Even if Wi-Fi and our phones have made the globe more connected than before, there are still many situations in which you won’t be able to get a signal. There are occasions when connecting to the internet is just not possible, whether it’s because you’re camping for the weekend or taking a plane to see friends. Fortunately, you can view your favorite Netflix series and films without Wi-Fi or a strong mobile connection.
Since launching downloads in November 2016, Netflix has improved its downloading capabilities. You can now adjust Netflix’s settings to ensure that you always have something to watch offline by enabling automatic downloads and deletions when you’ve done viewing a film or episode.
Discover how to manage downloads for countries with limited licensing and how to modify your download settings so that Netflix can handle them automatically for you using its Smart Downloads capabilities. See CNET’s evaluations of all the streaming services or read about Netflix’s secret menu for further information.
How can I get programs from Netflix?
If you’ve used Netflix on a mobile device before, you’ve undoubtedly seen the black “Download” button located just under “Play.” When you click that button, a local version of the desired film or television program begins to download.
Netflix movies and TV series may be downloaded to PCs running Windows 10 or 11, as well as some Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, as well as iPhone, iPad, Android, and Amazon Fire devices. By default, Netflix downloads only utilize Wi-Fi, but you can modify that in the app’s settings.
Since Netflix does not yet have a Mac program, Mac computers (unless they are running Windows) will not be able to download it.
Netflix allows you to download TV seasons in their entirety on Android devices.
Clicking the download button next to each episode will allow you to download each TV program separately. By tapping the distinct Download Season button next to the My List, Rate, and Share links near the top of a movie or show listing, you can download an entire season of a show on Android devices.
You can keep up to 100 downloads on as many devices as your subscription plan permits with Netflix. Depending on the content license, each download has a different expiration date; some can expire as soon as 48 hours after you begin watching. Although some have a cap on the number of times per year, downloads can be renewed. All downloads for a film or television program instantly expire if it is removed from the Netflix service.
Unchecking the box next to each title will allow you to remove certain films and television series. By selecting “Delete all downloads” under “Downloads” in your App Settings, you may get rid of every download you have made.
At the bottom of the Netflix app is a “Downloads” option (referred to as “My Downloads” on Windows) that allows you to see and play the downloads that are in your library. You may also change your download preferences, including Smart Downloads.
How do Netflix Smart Downloads operate?
You can easily manage the movies and TV series you’ve downloaded using Netflix’s Smart Downloads feature. In essence, it offers two download choices: Downloads for You and Download Next Episode.
Stay up to speed with TV series by downloading the next episode. Up to a predetermined file storage limit, Downloads For You automatically downloads suggested content.
When switched on, Download Next Episode will automatically erase TV program episodes after you’ve seen them and then download the next episode in the season. It’s a no-brainer for anybody who downloads TV episodes, which is presumably why the option is set on by default in Netflix applications.
In the Windows Netflix program, switching on Smart Downloads enables Download Next Episode, even though it’s not listed explicitly as a distinct option.
What is Netflix’s Downloads for You?
Downloads for You expands the automated downloading and deleting options for Netflix that are utilized in Download Next Episode. The functionality is accessible in the iPhone, iPad and Android versions of the Netflix app, as well as select Chromebooks and Chromeboxes.
Once Downloads for You is enabled, Netflix utilizes your watching interests and habits to download TV series and films that it believes you would like. They are automatically removed once you’ve seen them.
Automatic downloads will appear underneath your manually downloaded shows once Downloads For You is enabled.
You may remove a downloaded movie in the same manner that you would remove a manually started download if you don’t want to view it. To stop downloads in progress, you may alternatively click the symbol of a square with a broken circle around it. Only Wi-Fi is compatible with Downloads for You.
Toggle on Downloads for You after selecting the Smart Downloads options (found in the App options or Downloads tab).
You can then choose to limit the amount of data Netflix will automatically download for each user profile by turning on that feature. The options range from 0.5GB to 9.5GB. (An hour of video at standard quality costs around 0.25GB, according to Netflix.)
Which TV series and films are not available for download on Netflix?
A film or television program’s Netflix downloadability is contingent upon its content license, which differs for each title. According to Netflix, it strives to offer as many titles as possible for download, and there are typically three reasons why a film or television program isn’t available:
The exclusive content rights belong to another business.
There is no way to buy the content rights.
Cost, popularity, or seasonality
According to a brief analysis of Netflix’s most popular titles, as of October 3, all ten of the US’s top films and ten of its top ten TV series are accessible for download.
According to my informal survey, popular TV series from broadcast or cable networks are the ones that are most likely to be blocked from download. Netflix offers “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “The Walking Dead” for streaming but not for download.
Is there a country where I can watch Netflix downloads?
Whether Netflix has the content license for the film or television program you wish to watch in the country you are visiting will determine this.
Downloaded films and TV series are also subject to the same geographic restrictions that restrict streaming titles in some nations. Even if you downloaded the title in your home country, you won’t be able to view it when traveling to a nation where Netflix does not display it.
This error message appears in the Netflix app when you attempt to view a downloaded movie in a country where Netflix does not display it: “Download Not Available in This Country — Not all downloads are available to watch in every country.”
Although regional limitations may be circumvented using VPN software that builds virtual private networks, Netflix actively strives to prevent VPNs from using its service. It can also be against Netflix’s terms of service to utilize a VPN to get around geo-blocking.