How to download Netflix movies on Mac, iPhone, and iPad

Netflix Offline Download: Mac User Guide and Tips

I often envy Windows PC users. This feels particularly strong every time I want to watch Netflix offline on my Mac. That's right, you guessed it: there's no legal way to download Netflix shows on your Mac.

Is there a solution? have. Are they easy? Not easy. But anyway, let's explore all the options available.

Where to download Netflix shows	Operation steps
On Mac	Install Windows on your Mac > Log in to the Netflix app > Open Video > Click the Download button > Find video in My Downloads. To download from another source, use PullTube or Downie.
On iPhone and iPad	Log in to the Netflix app > Select Movie > Click the Download icon. For geo-constrained Netflix shows, use ClearVPN to access them.

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Download movies from Netflix: General Rules

Let's be clear: Netflix does its best to protect its content from illegal copying. Even if you want to save a copy of the movie on your hard drive for your favorites, it's hard to download it easily. Netflix prevents attempts to record screens or save videos from the internet using a program. Additionally, all videos downloaded from the Netflix app are stored in encrypted form and these files cannot be transferred to other devices.

So, let's take a quick look at the general rules and knowledge about downloading from Netflix.

• You need the right equipment. iPhone or iPad, Android phone or tablet, Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, Amazon Fire tablet or Google Chromebook all do. (Yes, there is no Mac here.) Your device should have the latest operating system (as some older operating systems may not support downloads) and the latest version of Netflix app.
• You need an app. You cannot download Netflix movies from your browser.
• You always need to subscribe. If you cancel or do not renew your subscription, the saved files will be deleted and you must re-download them.
• Not every movie or show is available for download. This will be detailed later, but in short, this is usually due to legal issues.
• Your plan has limitations. There are limits on the number of videos you can download. We will discuss these limitations in detail below.

These are the general rules you should know before taking the next step.

How to download movies from Netflix

Now let's look at the steps you need to take so that you can download Netflix movies on your laptop, iPhone, or iPad.

Warning: Saving Netflix content using unofficial apps may be considered immoral or illegal. Before doing so, read Netflix's Terms of Service.

How to download Netflix shows on Mac

While there is no Mac app and you can't download Netflix content from your browser, there is only one legal workaround - install Windows on your Mac. Actually, there was another solution before. You could have used AirPlay to stream videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, but in 2019, Netflix stopped this option due to "technical issues."

But because Netflix has Windows applications, this makes it possible to download content directly to the Mac, albeit through different operating systems. Check out the guide to installing Windows on your Mac, and instructions for new Mac users. Remember that Windows is a paid operating system, so this approach involves additional costs.

If you have Windows installed, here is how to download Netflix movies on your Mac.

1. Download, open and log in to the official Netflix app.
2. Open the video and press the ↓ Download button.
3. Find the video in the My Downloads section of the menu on the left.

Other methods may not work. If you try to record the screen, you will most likely see only black images on the capture screen.

You may also wonder if you can save Netflix movies using a program that downloads videos from the internet, such as Pulltube or Downie. The answer is no. Netflix blocks such attempts. However, these apps can easily save files from YouTube and dozens of other websites. If you need content to watch personally, such as when traveling, this may be the solution. If you want to transfer videos saved from the internet to your iPhone or iPad, consider using AnyTrans for iOS. This is an excellent tool to easily export and copy content by category with just a single tap.

Creative: Adding Netflix to Dock Although I was frustrated with the lack of Netflix apps on Mac, I decided to simplify my Netflix experience as much as possible. I created a Netflix icon in Dock and it opens like an app. Here is how to operate:

1. Open Netflix in Safari.
2. Click File > Add to Dock.

This icon acts as a shortcut to Netflix websites. It still has all the features of browser-based Netflix and is only available online, but at least I can access it independently of Safari and access it quickly.

How to save Netflix movies on iPhone and iPad

Thanks to native apps, downloading content from Netflix is ​​a breeze for iPhone and iPad users. To download a Netflix episode or a specific movie, follow these steps.

1. Download, open and log in to the Netflix app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select a movie or show.
3. Click the ↓ icon next to it.

Please note that not all content is available for download. To browse all downloadable options, go to My Netflix > Download > to view what you can download.

