Netflix downloads work through the Netflix app on your phone or tablet, not through a web browser
To download a Netflix movie, open the Netflix app on your phone or tablet, find the movie you want, and tap the download icon — usually a downward-pointing arrow next to the play button. The movie saves to your device's storage and you can watch it without an internet connection. The download stays on your device until you delete it or until Netflix removes your access to that title.
You cannot download movies through Netflix's website on a computer. Downloads only work in the mobile app on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices. If you try to download on a computer, you will not see a download option.
Not every Netflix title is available to download. Netflix licenses movies differently depending on the studio and the country you are in, so some titles have the download button and others do not. If you do not see a download arrow next to a movie, that title cannot be downloaded in your region.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Netflix app on your phone or tablet, find the movie, and tap the download arrow to save it to your device.
- Downloaded movies stay on your device until you delete them or lose Netflix access, and you can watch them without internet.
- Not all Netflix titles are available to download — if you do not see a download button, that movie cannot be downloaded where you are.
- Downloaded files take up storage space on your phone or tablet, so delete movies you have finished watching if you need space for other apps.
- Netflix limits the number of downloads per account depending on your subscription plan — Standard and Premium plans allow more downloads than Basic.
Where to find the download button on a movie page
When you open a movie in the Netflix app, look at the row of buttons below the movie title. You will see a play button, a plus sign (to add to your list), and usually a download arrow. Tap the arrow to start the download. The button location is the same on both iPhone and Android apps.
If you do not see a download arrow, that movie is not available to download. This happens because Netflix's licensing agreements with studios vary by region and by title. You can still stream it on Netflix, but you cannot save it to your device.
The download will begin immediately and a progress bar will appear showing how much of the file has been saved. Depending on your internet speed and the movie length, a full-length film usually takes a few minutes to an hour to download completely.
How much storage space downloads use
A typical Netflix movie download uses between 500 MB and 3 GB of storage, depending on the video quality you choose and the movie's length. Netflix automatically adjusts the quality based on your device and available storage — a newer phone with more space may download in higher quality than an older phone with less room.
Before you download, check how much free space your phone or tablet has. Go to Settings on your device and look for Storage or About Phone to see available space. If you are running low on storage, delete old downloads or other apps to make room.
You can also control download quality in Netflix settings. Open the Netflix app, go to More (the three horizontal lines), tap Account, then App Settings, and look for Download Quality. Choosing a lower quality will use less storage space but the movie will look less sharp when you watch it.
How many movies you can download at once
Netflix limits the total number of downloads you can have on your account at the same time. The limit depends on your subscription plan: Basic plans allow 1 download, Standard plans allow 4 downloads, and Premium plans allow 6 downloads. These limits apply across all your devices — if you download 3 movies on your phone, you can only download 1 more on your tablet if you have a Standard plan.
If you reach your download limit and want to download another movie, you must delete one of your existing downloads first. Simply open the movie in the Netflix app and tap the download arrow again — it will change to a trash icon, and tapping it will remove the download from your device.
The download limit resets when you delete a movie, so you can download a new one immediately. This is different from your streaming limit, which controls how many people can watch at the same time on your account.
When downloads expire or become unavailable
Netflix movies you download do not stay on your device forever. Most downloads expire after 30 days, though some titles have different expiration periods depending on the studio's licensing agreement. When a download is about to expire, Netflix will send you a notification and show a countdown timer in the app.
If a download expires, you can download the movie again if it is still available on Netflix. Simply tap the download arrow again and the file will save to your device with a new 30-day timer.
Downloads also become unavailable if Netflix loses the rights to a title. If a movie leaves Netflix, any downloads of that movie on your device will stop working, even if the file is still physically on your phone. You will see a message saying the title is no longer available when you try to play it.
Watching a downloaded movie offline
Once a movie finishes downloading, you can watch it without an internet connection. Open the Netflix app, go to Downloads (usually a tab at the bottom of the app), and tap the movie you want to watch. The app will play the file from your device's storage instead of streaming it from Netflix's servers.
You do not need to turn on airplane mode or disable Wi-Fi to watch a download — Netflix will use the local file automatically. However, Netflix will still check your account periodically to make sure your subscription is active, so you will need an internet connection at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads working.
If you go longer than 30 days without connecting to the internet, your downloads will stop playing and you will see a message asking you to go online. Once you connect and Netflix verifies your account, the downloads will work again.
Deleting downloads and freeing up storage
To delete a download, open the Netflix app and go to the Downloads section. Find the movie you want to remove, swipe left on it (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android), and tap Delete or Remove. The file will be deleted from your device immediately and you will regain that storage space.
You can also delete a download from the movie's detail page. Open the movie, look for the download button (which will now show a trash icon or a minus sign), and tap it to remove the file.
Deleting a download does not affect your ability to watch the movie later — you can download it again at any time as long as it is still available on Netflix and you have not reached your download limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Netflix movies on my computer?
No. Netflix downloads only work in the mobile app on phones and tablets running iOS or Android. The Netflix website on a computer does not have a download feature. If you want to watch Netflix offline on a computer, you would need to use a different method like screen recording, which violates Netflix's terms of service.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Netflix subscription?
Downloaded movies stop working immediately when your subscription ends. The files remain on your device, but Netflix will not let you play them because the app cannot verify that you still have an active account. If you resubscribe later, your old downloads may work again, but Netflix recommends downloading them fresh.
Why does Netflix limit how many movies I can download?
Netflix limits downloads to manage storage on your device and to prevent people from downloading entire libraries. The limits also help Netflix track licensing — studios care about how many copies of a movie are saved locally, and the limits help Netflix stay within those agreements.
Can I download Netflix movies and watch them on a different app or device?
No. Netflix downloads are encrypted and locked to the Netflix app on the device where you downloaded them. You cannot transfer the files to another app, another device, or a computer. The files are only playable through Netflix's app.
Does downloading a movie use my internet data plan?
Yes. Downloading uses data the same way streaming does — the file has to come from Netflix's servers to your device over the internet. If you have a limited data plan, downloading large movie files will count against your monthly limit. Downloading over Wi-Fi instead of cellular data can help you avoid using your phone's data allowance.