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You Can Finally Watch Shows And Films From Netflix Offline

Downloads are available worldwide. Finally.

Scott Bryan
by Scott Bryan

BuzzFeed TV Editor

Netflix has announced that all users worldwide will be able to download its shows for offline viewing, starting today. The service will be available at no extra cost.

Netflix

Netflix released a statement detailing the feature, saying:

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.

The feature will be enabled in iOS and Android on phones and tablets and will be available for those who have updated the most recent version of the app. Netflix content is currently not available to download on your laptop.

At the moment only some shows are available to download, including The Crown and Black Mirror.

Netflix

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that only Netflix Originals are available to download.

Netflix

Looking at the Netflix directory in the UK for example, shows such as Peep Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Suits, and Line of Duty are all available to download immediately. So are films such as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, The Lobster, Dirty Grandpa, and others.

Asked by BuzzFeed News whether its entire catalogue will be available for download by viewers, Netflix said: "Netflix is working with lots of partners globally to get downloading rights for the bulk of the content on our service. This is an ongoing effort as we know consumers want this capability and we are working to provide it."

If you travel abroad, you may be able to download shows that are unavailable in your own country, a Netflix spokesperson said. Conversely, shows you have already downloaded may not work if Netflix doesn't own the rights to them in the country you're visiting. This also means that when you arrive home from travelling abroad, you may not be able to watch shows you downloaded abroad.

As for how long downloads will last on your device, it depends on the title. Netflix said that the amount of time you have left to watch any given download will be shown in the app if it is under seven days, so you won't get any nasty surprises. For some titles, you may only have 48 hours to watch after you have pressed play on your device.

Shortly after the announcement, Netflix updated its iOS app to allow for downloads. Look out for it.

Scott Bryan / BuzzFeed