Tips to make Netflix downloads smarter

Not everyone knows that Netflix downloads can be easily customized. Here are some tips I used:

• Open the next episode to download. Go to My Netflix > Hamburger Buttons > App Settings > Smart Downloads > Download the next episode. This means you only need to download the first episode. After watching, your device will automatically delete it and download another episode after you have Wi-Fi access.
• Open to download for you. Depending on your interests, Netflix regularly saves content for you to watch offline. You can set it here: My Netflix > Hamburger Buttons > App Settings > Smart Download > Download for you.
• Set video quality. By default, videos are downloaded in standard quality. If you plan to stream to a large screen, consider using HD quality. Go to My Netflix > Hamburger Button > App Settings > Download Video Quality.

Of course, you also need to rate the movies you watch so that Netflix can download more related content for you.

Why can’t movies or TV series be downloaded?

If you are an active Netflix user, you will sooner or later encounter situations where you cannot download TV series or movies. That's OK - Not all Netflix content is available for download, usually due to copyright restrictions. If another company owns exclusive rights to a movie or show, they may limit downloads while allowing streaming. Sometimes, even Netflix original content faces restrictions, especially when produced in conjunction with another company that owns the rights. Netflix also considers “local factors” such as the popularity of the show or seasonal trends.

Additionally, the list of watching shows varies by country, based on local needs and distribution rights. If another company has exclusive streaming rights in a specific region, Netflix cannot provide that content there.

This can be a real problem for people traveling for business or private matters. For example, American residents may miss their favorite shows when they are in France. In this case, I recommend using a VPN, which is an app that changes the connection IP address and spoofs the browser to think you are in another country.

ClearVPN is the best choice for connecting to Netflix. Here is the connection method:

1. Open ClearVPN and click the drop-down list next to the country name at the bottom of the window.
2. Click on the streaming service.
3. Select your preferred Netflix location.

In a few seconds, you can access your usual content.

Which Netflix plans allow downloads

You should also know that every Netflix program in the U.S. allows you to download shows for offline viewing. However, you may receive an error notification: "You have downloaded content on too many devices."

The problem is that every plan on Netflix allows you to upload videos to a certain number of devices. For the United States, Standard with Ads and Standard are 2 devices and Premium is 6 devices. Rules may vary in other countries.

This notification means you try to save your video to more devices than your plan allows. If needed, you can delete the download from one of the devices, or in the "Change Plan" section of the account or through support for the Change Plan.

The number of downloads allowed varies. Plans with ads allow downloads per device 15 times per billing cycle. Other plans allow 100 times. Rules may vary in other countries.

Another error you may encounter is that Netflix prompts "Download failed". What should you do? Click the notification icon (!), find the error code, and enter it in the search here. Try to fix the error, if it doesn't work or you have other issues downloading from the Netflix app, please contact support. If there is no error code, try updating the app. This should help.

Improve your Netflix viewing experience with Setapp

As you can see, your options for downloading videos from Netflix are almost entirely limited to standard apps created with Netflix. However, there are some tips you can use to improve your viewing experience. For example, if you head to a country where your usual content is not available, use ClearVPN. It allows you to watch and download movies just like you do at home.

If you need to download content from another source, try PullTube or Downie.

You can try all of this for free with the seven-day trial of Setapp - ClearVPN, Downie, and PullTube, a platform with over 250 top Mac and iOS apps, covering any category you can imagine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you download Netflix movies on your Mac?

No, you can't download Netflix movies directly on your Mac, because Netflix doesn't offer official apps for macOS. Similarly, third-party downloaders like recording or PullTube are restricted due to Netflix's content protection policy. The only legal workaround is to install Windows on your Mac and download Windows content using the Netflix app. If you want to watch movies that are not available in your country, unlock them with ClearVPN.

What streaming services can you download on your Mac?

Some streaming services provide access to Mac users, but not all services directly support offline downloads on Mac: Apple TV and Disney allow you to download content for offline viewing, but only on mobile devices like iPhone and iPad, rather than directly on Mac. YouTube offers offline downloads through its YouTube Premium subscription service, but this feature is primarily available on mobile devices. Apps like Downie and PullTube can capture videos from sites like YouTube and Vimeo, which can be used to download general content from various platforms. However, they cannot download content from Netflix due to their content protection policies.

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