Even with the best cell phone plan with tons of data, there’s always a limit. If you want to watch your media on the go, learning how to download Netflix shows to watch later may be the best way to top up your entertainment options.
How to use the Netflix app for Android tablets to watch movies and shows offline.
You will need an Android tablet compatible with Android 4.4.2 KitKat or later. As long as your tablet is no more than five years old, that should be the case. You will also need to install the Netflix app, which you can download from the Google Play Store.
How to download Netflix movies
The following instructions will also work for the Netflix app for Android smartphones.
- Launch Netflix and sign in if you haven’t already.
- Tap the movie or show you want to download.
- Tap the Download icon , represented as a downward arrow pointing to a single horizontal line. For movies, it will appear on the movie’s description page; with shows, it will appear next to each individual episode.
- The download of that particular movie or show will start. You will be able to follow their progress in the application and from the Android notification menu.
- When it finishes downloading, you can access it from the Downloads page of the Netflix app.
Watch Netflix offline using Smart Downloads
If you don’t want to manually download all the Netflix shows you want to watch offline, you can have the app do it for you.
Using Smart Downloads, when you finish watching an episode of a series, the Netflix app will automatically delete the episodes you’ve watched and download the next batch so they’re ready to go. It only works over Wi-Fi, so your data won’t be lost when you don’t expect it.
Smart downloads are enabled by default, but if you want to make sure they’re enabled or you want to turn them off, tap the Downloads tab and look at the top of the screen. It should say “Smart Downloads On”. If you want to change that, just tap on it, then select the toggle to turn it off.
If you can’t download Netflix movies and shows
If you’ve followed the instructions above but can’t download media from Netflix because you don’t have the option, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Are you definitely running a compatible version of Android? If you are not running version 4.4.2 (KitKat) or later, you cannot download Netflix shows.
- Some shows and movies are not available to be downloaded and watched offline later. Your favorites may not be available at this time.