Remember the days of worrying about a spotty internet connection right before a long flight or a road trip? You’d be all set to watch your favorite Netflix show, only to be met with a frustrating buffering symbol. Well, those days are largely behind us. Netflix offers a fantastic feature that lets you save movies and TV shows directly to your laptop, giving you the freedom to watch anywhere, anytime, even without an internet connection.
How the Download Feature Works on Your Laptop
Downloading from Netflix is a straightforward process, but it does require the Netflix app. You can’t download titles directly from the Netflix website in a browser. First, you’ll need to download and install the free Netflix app from the Microsoft Store if you’re on a Windows laptop. Once you’re logged in, simply browse for the movie or show you want. On the title’s description page, you’ll see a download button—it looks like a downward-facing arrow. Click it, and the download will begin. You can monitor your progress in the “Downloads” section of the app.
What You Need to Know Before You Download
While this feature is incredibly convenient, there are a few things to keep in mind. Not every single movie and show on Netflix is available for download due to licensing restrictions, but a vast majority are. You also need to have an active Netflix subscription; the download feature is not available on the basic with ads plan. Furthermore, downloaded titles have a time limit. Once you start playing a downloaded movie, you typically have a set period to finish watching it before it expires, though you can usually renew the download as long as the title is still on Netflix.
Managing Your Downloaded Content
Your laptop’s storage space is precious, so it’s helpful to know how to manage your downloads. Within the Netflix app, head to the “Downloads” section. Here, you can see everything you’ve saved. If you need to free up space, you can easily remove individual titles you’ve already watched. You can also adjust the download video quality in your app settings—choosing a standard quality will save a significant amount of space compared to high definition.
Having the ability to download movies from Netflix to your laptop is a game-changer for travelers and anyone with an unpredictable internet connection. It puts you in control of your entertainment, allowing you to build a personal library of content ready to watch at a moment’s notice. So next time you’re preparing for a trip, take a few minutes to download a movie or two—your future, entertainment-filled self will thank you.
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