The basic steps to download a show on Disney Plus
Open the Disney Plus app on your phone or tablet, find the show or movie you want to watch offline, and tap the download icon — it looks like a downward arrow inside a circle. The app will begin downloading the episode or film to your device's storage. You can watch it anytime without an internet connection, even if your subscription lapses before you finish watching (though Disney Plus may eventually remove the file after a set period).
Downloads work on phones and tablets running iOS 11 or later, or Android 5.0 or later. They do not work on computers, web browsers, or streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV. If you are using a phone or tablet, the Disney Plus app must be installed — you cannot download through a web browser.
The download icon appears next to the play button on most show and movie pages. If you do not see it, that title is not available for download in your region, or your account type does not support downloads. Standard and Premium subscription tiers both allow downloads; the difference is how many devices can stream at once, not download access.
Key Takeaways
- Downloads are available only in the Disney Plus mobile app on phones and tablets, not on computers or streaming devices.
- Tap the download icon next to the play button, and the show or episode saves to your device's storage for offline viewing.
- You can download up to 100 titles across all your devices, though individual titles may have download limits set by Disney.
- Downloaded content expires after a set period — Disney Plus removes files automatically, so you cannot keep them permanently.
- If the download icon does not appear, that title is region-locked or not available for download on your account type.
Where downloads save and how much space they use
Downloaded shows and movies save to your device's internal storage, not to the cloud. On iPhone, they take up space on your phone just like photos or apps do. On Android, they typically save to your device's internal storage as well, though some phones let you choose an SD card if one is installed.
A single episode of a show usually takes 300 MB to 1 GB of space, depending on video quality and length. A full movie can range from 1 GB to 4 GB. If you download an entire season of a show, you may use 5 to 10 GB or more. Check your device's available storage before downloading multiple titles — if you run out of space, your phone will slow down or stop letting you install updates.
You can see how much space each download uses by opening the Disney Plus app, going to your profile, selecting "Downloads," and looking at the file size listed next to each title. If you need to free up space, delete downloads you have already watched by swiping left on them (iPhone) or long-pressing them (Android) and selecting delete.
How long downloads stay on your device
Disney Plus does not let you keep downloaded content forever. The company sets an expiration date on each download — typically 30 days from when you first download it, though this varies by title and region. Once the expiration date passes, the file disappears from your device automatically, even if you never watched it.
If you have already started watching a downloaded episode or movie, Disney Plus usually extends the expiration window. The exact length of this extension depends on the title, but it is often 48 hours from when you last opened the file. This means if you download a show but do not watch it for a month, it will vanish; if you start watching it, you get more time to finish.
You can re-download the same title as many times as you want, as long as your subscription is active and the title remains available in your region. There is no penalty for deleting and re-downloading — Disney Plus treats each download as a fresh start with a new expiration date.
Download limits and what counts toward them
Disney Plus allows you to download up to 100 titles total across all your devices. A "title" means a single show or movie — so downloading season one and season two of the same show counts as two titles. Individual episodes within a season do not count separately; downloading one episode of a show counts the same as downloading all episodes of that season.
If you hit the 100-title limit, you must delete a download before you can add a new one. The app will warn you when you are close to the limit and prevent you from downloading more once you reach it. This limit applies to your entire Disney Plus account, not per device — so if you download 50 titles on your phone and 50 on your tablet, you cannot download anything else until you delete something.
Some individual titles have their own download restrictions. Disney may limit how many episodes of a single season you can download at once, or prevent downloading of certain movies or shows entirely. If you try to download something and the app says it is not available, that title has a download restriction in your region.
Downloading full seasons versus individual episodes
When you download a TV show, you can choose to download the entire season at once or pick individual episodes. Open the show page, tap the download icon next to the season title, and the app will download all episodes in that season. To download only specific episodes, scroll down to the episode list, find the episode you want, and tap its download icon.
Downloading a full season is faster than downloading episodes one at a time if you plan to watch the whole thing. However, it uses more storage space all at once. If you are traveling and only have time to watch a few episodes, downloading just those episodes saves space and download time.
You can mix and match — download some episodes individually and others as part of a full season download. The Disney Plus app keeps track of which episodes you have downloaded, so you will not accidentally download the same episode twice.
Troubleshooting downloads that fail or do not appear
If a download fails or gets stuck, first check your internet connection. Downloads require a stable connection to start, though once they begin, you can usually continue downloading over WiFi or mobile data. If your connection drops, the download will pause and resume automatically when you reconnect.
If the download icon does not appear on a title, that content is not available for download in your region. Disney Plus restricts downloads for some titles based on licensing agreements — the show or movie may be available to stream but not to download. Try searching for a different title to confirm the download feature is working on your device.
If downloads worked before but stopped working, restart the Disney Plus app by closing it completely and reopening it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find Disney Plus, and swipe up on it. On Android, go to Settings, find Disney Plus in your app list, and tap "Force Stop." Then reopen the app and try downloading again.
If you see a storage error, your device does not have enough free space. Delete other files or apps you do not need, or delete downloaded shows you have already watched. You need at least 500 MB to 1 GB of free space to download most titles.
Watching downloads offline and managing your library
Once a show or movie is downloaded, open the Disney Plus app, go to your profile, and select "Downloads." You will see all your downloaded content listed there. Tap any title to play it — the app will not try to stream it or check your internet connection. You can watch it in airplane mode, on a plane, in a car, or anywhere else without data or WiFi.
Downloaded content plays in the same video quality as when you downloaded it. If you downloaded in standard definition to save space, it will play in standard definition. If you downloaded in high definition, it will play in high definition. You cannot change the quality after downloading.
Your download library syncs across devices on the same account. If you download a show on your phone, you can see it listed in the Downloads section on your tablet too, but the actual file only exists on the device where you downloaded it. You must download separately on each device if you want to watch offline on multiple phones or tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Disney Plus shows on my computer?
No. Downloads are only available in the Disney Plus app on phones and tablets. The web version of Disney Plus does not have a download feature, and the app is not available for Windows or Mac computers. If you want to watch offline on a computer, you would need to download before leaving home on a phone or tablet, then transfer the file manually — but Disney Plus does not officially support this method.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my subscription?
Downloaded files remain on your device after your subscription ends, but you cannot play them. The Disney Plus app will prevent you from opening downloaded content if your subscription is not active. If you resubscribe later, the files may still be there, and you should be able to watch them again — though Disney Plus may have removed them if enough time has passed.
Can I download shows to watch on a different device later?
Not directly. Downloads are tied to the device where you download them. You cannot move a downloaded file from your phone to your tablet or to another person's phone. You must download the same show separately on each device. However, you can delete the download on one device and download it on another device using the same Disney Plus account.
Do downloaded shows use data if I watch them offline?
No. Once downloaded, a show or movie plays entirely from your device's storage. It does not use any internet data, even if your phone has WiFi or cellular service available. This is the main reason to download — you can watch without using your data plan or needing an internet connection.
Why does the download icon not appear on some shows?
Disney Plus restricts downloads for some titles due to licensing agreements with studios and networks. The show or movie is available to stream, but the rights holder did not allow Disney to offer downloads. These restrictions vary by region and can change over time. If a title is not available for download now, it may become available later, or it may never be available for download.