By:Nick Gambino
As promised several months ago Netflix is adding an offline feature allowing users to download and watch movies and TV shows without an internet connection.
This is perfect for the daily train ride to work or the long plane flight where you don’t want to pay for internet or where the media selection is limited.
Amazon has offered this download feature for quite a while now so it was a bit weird that the leading video streaming platform, Netflix, hadn’t added the option. But at least we now have it and can start downloading some of our favorite shows exclusive to the streaming giant.
“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 are offline,” Eddy Wu, Director of Product Innovation, states in the blog announcement. “For example, Orange is the New Black, Narcos and The Crown are available for download today.”
Downloading is not a site-wide or all-content feature just yet. For now it includes much of the Netflix original content like Stranger Things as well as select movies and shows like Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, The Office and Breaking Bad.
Not all Netflix originals are available to download though. For instance, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Luke Cage and Daredevil aren’t supported at this time.
To start downloading content, simply update to the newest version of the app available right now for iOS and Android. It’s not an available option when watching in your browser.
Once you’re all updated you’ll see a little download icon next to the play button for those supported shows and movies. Tap it and after a few moments you’re ready to go. To access content you’ve downloaded go to the Menu icon in the top left and choose “My Downloads.”
For a quick look and at what content is available to watch offline hit the little Menu button in the top left and select “Available for Download.”
If you run into any problems while getting used to this new option head over to the Netflix Help Center. With how intuitive and simple the function is, something tells me you’ll pick it up right away.
Let us know what you think of the new offline feature for Netflix. Hit us up in the comments below or on Twitter!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.
