Netflix fans everywhere will definitely be very happy with this news!
Netflix announced Wednesday that its movies and series are now available to download at any time at no extra cost. The streaming media company confirmed in a tweet that its members can now download their favorite shows instead of watching them online.
“Netflix members around the world can now download great shows and movies at no additional cost,” said Eddy Wu, the company. “While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we’ve heard many times that they want to continue watching on the go, where internet can be expensive or limited. Now you can simply click the download button on the details page for a movie or TV show and you can watch it later offline.”
"Netflix works with many partners globally to obtain download rights for most of our content. It's an ongoing effort as we recognize our consumers' need for offline viewing and strive to provide it."
Currently, classic series like Orange is the New Black, Narcos, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and The Crown, as well as popular shows like Bates Motel, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Suits, are available for offline viewing via download. There are also many popular non-Netflix shows like Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, you can't download everything. Shows like the new season of Friends, Gilmore Girls, and New Girl are currently online-only.
"Many of your favorite streaming series and movies are already available for download, with more coming soon, so there's plenty of content available for those offline hours," Wu added.
The new add-on feature comes free with all Netflix subscriptions. However, the feature is only available on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, provided they are running iOS 8.0 or Android 4.4.2 or later, as well as the latest Netflix app update.
For more than a year now, Amazon Prime Video has offered offline viewing to its members on its iOS and Android apps, while YouTube Red subscribers also have access to offline videos.
Here's what you need to do to watch Netflix offline:
- Select the series or movie you want to download in the Netflix app.
- Scroll down and look for the “Download” icon, a downward-pointing arrow. For a TV show, it will be next to the specific episode. For a movie, it will be right below the plot and cast.
- Press the download button. At the bottom of the screen, a progress bar will appear letting you know when the download is complete.
- Now, simply return to the app while offline and watch your chosen movie or series without an internet connection. Make sure you have completely downloaded the selected show to your phone before you log out.
