How to Download Movies on Netflix on Laptop PCs, Macs and Mobile Devices? [Updated 2023]

Netflix has revolutionized the way we consume entertainment, offering a vast library of movies and TV shows at our fingertips. However, sometimes we find ourselves in situations where internet connectivity is limited or unavailable, making online streaming impossible.

In this article, we will discuss various methods regarding how to download movies on Netflix on laptops, Macs, and mobile devices, so as to watch your favorite Netflix movies completely offline anytime, anywhere, on any device even when there is not Wi-Fi or live internet connection.

1. Why download movies from Netflix?

There are a few circumstances when you might want to download Netflix movies for totally offline viewing instead of directly streaming online:

• When traveling on long flights or road trips, where Wi-Fi connections can be spotty or non-existent, you can still keep yourself entertained during those boring moments, making your journey much more enjoyable without burning up your cellular data on smartphone or tablet.
• Downloading Netflix movies to watch offline, you can also avoid the infamous video buffering issue, get rid of ad-interruptions, and watch your favorite movies and shows anywhere anytime you want.
• Movies and shows on Netflix's streaming library come and go regularly, if you don't have time streaming a movie or show online before it is removed due to streaming licenses, you can download them to your device and watch anytime later.

2. Can you download movies from Netflix to watch offline?

After talking about why, now it's time to face the possibility issue! Now a few questions: is it possible to download Netflix movies and shows? Can you download Netflix movies on laptops running Windows or macOS? To find answers to such questions, read on.

2.1 How to download movies on Netflix on laptops and desktops [Windows]?

Can you download Netflix movies on laptop or desktop PCs? For Windows users, the answer is Yes. It is possible to download movies and TV shows from Netflix on your PC for later viewing.

Netflix introduced the offline viewing feature for its Microsoft Windows 10 PC app, approximately four months after making it available for iOS and Android devices.

This feature allows you to download Netflix movies and TV shows directly to your laptop's hard drive, so you can watch them offline at a later time.

Here below are the steps to download Netflix movies on Windows laptops with the Netflix app for Windows:

 

Step 1:

Download the Netflix app for Windows 10 operating systems.

 

Step 2:

Fill in your Email and password to log in to your Netflix account.

Step 3:

Search for and find the movies and shows you want. Not all of the content on Netflix is available for download due to streaming rights. So you need to check what’s available.

Step 4:

Go to the Menu button (as shown above) in the upper left and select “Available for Download.” Anything with the download icon, which is an arrow pointing downward, can be downloaded. Choose movies or TV shows you want to download.

 

Step 5:

Click the download button to start downloading the title to your laptop's hard disk drive for offline viewing.

 

 

2.2 How to download movies on Netflix on Macs and Macbooks?

Downloading movies from Netflix on a Windows computer is relatively straightforward. However, if you're a macOS user, you might be curious if it's possible to download Netflix movies on your Mac.

Regrettably, Netflix hasn't yet released an Netflix app for macOS, which means, there's no official solution to how to download movies on Netflix on Mac.

That said, There are third-party Netflix movie downloaders available to download Netflix movies on Mac, allowing you to enjoy them offline. StreamFab is one of the best. 

StreamFab Netflix Downloader is a software designed exclusively to download movies and TV shows from Netflix and save the downloaded videos as MP4/MKV files in 1080p and EAC3 audio tracks.

So how to download Netflix movies on Mac without limit using StreamFab Netflix Downloader? Check the steps below:

When all the downloads are complete, you can watch them on your Mac with your preferred media player, or transfer them to any other device for playback.

2.3 How to download movies on Netflix using Netflix Android/iOS/iPadOS App?

As mentioned earlier, before making the offline viewing feature available on Windows app, Netflix first intended to make the offline viewing available for mobile users only.

So, to download movies from Netflix on a smartphone or tablet, running iOS, iPadOS, or Android, you can just use the native Netflix app, which is easily accessible from Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store.

To download movies from Netflix on a smartphone or tablet, refer to the following steps:

Step 1:

After login to your Netflix account, choose your profile.

 

Step 2:

Search for a movie or a show to download.

Step 3:

Search for and find the movies and shows you want. Not all of the content on Netflix is available for download due to streaming rights. So you need to check what’s available.

Step 4:

If it's a show with multiple episodes, tap on the show's detail first, and then you will find the down arrow button next to the title of the episodes.

 

Step 5:

It will start to download. At this point, you can visit the "Downloads" page to view your current download status.

 

 

2.4 How to download movies on Netflix using StreamFab for Android?

Apart from using the native Netflix app for Android, there are also 3rd-party Android Netflix downloaders, and StreamFab also has its Android version.

   Download Now

Here below shows how to download movies from Netflix using StreamFab for Android either on your smartphone or tablet:

Step 5:

When everything is decided, tap on the Download Now button to start the download process.

 

 

3. Native Netflix app VS a 3rd-party Netflix downloader: which to choose?

In previous sections, we've talked about how to download movies from Netflix on laptop/desktop PCs, Mac, MacBooks, smartphones, and tablets. Now that both a 3rd-party Netflix downloader and the native Netflix app can do the job, which one should you choose?

Well, it's hard to decide for everyone which is the best solution to go, here we shall just compare both the pros and cons of each approach, and leave the final decision to you.

3.1 Pros and Cons of Netflix app

Pros:

• Simple and convenient, you can directly download Netflix movies to your mobile devices.
• You can download Netflix movies to several devices at the same time.
• You don't have to pay extra for a 3rd-party downloader software.

Cons:

• Not all movies can be downloaded on Netflix.
• Downloads expire after some time on your devices.
• You are given a limited time to finish watching a title once started viewing.
• The number of annual downloads is limited for some titles.
• If you cancel your account, the series and movies you downloaded will be deleted from your device. You will need to download them again in case of subsequent re-registration.
• The downloaded files cannot be transferred to other devices due to DRM encryption.

3.2 Pros and Cons of a 3rd-party downloader app

Pros:

• Download Netflix videos in 1080p quality with EAC3 5.1 audio tracks.
• Save downloaded videos in MP4/MKV format that are compatible with all your players.
• Ad-free during the download process.
• Select audio and subtitles according to users' language.
• Download subtitles as SRT files or redistributes them in the video.
• Batch download and fast speed.
• Save metadata compatible with your media server.
• The downloaded videos will stay permanently with you.
• You can transfer the downloads elsewhere to any device because they're encryption-free.

Cons:

• You have to pay for a 3rd-party downloader app. 

Finals Words

Downloading movies on Netflix allows you to enjoy your favorite content offline, whether you're traveling or have limited internet access. The official Netflix app provides a user-friendly and secure method to download Netflix movies and shows directly to your device.

Alternatively, third-party downloaders offer expanded compatibilities and additional features such as batch downloading and quality options. Choose the method that aligns with your preferences and priorities. With either option, you can enjoy an immersive movie experience anytime, anywhere.