Download Netflix content directly from the app on your phone or tablet
Netflix downloads happen inside the Netflix app itself — there is no separate website or process. Open the app on your phone or tablet, find the show or movie you want to watch later, and tap the download button (usually a downward arrow icon). The file saves to your device's storage, and you can watch it anytime without an internet connection.
Computers cannot download Netflix content. If you want to watch offline on a laptop or desktop, you will need to use a phone or tablet instead. Netflix limits downloads to mobile devices only.
Downloaded content stays on your device until you delete it or until Netflix removes it from your account. Netflix can remove titles from your download library if the licensing agreement with the studio ends, which means the file disappears even if you never touched it.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix downloads only work on phones and tablets running iOS or Android — computers cannot download content.
- Tap the download arrow icon next to any show or movie title, and Netflix saves it to your device's storage automatically.
- Downloaded content uses storage space on your phone or tablet, so deleting old downloads frees up room for new ones.
- Netflix can remove downloaded titles without warning if licensing agreements expire, even if you have not watched them yet.
- You can watch downloaded content without internet, but Netflix still checks your account status periodically to make sure your subscription is active.
Finding the download button on your phone or tablet
The download button appears on most show and movie detail pages. Open Netflix, search for or browse to the title you want, and look for a downward arrow icon. On some titles, especially older ones or content from smaller studios, the download button may not appear — this means Netflix does not have permission to let you download that particular title.
If you cannot find the arrow icon, scroll down on the title page. Sometimes it sits below the description or in a row of action buttons next to "Play" and "Add to My List." Tap it once, and Netflix begins downloading immediately. You will see a progress indicator showing how much of the file has transferred to your device.
Downloaded episodes of a series download one at a time by default. If you want to download multiple episodes at once, look for a "Download Season" option on the series page, which downloads all episodes in that season in sequence.
How much storage space downloads use
A single movie typically uses 500 MB to 3 GB of storage, depending on video quality and length. A one-hour TV episode uses roughly 300 MB to 1 GB. These are rough ranges — Netflix adjusts file size based on the resolution you choose and the bitrate of the original content.
Before you download heavily, check how much free space your phone or tablet has. Go to Settings on your device, find Storage or About Phone, and look at the available space. If you have less than 5 GB free, you may run out of room after downloading just a few titles.
You can delete downloads anytime to reclaim space. Open Netflix, go to your Downloads section, find the title, and tap the trash or delete icon. The file disappears from your device immediately, but you can download it again later as long as your subscription is active.
Choosing video quality for downloads
Netflix offers three download quality options on most devices: Low, Medium, and High. Low quality uses the least storage but looks grainier on screen. High quality looks sharper but takes up significantly more space. Medium is a middle ground that works well for most phones.
To change download quality, open Netflix, go to your account settings (usually found by tapping your profile icon), and look for Download Quality or Download Settings. Select your preferred option, and all future downloads will use that quality. This setting does not change downloads you have already made — only new ones.
If you are downloading on a phone with limited storage, use Low or Medium quality. If you have plenty of space and plan to watch on a larger tablet screen, High quality is worth the extra storage cost.
Watching your downloads without internet
Once a download finishes, go to the Downloads section of the Netflix app (usually a tab at the bottom of the screen) and tap the title. It plays exactly like streaming content, but no internet connection is required. You can pause, rewind, and skip forward just as you normally would.
Netflix still needs to verify your subscription periodically, even for offline viewing. If you go more than 30 days without connecting to the internet, Netflix will not let you play downloaded content until you reconnect and let the app check your account status. This is a security measure to prevent sharing of downloaded files across multiple people.
Downloaded content respects the same parental controls and profile restrictions as streaming content. If a profile has restrictions set, downloaded titles follow those same rules.
What to do if the download button does not appear
Not every title on Netflix can be downloaded. Studios and production companies control whether Netflix has the right to let you download their content, and many titles are streaming-only. If you do not see a download arrow, that title cannot be downloaded on your device.
Some titles become downloadable later. If a show was streaming-only when it first arrived on Netflix, the studio may grant download rights after a few months. Check back periodically if you really want to download something that is currently unavailable.
If you see the download button but it is grayed out or not responding, try closing the Netflix app completely and reopening it. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents the button from working. If it still does not work after restarting the app, the title may have lost download rights since you last checked.
Managing your downloaded content library
Netflix keeps all your downloads organized in the Downloads section of the app. You can see how much storage each download uses, when you last watched it, and how much of the file has downloaded (if it is still in progress).
Delete downloads you have finished watching to free up space for new ones. You can also set Netflix to automatically delete episodes after you watch them. Go to account settings, find Download Settings, and turn on "Delete watched episodes" if that option is available on your device. This keeps your Downloads section from getting cluttered.
If you switch to a new phone or tablet, your downloads do not transfer automatically. You will need to download titles again on the new device. Your watch history and saved list follow you to the new device, but the actual downloaded files stay on the old one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Netflix content on my computer?
No. Netflix only allows downloads on phones and tablets running iOS or Android. Computers, even with the Netflix app installed, cannot download content for offline viewing. If you need to watch offline on a computer, you would need to use a phone or tablet instead.
What happens to my downloads if my Netflix subscription ends?
Downloaded files remain on your device, but you cannot play them. Netflix checks your subscription status when you try to watch, and if your account is inactive, playback is blocked. Once you resubscribe, you can watch your downloads again without re-downloading them.
How long can I keep a downloaded show or movie?
You can keep downloads as long as you want, but Netflix may remove titles from your library if licensing agreements expire. When this happens, the downloaded file becomes unplayable even though it still takes up storage space. You can delete it manually to free up room.
Do downloaded videos use my data plan?
No. Once a download finishes, watching it uses no data at all. The download itself uses data when you first transfer the file to your device, but playback afterward is completely offline. This makes downloads useful for travel or situations where your data is limited.
Can I share downloaded Netflix content with someone else?
Technically the file is on your device, but Netflix prevents playback on other devices or accounts. Downloaded content is tied to the Netflix account that downloaded it, so sharing the file itself does not work. The other person would need their own Netflix account and device to watch.