Netflix Introduces Offline Viewing for Popular Shows on its iOS App [Updated] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Netflix Introduces Offline Viewing for Popular Shows on its iOS App [Updated]

by

Netflix this morning announced that offline viewing of its shows is now available to users around the world on the service's mobile app. The launch follows reports from over the summer that offline viewing would be coming to Netflix "by the end of the year."

netflix-download
Now, users will be able to click a "download" button next to each episode in preparation for the times they won't be connected to the internet. The company said that many popular shows are already available to download -- including Orange is the New Black and The Crown -- with more coming soon.

Netflix members worldwide can now download in addition to stream great series and films at no extra cost.

While many members enjoy watching Netflix at home, we’ve often heard they also want to continue their Stranger Things binge while on airplanes and other places where Internet is expensive or limited. Just click the download button on the details page for a film or TV series and you can watch it later without an internet connection.

Any Netflix subscriber will have access to offline downloads, and the update will be available today to both the iOS [Direct Link] and Android versions of the mobile Netflix app. Netflix also tweeted out a video to celebrate the launch of downloading and watching "your favorite stories" while offline.

Update: You can check out every show and movie available to download within the Netflix app by tapping the navigation menu in the top left corner, then choosing "Available for Download." Netflix's Help Center has more information as well.

Tag: Netflix

Top Rated Comments

Chazzle Avatar
123 months ago
With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/
It doesn't say only two shows are available, but I love your positivity.

The company said that many popular shows are already available to download -- including Orange is the New Black and The Crown -- with more coming soon.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aetles Avatar
123 months ago
Let me guess...not all content of course.

Content delivery has become a total joke.
Way to go, turning a good, new, usable feature into something negative. Let me guess, you took a break from giving useful iPhone apps 1-star reviews because they are not yet adapted for iPad as well?

It must be hard when the glass is always half-empty.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
123 months ago
The list of downloadable content is actually very large.

You can see the full list in the app once you update it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
earthTOmitchel Avatar
123 months ago
As someone else pointed out, the list of content is impressive. I've updated the article to point everyone towards the place they can go in the Netflix app to look at everything available to download.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
123 months ago
Presumably there will be DRM associated with these files. Presumably this will promptly be cracked if it isn't already. Unlimited data plans, get ready for evildoers to build up their media collections!

Not a hardcore techie, but I think I read somewhere they switched from Silverlight to some sort of HTML5 authentication, but that's only for in-browser video. Whatever they deploy, it won't hold up!
This is nothing new; pirates rip video from Netflix all the time. They don't need this feature to do it, and ripped copies of original Netflix shows (proving it's indeed ripped from them) show up within hours, sometimes within an hour of them becoming available.

I don't think Netflix should concern itself that much with piracy. The effort required to go download shows from the various pirate sources is actually greater than the cost of the service, in my mind. And sure, people who can't afford Netflix might pirate some of its shows, but if they can't afford it they're not really a "lost customer" are they?

There's a lot of kids and college students who pirate media because they are broke and can't afford it. I know I did. But once I became an adult with a real job I no longer had time for that stuff and buy all my stuff now.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Number-Six Avatar
123 months ago
With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro

Monday May 11, 2026 9:01 am PDT by
We're only four months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a sea change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year, adopting a...
iOS 26

iOS 26.5 Features: Everything New in iOS 26.5

Monday May 11, 2026 5:09 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26.5 after a few months of beta testing, and while it doesn't have the Siri features we were hoping for since those are being held until iOS 27, there are a handful of useful changes worth knowing about. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. End-to-End Encryption for RCS Support for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages between iPhone and...
General Apps Reddit Feature

Reddit Starts Blocking Mobile Website, Pushing Users to App Instead

Monday May 11, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Social network Reddit recently began blocking mobile visitors to its website while pushing them to download the official Reddit app, and it's fair to say that the move is not going down well with users. If you visit reddit.com on your iPhone today, you may see a new popup that can't be dismissed, asking you to "get the app to keep using Reddit." A Reddit spokesperson told Ars Technica...