Netflix subscribers can now download content to watch offline. This move may perhaps in an effort to keep up with streaming rival Amazon Video.The latest app update includes a download button on the details page of a movie or TV series.
“While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we’ve often heard they also want to continue their Stranger Thingsbinge while on airplanes and other places where Internet is expensive or limited,” Eddy Wu, director of product innovation, said in an announcement.
The feature is included in all plans, and accessible for Android- or iOS-based phones and tablets. You’ll need a device running iOS 8.0 or later or Android 4.4.2 or later, as well as plenty of device storage space.
“Many of your favorite streaming series and movies are already available for download, with more on the way, so there is plenty of content available for those times when you’re offline,” Wu added.
Originals 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 download now.
Bulk download options and viewing times vary based on individual licensing agreements. For some, offline watching must be completed within 48 hours of pressing play; expiration dates can be found on the “My Downloads” page of the Netflix app. In some cases, the company may limit the number of titles one user can load onto their device at a time. Still in its infancy, the new feature may require some personal trial and error.
Amazon became the first online streaming service to support offline viewing when it launched the ability to download select movies and TV episodes from Prime Video to iOS and Android devices in September last year. In contrast with Netflix—which is rolling this out globally—Amazon initially offered the option to viewers in the US, Germany, and the UK.
