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

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."

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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

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Chazzle

31 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.

Rating: 8 Votes

Aetles

31 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.

Rating: 6 Votes

SteveJobs2.0

31 months ago

The list of downloadable content is actually very large.

You can see the full list in the app once you update it.

Rating: 5 Votes

earthTOmitchel

31 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.

Rating: 4 Votes

Number-Six

31 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 :/

Rating: 3 Votes

zorinlynx

31 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.

Rating: 3 Votes

sinsin07

31 months ago

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Looking forward to this! Hope it's available in Canada.

Canada is not part of world wide?
"Netflix members worldwide can now download in addition to stream great series and films at no extra cost."

With only two shows listed as already available in the article, i'm going to assume that the total list has like 6 shows :/

Why assume?
From Netflix website: "For example, Orange is The New Black, Narcos and The Crown are available for download today."

Update from The Verge:
Right now, that selection includes stuff made by Netflix (Stranger Things, The Crown, Narcos, Orange is the New Black, etc) but also a lot of other random choices. You’ve got Breaking Bad. You’ve got Mad Men. You’ve got... Paddington and Minions and Kung Fu Panda 3. This is going to be a huge deal for parents. Movies include Boyhood, Pulp Fiction, Nightcrawler, Good Will Hunting, Hot Fuzz, and more.

Sorry, your kneejerk reaction appears to be inaccurate.

Rating: 2 Votes

rhoydotp

31 months ago

Looking forward to this! Hope it's available in Canada.

Rating: 1 Votes

Larry The L

31 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 :/

Wow. You must really hate the world. There are dozens and dozens of movies to download. But Netflix has informed me that your account will not be able to download bupkis.
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Let me guess...not all content of course.

Content delivery has become a total joke.

What has become a real joke are the people who make decision and declarations out of complete ignorance, such as this. Just download a 60 minute episode of Narcos. Took about a minute. Looks very good. But you can't enjoy it because of bitterness at the world.

Rating: 1 Votes

bozzykid

31 months ago

Even their own content is fairly inconsistent with some of it being available for download and some of it not--at least it would seem like they should be able to offer their own content.

Not all Netflix originals are produced by Netflix. Some are just licensed or co-produced. My guess is that content allows downloads depending on the contract they have with Netflix. Moving forward, I would expect most of the new contracts will include the download language.

Rating: 1 Votes

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