Download a series directly from the show's main page
Open Netflix on your phone or tablet and find the series you want to download. Tap or click the download icon — it looks like a downward arrow inside a circle — next to the series title. On most phones, this icon appears near the play button and the add-to-list heart icon.
Netflix will download the next unwatched episode automatically. If you want to download multiple episodes at once instead of waiting for them one by one, tap the download icon again after the first episode starts downloading. Each tap downloads the next episode in sequence.
The download starts immediately and runs in the background. You can close the app or use your phone for other things while it downloads. On a phone with a strong WiFi connection, a single episode usually takes two to five minutes.
Key Takeaways
- The download arrow icon sits next to the play button on any series or episode page, and tapping it downloads the next unwatched episode.
- Netflix stores downloaded episodes in the Downloads section of the app, separate from your regular watch list.
- Downloaded episodes stay on your device for up to 30 days, though some titles expire sooner depending on licensing agreements.
- You can delete downloaded episodes manually at any time to free up storage space on your phone or tablet.
- Downloads work only on phones and tablets running Netflix's mobile app — not on computers or web browsers.
Where to find your downloaded episodes
After you download episodes, they appear in a separate section called Downloads. Open the Netflix app and look for the Downloads tab at the bottom of the screen on most phones, or in the menu on tablets. This tab shows only the episodes and movies you have downloaded, not your full watch history.
Downloaded episodes appear with a small download icon next to them, so you can tell at a glance which ones are stored on your device. If an episode has expired — Netflix removes it after 30 days — the download icon changes to show a clock or expiration notice, and you can download it again if you want to keep watching.
How long downloads stay on your device
Netflix keeps most downloaded episodes on your phone or tablet for 30 days from the date you downloaded them. After 30 days, the episode automatically deletes itself, and you will need to download it again to watch offline. Some titles have shorter expiration windows — usually 7 days — depending on the studio's licensing agreement with Netflix.
You can see how many days remain before an episode expires by opening the Downloads section and looking for the expiration date next to the episode title. If you know you will want to watch something again later, download it fresh rather than waiting until the last day.
Delete downloads to save phone storage
Downloaded episodes take up storage space on your device. If your phone or tablet is running low on space, you can delete downloaded episodes to free it up. Open the Downloads section, find the episode or series you want to remove, and swipe left on it (on iPhone) or press and hold it (on Android). Tap Delete or Remove.
Deleting a download does not remove the episode from your watch history or your list. You can download it again anytime you want to watch it offline. Netflix will not re-download episodes you have already watched unless you ask it to.
Download limits and storage space
Netflix does not set a hard limit on how many episodes you can download, but your phone or tablet's storage space does. A single episode typically uses 300 megabytes to 1 gigabyte of space, depending on video quality and episode length. A full season of a typical drama might use 5 to 10 gigabytes.
Before downloading a whole series, check how much free space your device has. Go to Settings on your phone, then Storage or About Phone, to see available space. If you are downloading over a cellular connection instead of WiFi, Netflix may limit download quality to save data — check your Netflix app settings under Downloads to adjust this if needed.
Download quality and video settings
Netflix downloads episodes in the quality your app is set to use. By default, most phones download in Standard quality, which uses less storage but looks grainier on larger screens. If you want sharper video, open Netflix Settings, find Downloads, and change the quality to High or Best.
Higher quality downloads use more storage space and take longer to download. High quality is usually a good middle ground — it looks clear on phone screens without eating up too much space. Best quality is closest to what you see when streaming, but a single episode can use 2 gigabytes or more.
Troubleshooting downloads that won't start
If the download icon does not appear or tapping it does nothing, make sure you are using the Netflix mobile app, not the web version. Downloads only work on phones and tablets. Check that you have WiFi or cellular data turned on, and that your Netflix account is current — expired subscriptions cannot download new content.
If downloads worked before but stopped, restart the Netflix app by closing it completely and opening it again. On some phones, you may need to go to Settings, Apps, Netflix, and tap Force Stop before reopening. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall the Netflix app — this usually fixes download issues without affecting your account or watch history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download a series on my computer or laptop?
No. Netflix downloads only work on phones and tablets running the Netflix mobile app. The web version of Netflix does not have a download feature. If you want to watch offline on a computer, you will need to use a phone or tablet instead.
What happens if I download a series and then cancel my Netflix subscription?
Downloaded episodes stop working as soon as your subscription ends. Netflix checks your account status every time you open the app, even for offline content. You can still watch the downloaded files if you resubscribe, but you cannot watch them while your account is inactive.
Can I download a series on one phone and watch it on another?
No. Downloads are tied to the device they were downloaded on. You cannot transfer a downloaded episode from one phone to another, even if both phones use the same Netflix account. You would need to download the series separately on the second phone.
Does downloading a series count against my data plan?
Only if you download over cellular data instead of WiFi. If you download while connected to WiFi, it does not use your phone's data plan. To download only on WiFi, open Netflix Settings, find Downloads, and turn on "WiFi only" or similar option.
Why does Netflix say a downloaded episode has expired?
Netflix removes downloads after 30 days (or sometimes 7 days for certain titles) to comply with licensing agreements with studios. The expiration date is set when you download, not when the episode first aired. Download it again if you want to keep watching it offline.