Netflix lets you download to watch offline, but only on certain devices and plans
Netflix's download feature works on laptops, but not all laptops, and not all movies. You can download through the Netflix app on Windows or Mac, but the titles available to download vary by region and change regularly. The download stays on your device until you delete it or your subscription ends — Netflix checks your account every 30 days to make sure you still have an active subscription.
The process itself is straightforward: open the Netflix app, find a title marked with a download icon, and tap it. But before you start, check whether your plan includes downloads and whether your laptop meets Netflix's requirements.
Key Takeaways
- You need the Netflix app for Windows or Mac, not the web browser — downloads only work in the app.
- Not every Netflix plan includes downloads; Basic and Standard plans do, but the cheapest ad-supported plan does not.
- A download icon appears next to titles that Netflix allows you to download in your region, and this changes over time.
- Downloaded content expires after 30 days if Netflix cannot verify your subscription, so offline viewing works best for short trips.
Check your Netflix plan first
Netflix's Standard plan (with or without ads) and Premium plan both include downloads. The Basic plan also includes downloads. Only the Basic with Ads plan does not allow downloads — if you have that plan, you cannot download anything.
To see which plan you have, open Netflix on any device, go to your account settings, and look at the "Membership" or "Plan" section. It will show your current plan name. If you have Basic with Ads and want to download, you would need to change to a different plan, which costs more per month.
Download the Netflix app to your laptop
Downloads only work in the Netflix app, not in a web browser. If you try to download from Netflix.com in Chrome or Safari, you will not see a download option.
For Windows: Go to the Microsoft Store, search for "Netflix", and install the official Netflix app. For Mac: Go to the Apple App Store, search for "Netflix", and install it from there. Once installed, sign in with your Netflix account. The app will remember your login, so you only do this once.
Find titles with the download icon
Not every movie or show on Netflix can be downloaded. Netflix licenses content from studios, and those licenses often do not include the right to download. A title that is downloadable in your country might not be in another, and a title you could download last month might not be downloadable now.
The only way to know if something is downloadable is to look for a download icon — usually a downward arrow or a circle with a line underneath — next to the title. Open the Netflix app, search for or browse to a movie you want, and look at the title details. If you see the download icon, you can download it. If you do not see it, that title cannot be downloaded in your region right now.
Start the download and manage storage
Once you find a downloadable title, tap or click the download icon. Netflix will ask you to choose a video quality: higher quality takes more storage space, lower quality takes less. A two-hour movie at the lowest quality might take 500 MB to 1 GB of space; at the highest quality, it could take 3 GB or more. Choose based on how much free space your laptop has and how important picture quality is to you.
The download will start immediately and run in the background. You can keep using Netflix or close the app while it downloads. On Windows, downloads go to your user folder by default; on Mac, they go to your Movies folder. You can check the download progress in the app's Downloads section, which shows you what is currently downloading and what is already on your device.
Watch your downloads and understand expiration
Once a download is complete, go to the Downloads section of the Netflix app to watch it. You do not need an internet connection to play a downloaded movie — it is stored on your laptop. You can watch it as many times as you want while it is on your device.
Downloaded content has an expiration date. Netflix checks your account every 30 days to confirm you still have an active subscription. If Netflix cannot reach your account — because you are offline or your subscription has ended — the download will stop playing after 30 days. If you go back online and your subscription is still active, Netflix will refresh the license and the download will play again. If your subscription has ended, the download becomes unwatchable.
Delete downloads to free up space
To remove a download and free up storage space, open the Netflix app, go to Downloads, find the title, and look for a delete or remove option — usually three dots or a trash icon next to the title. Tap it and confirm. The file will be deleted from your laptop immediately, and you can download it again later if you want.
Deleting a download does not affect your Netflix account or your ability to watch that title online. It only removes the file from your device. If you are running low on storage space, deleting old downloads is a quick way to make room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Netflix movies on a Chromebook?
No. Chromebooks run Chrome OS, not Windows or Mac, so the Netflix app is not available. You can only watch Netflix through the web browser on a Chromebook, and downloads are not possible in the browser.
What if the download icon does not appear next to a movie I want?
That title is not available for download in your region. Netflix's licensing agreements vary by country and change over time. You can still watch it online if you have an internet connection. Check back later — sometimes titles become downloadable again.
How much storage space do I need for downloads?
It depends on video quality and title length. A two-hour movie at low quality might use 500 MB to 1 GB; at high quality, 2 to 4 GB. A full season of a show could use 10 GB or more. Check your laptop's free storage before downloading large amounts.
Can I move a Netflix download to an external hard drive?
No. Netflix downloads are encrypted and tied to your device. You cannot copy them to another drive or device. If you need to watch offline on multiple devices, you would need to download the same title on each device separately.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my subscription?
Downloads stop working immediately. Netflix will no longer refresh the license, and after 30 days offline, the files become unplayable. If you reactivate your subscription later, you can download the titles again, but the old files on your device will not work.