How to Download a Show on Netflix to Watch Offline
Netflix's download feature lets you save episodes and movies directly to your device so you can watch them without an internet connection. It's built into the Netflix app — but how well it works, and what's available to download, depends on several factors specific to your plan, device, and the content itself.
What You Actually Need Before You Start
Not every Netflix subscription includes downloads. Ad-supported (Standard with Ads) plans do not allow downloads as of current plan structures. Downloads are available on Standard and Premium plans. If you try to download something and the option is grayed out or missing, your subscription tier is the first thing to check.
You also need the Netflix mobile or tablet app — downloads are not available through a web browser. Supported platforms include:
- iOS (iPhone and iPad) via the App Store
- Android phones and tablets via Google Play
- Windows 10/11 via the Microsoft Store
Notably, macOS, Chromebooks, and smart TVs do not support Netflix downloads through any official method.
How to Download a Show on Netflix: Step by Step
Once you have a compatible app and plan, the process is straightforward:
- Open the Netflix app and sign in.
- Find the show or movie you want to download.
- On a series, open the episode list. You'll see a download icon (a downward arrow) next to each available episode.
- Tap the download icon next to the episode you want. For movies, the download button appears on the title's detail page.
- A progress bar will appear. Once complete, the content is saved locally on your device.
To find your downloaded content, go to My Netflix > Downloads (the exact location varies slightly by app version, but there's always a dedicated Downloads section in the menu).
Not Every Title Is Available for Download 📥
This catches a lot of people off guard. Licensing restrictions mean that some Netflix content — including certain licensed movies and third-party TV shows — simply cannot be downloaded, even on eligible plans. Netflix Originals are more consistently available for download than licensed content, but there are exceptions.
If you don't see a download icon on a title, it means the rights holder hasn't granted Netflix permission to allow offline viewing for that content. There's no workaround for this; it's a licensing constraint, not a technical one.
Storage, Quality, and Download Limits
Storage Space
Downloaded video takes up real storage on your device. A standard-definition episode might use 200–500 MB, while HD content can use 1–3 GB per episode depending on length and quality settings. If you're downloading a full season in HD, you'll need several gigabytes free.
You can adjust download quality in App Settings > Download Quality:
| Quality Setting | Approximate File Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Smaller | Limited storage devices |
| High | Larger | Devices with ample storage |
Download Limits
Netflix enforces limits on how many titles you can have downloaded at once. Most plans allow up to 25 downloads per device, and you can use downloads on a limited number of devices tied to your account (tied to your plan's screen limit). Premium plans allow more simultaneous devices than Standard.
Expiration Dates ⏰
Downloaded content doesn't stay available forever. Netflix applies expiration windows to downloads — typically between 7 and 30 days after download, though this varies by title. Once you start watching a downloaded episode, you usually have 48 hours to finish it before it expires.
If your Netflix subscription lapses or is canceled, all downloads become immediately unplayable.
Smart Downloads: The Feature Worth Knowing
Netflix's Smart Downloads feature (available on Android and iOS) automatically deletes a watched episode and downloads the next one in the series when you connect to Wi-Fi. It's designed for people who regularly commute or travel and want to stay a season ahead without manually managing their download queue. You can toggle it on or off in Download Settings.
What Shapes Your Download Experience
The variables that determine how smoothly this works for you include:
- Your subscription plan — the biggest gating factor for access
- Your device's available storage — directly limits how much you can save
- The specific titles you want — licensing controls availability, not Netflix's interface
- Your device's OS and app version — older app versions can have bugs or missing features; keeping the app updated matters
- Your Wi-Fi speed — downloads happen over your connection; a slow network means slow downloads, though quality still depends on the setting you chose, not your speed at download time
Someone with a newer Android phone, a Premium plan, 64 GB of free storage, and a fast home Wi-Fi connection will have a very different experience than someone on a Standard plan with an older iPad running low on space — even if they're trying to download the exact same show.
Whether the titles you care about are available offline, and whether your current device and plan setup supports the download quality you expect, are the pieces only your specific situation can answer.