Disney Plus lets you download movies and episodes to watch offline on phones and tablets, but not on computers
Disney Plus has a download feature built into its mobile app. You can save movies, TV episodes, and some special content to your phone or tablet, then watch them without an internet connection. The downloads stay on your device until you delete them, and they count against your device's storage space.
You cannot download to a computer or TV — only to iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) and Android phones and tablets. If you want to watch on a larger screen without internet, you would need to download to a tablet or use a different approach.
Downloads are included with your regular Disney Plus subscription at no extra cost. You do not need a special tier or add-on.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Disney Plus app on your phone or tablet, find the movie or episode you want, and tap the download icon (usually a downward arrow) on its details page.
- Downloaded content uses storage space on your device and will be deleted if you uninstall the app or log out of your account.
- You can download the same title on up to four devices at once, but each download counts separately toward your device storage.
- Downloaded movies and shows expire after 30 days if you do not refresh them by opening the app and connecting to the internet.
Step-by-step: downloading a movie or episode
Open the Disney Plus app on your phone or tablet and search for the movie or show you want. Tap on the title to open its details page.
Look for the download icon — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow, usually near the play button. Tap it. The app will ask you to choose the video quality: Standard or High. Standard uses less storage space; High uses more but looks sharper. Choose one and tap Download.
The app will show a progress bar as the download happens. This can take a few minutes depending on the file size and your internet speed. Once it finishes, the download icon will change to show a checkmark or filled circle, meaning the file is ready to watch offline.
To find your downloads, look for a Downloads tab or section in the app's main menu. Tap it to see everything you have saved.
How much storage space downloads use
A typical movie in Standard quality takes up 1 to 3 gigabytes (GB). High quality takes 2 to 5 GB. A single TV episode in Standard is usually 300 to 800 megabytes (MB); in High quality, 600 MB to 2 GB. These numbers vary depending on the length and type of content.
If your phone or tablet has 64 GB of storage, you might fit 20 to 40 movies in Standard quality, or 10 to 20 in High quality, depending on what else is on the device. Check your device's storage settings to see how much free space you have before downloading.
You can delete a download at any time by opening the Downloads section, finding the title, and tapping Delete or Remove. This frees up the space immediately.
The 30-day expiration rule and how to refresh downloads
Disney Plus downloads expire 30 days after you first download them. This means the file will stop playing after 30 days, even if it is still on your device. You do not lose the download automatically — it stays on your device taking up space — but the app will not let you play it.
To refresh a download and reset the 30-day timer, open the Disney Plus app, connect to the internet, and navigate to your Downloads section. The app will check your account and refresh the expiration date. You do not need to re-download the file; just opening the app and letting it sync is enough.
If you travel and will not have internet access for more than 30 days, you should refresh your downloads before you leave. After that, the downloads will expire and you will need to reconnect to the internet to refresh them again.
Downloading across multiple devices
You can download the same movie or episode on up to four devices linked to your Disney Plus account. Each download is separate — a movie downloaded on your phone takes up storage on your phone, and the same movie on your tablet takes up storage on your tablet.
If you reach the four-device limit and want to download on a fifth device, you must delete the download from one of the other devices first. You can manage which devices have which downloads by going into your account settings on the Disney Plus website, though most people just delete from the device itself.
What you cannot download and why
Some content on Disney Plus cannot be downloaded. This includes certain licensed shows and movies that Disney does not own outright — the studios that own them restrict downloads as part of their licensing agreement with Disney. You will not see a download button on these titles.
Original Disney Plus series, Marvel films, Star Wars content, and Pixar movies are almost always downloadable. If you cannot find a download button on something you want, it is because the rights holder has not allowed it.
You also cannot download to a computer, smart TV, or streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV. Downloads work only on phones and tablets running the Disney Plus app.
Troubleshooting downloads that fail or do not appear
If a download fails or gets stuck, try closing the Disney Plus app completely and opening it again. Then navigate back to the title and tap download. Make sure you have a stable internet connection — downloads over weak WiFi or cellular data can stall.
If a download does not appear in your Downloads section after it finishes, check that you are logged into the same Disney Plus account on that device. Downloads are tied to your account, not the device itself. If you logged in with a different account, you will not see downloads from another account.
If you are running low on storage space, your device may refuse to download. Check your device's storage settings and delete files you do not need to free up space. You need at least a few hundred megabytes free to start a download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download Disney Plus movies to my laptop or computer?
No. Disney Plus downloads only work on phones and tablets with the mobile app. If you want to watch on a computer without internet, you would need to download while connected and then disconnect, but the app does not support this. Your best option is to download to a tablet instead.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Disney Plus subscription?
Downloaded files will stop playing immediately once your subscription ends. The files remain on your device taking up storage, but the app will not let you open them. If you resubscribe later, you can refresh them and play them again.
Do I need WiFi to download, or can I use cellular data?
You can use either WiFi or cellular data to download. However, downloading over cellular can be slow and may use a lot of data depending on the quality you choose. Most people download over WiFi to avoid using their monthly data limit.
Can I share downloaded movies with someone else?
No. Downloads are tied to your Disney Plus account and device. Someone else cannot watch your downloads unless they log into your account on that device. Sharing your account login is against Disney Plus's terms of service.
Why did my download disappear?
Downloads disappear if you uninstall the Disney Plus app, log out of your account, or if the 30-day expiration passes without a refresh. They also disappear if your subscription ends. If you deleted it by accident, you can download it again.