Download a show or movie in three steps
Open Netflix 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 box. The download starts right away and appears in your Downloads section once it finishes. You can watch it anytime, even without internet.
The download icon appears on the title's detail page, next to the play button. On some titles it will not appear at all — that means the studio has not allowed Netflix to offer that particular show or movie for offline viewing. The download takes anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the file size and your internet speed.
Downloaded content stays on your device until you delete it or until Netflix removes it from your account. Netflix removes downloads automatically if you have not opened the app for 30 days, or if your subscription ends. You can also manually delete any download by opening your Downloads section, finding the title, and tapping the trash icon.
Key Takeaways
- The download icon appears as a downward arrow on the title's detail page, and tapping it starts the download immediately.
- Downloaded shows and movies work only on the device where you downloaded them — you cannot move them to another phone or tablet.
- Netflix removes downloads automatically after 30 days of not opening the app, or when your subscription ends.
- Not every title offers a download option because studios control which shows and movies Netflix can store offline.
- You can watch downloaded content without an internet connection, but Netflix checks your subscription status once every 30 days.
Where to find the download icon
The download icon sits on the title's detail page, usually near the play button and the add-to-list heart icon. Tap the title to open its detail page, and look for the downward arrow inside a box. On some phones the icon appears directly on the title card when you are browsing, but the most reliable place to find it is on the full detail page.
If you do not see a download icon at all, that title is not available for offline viewing. This happens because the studio that owns the show or movie has not given Netflix permission to let people store it on their devices. You can still stream it online whenever you want — the download restriction only affects offline viewing.
What happens after you download
Once the download finishes, the title moves to your Downloads section. Open the Downloads tab at the bottom of the Netflix app to see everything you have stored. From there you can tap any title to watch it, or swipe left on it to delete it and free up space.
Downloaded files take up storage space on your phone or tablet — a typical hour-long episode uses between 300 megabytes and 1 gigabyte depending on video quality. If your device is running low on storage, Netflix may delete older downloads automatically to make room for new ones. You can always re-download the same title later if you need it again.
Devices that support downloads
Netflix downloads work on phones and tablets running iOS 15 or later, or Android 6 or later. Downloads do not work on computers, smart TVs, or streaming devices like Roku or Fire Stick. If you want to watch offline on a computer, you will need to use a different device or watch while connected to the internet.
Each download is tied to the device where you created it. You cannot move a downloaded show from your phone to your tablet, or share it with someone else's device. If you want the same title on multiple devices, you need to download it separately on each one.
Video quality and storage space
Netflix automatically chooses the download quality based on your device and available storage. You can change this in your app settings under Downloads. The options are usually Standard (lower quality, smaller file size) or High (better quality, larger file size). Choosing Standard saves storage space but the picture will look less sharp on larger screens.
A typical one-hour episode in Standard quality uses around 300 to 500 megabytes. The same episode in High quality uses 700 megabytes to 1 gigabyte or more. A two-hour movie can use 1 to 3 gigabytes depending on quality. If you plan to download many titles, check how much free storage your device has before you start.
When Netflix removes your downloads
Netflix automatically deletes all your downloads if your subscription ends or if you cancel your account. The app also removes downloads if you have not opened Netflix for 30 consecutive days — this is a security measure to prevent people from sharing downloaded content. When you open the app again, your downloads reappear and you can re-download them.
If you remove your Netflix account from a device, all downloads on that device are deleted. If you sign back in later, the downloads do not return — you have to download them again. Netflix also removes downloads if the studio pulls the title from the service entirely, though this is rare.
Troubleshooting downloads that do not work
If a download keeps failing, first check that you have a strong internet connection — Netflix needs a steady connection to download, even though you will watch offline later. If the connection is fine, try closing the Netflix app completely and opening it again. Then find the title and tap the download icon once more.
If the download still fails, restart your device and try again. Make sure you have enough free storage space — if your device is almost full, Netflix cannot complete the download. You can also try changing the download quality to Standard in your settings, which uses less space and sometimes downloads faster. If none of these steps work, the title may be temporarily unavailable for download due to a technical issue on Netflix's end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Netflix shows on my computer?
No, Netflix downloads only work on phones and tablets. If you want to watch Netflix offline on a computer, you will need to watch while connected to the internet. Some streaming services offer computer downloads, but Netflix does not support this feature.
Do I need internet to watch a downloaded show?
No, you can watch downloaded content without any internet connection. Netflix does check your subscription status once every 30 days, so you will need to connect to the internet at least once a month to keep watching your downloads.
Can I share a downloaded show with someone else?
No, downloads are tied to your device and your Netflix account. Someone else cannot watch your downloads even if they use the same device, because Netflix requires them to sign in with their own account. Each person needs to download the content on their own device.
How long do downloads stay on my phone?
Downloads stay until you delete them manually, your subscription ends, or Netflix removes them after 30 days of you not opening the app. You can also manually delete downloads anytime by opening the Downloads section and tapping the trash icon next to any title.
Why does a show say I cannot download it?
The studio that owns the show has not given Netflix permission to offer offline downloads for that particular title. This is a licensing decision made by the content owner, not Netflix. You can still watch the show by streaming it online whenever you want.