when done

[Downloading a TV Show or Series]

1. Go to the show's detail page

2. Select the season you want

3. Tap the download icon next to an individual episode

Or

Tap "Download Season" to download all episodes in a season at once

4. Multiple episodes can be downloaded simultaneously

[Checking Whether Content Is Downloadable]

Not all content is available for download:

• A download button means it's available

• No download button means streaming only

• Availability is determined by licensing agreements

[Finding Downloadable Content]

1. Tap "Search" in the bottom menu

2. Select the "Available for Download" category

3. Browse all titles available to download

[Checking Download Progress]

• Tap the "Downloads" tab at the bottom of the app

• View in-progress and completed downloads

• Progress percentage is shown (e.g., 45%)

• You can pause or cancel downloads

[Tips to Speed Up Downloads]

• Download where the Wi-Fi signal is strong

• Stay close to your router

• Downloading items one at a time is often faster than downloading many simultaneously

• Close background apps

• Restart your device before downloading

[How to Watch Offline]

1. Open the Netflix app (no internet required)

2. Select "Downloads" from the bottom menu

3. Browse your downloaded content

4. Select what you want to watch

5. Tap the play button

Downloads work even in Airplane Mode and function completely offline.

[Download Expiration and Limits]

1. Time limits on downloads

• Most content: you must start watching within 30 days of downloading

• Once playback begins: you must finish within 48 hours

• Expired downloads are deleted automatically

• You can re-download content (download count limits apply)

2. Limits on number of downloads

• Up to 100 titles can be stored simultaneously per account

• Additional per-device limits may apply depending on your plan

3. Renewing downloads

• An expiring download will show a "Renew" button

• Renewing extends the download for another 30 days

• Requires an internet connection

[Deleting Downloads]

Free up storage space by removing content you've already watched:

Delete individually:

1. In the "Downloads" tab, select the content you want to remove

2. Tap the checkmark (or the Edit button)

3. Select "Delete Download"

Delete all:

1. Go to App Settings > Downloads

2. Select "Delete All Downloads"

3. Confirm

[Smart Downloads]

A convenient automatic feature for binge-watching TV shows:

• When you finish Episode 1: it's automatically deleted

• The next episode (Episode 2) is automatically downloaded

• Works only when connected to Wi-Fi

• Can be toggled on or off in settings

With Smart Downloads, you never have to manually download the next episode again.

Here's how to efficiently manage data usage and storage space when downloading.

[Storage Guide by Video Quality]

• Standard Definition (SD): roughly 500 MB - 1 GB per movie

• High Definition (HD): roughly 2 - 3 GB per movie

• Full HD (FHD): roughly 4 - 7 GB per movie (select devices only)

For a 1-hour TV episode:

• Standard: roughly 250 - 500 MB

• High: roughly 1 - 1.5 GB

[Storage-Saving Tips]

1. Choose Standard quality:

• The difference is barely noticeable on a small smartphone screen

• Settings > Downloads > Video Quality > Standard

2. Delete content immediately after watching:

• Enable Smart Downloads for automatic cleanup

3. Switch download location to SD card (Android):

• Settings > Downloads > Download Location > SD Card

4. Regularly manage your downloads:

• Delete content you no longer plan to watch

• Clear out expired downloads

[Saving Mobile Data]

1. Enable "Wi-Fi Only" for downloads:

• Settings > Downloads > Download on Wi-Fi Only: ON

2. Pre-download at home or at a coffee shop:

• Prepare downloads before you leave

3. Adjust streaming quality too:

• Settings > App Settings > Cellular Data Usage > Save Data

[Saving Battery]

Downloads consume significant battery, so:

• Download while charging

• Download speed may slow in Low Power Mode

• Sequential downloads are recommended when downloading multiple items

[Best Times to Download]

• Late at night when Wi-Fi speeds are faster

• Home Wi-Fi is recommended over public Wi-Fi (better security)

• Start downloads before bed so they're ready in the morning

On Windows 10 and 11, you can also download Netflix content to your PC using the Microsoft Store app.

[PC Download Setup]

1. Install the Netflix app from the Microsoft Store

2. Open the app and sign in

3. Find the content you want to download

4. Click the download button

5. Default download location: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Packages\...

[Advantages of Downloading on PC]

• Watch on a larger screen

• Plenty of storage space (tens of GBs available)

• Fast Wi-Fi speeds

• Can change download location to an external hard drive

[Limitations of Downloading on PC]

• Downloads are not available in the web browser version

• Only supported through the Microsoft Store app

• macOS is not supported

• Downloaded files cannot be copied or moved to another device (DRM-encrypted)

[Using Both PC and Mobile]

• You can download to multiple devices using the same account

• Subject to the overall 100-download limit

• Syncing between devices is not supported (each device downloads separately)

[Changing the Download Location on PC]

1. Windows Settings > System > Storage

2. Click "Change where new content is saved"

3. Change the app storage location to a different drive

4. Reinstall the Netflix app

5. Future downloads will be saved to the new location

[The download button doesn't appear]

• Using a web browser: downloads are only supported in the app - install the app

• Some content cannot be downloaded due to licensing restrictions

• Plan restriction: the ad-supported plan does not include downloads

• Outdated app version: update to the latest version

[My download won't start]

• Check your internet connection

• Not enough storage space: you need at least 1 - 2 GB of free space

• Restart the app

• Restart your device

• Netflix server issue: wait a moment and try again

[My downloaded video disappeared]

• Download expired: you'll need to re-download it

• Logged out of your account: sign back in

• Reinstalling the app deletes all downloads

• Clearing the app cache also removes downloads

[Download quality is low]

• Change to High quality in settings: App Settings > Downloads > Video Quality > High

• Plan restriction: the Basic plan only supports SD quality

• Device limitation: older devices may not support HD

[I've hit the download limit]

• 100-download limit: delete some titles and try again

• Recommended to delete content you've already watched first

• Enabling Smart Downloads handles this automatically

[Downloads are too slow]

• Check your Wi-Fi signal (move closer to the router)

• Try switching Wi-Fi band (2.4GHz to 5GHz)

• Reduce internet usage on other devices

• If using a VPN, turn it off

• Netflix server congestion: try downloading late at night

[The only legal way to download is through the app]

Using third-party programs or websites to download Netflix content:

• Is illegal and constitutes copyright infringement

• Carries the risk of malware

• Results in lower video quality

• Can get your account suspended

Only the official Netflix app's download feature is legal and safe.