Now you can download Netflix shows for offline playback on Windows 10 PCs

By Lulu Chang April 3, 2017

netflix offline viewing woman watching movies and tv on laptop

Late last year, Netflix introduced a feature that many people had been begging the service to add: offline playback. The service initially launched on iOS and Android, which makes sense, as phones and tablets are the devices people are most likely to have with them on the go. Of course, people also travel with laptops, but at launch, those were left in the lurch.

You still can’t catch up on your favorite shows on your MacBook without Wi-Fi, but Windows 10 users can now stock up before they head out. The Netflix app available in the Windows 10 app store now features support for offline playback, Windows Central reports. For the time being, this only applies to PCs, as the Windows 10 Mobile version of the app has not added offline support.

The best part is that Netflix hasn’t limited this feature to just some subscription tiers — rather, regardless of what plan you may have, you can start downloading and watching offline today. As long as you’re using a compatible devices and software, offline viewing is now a possibility.

There are some stipulations, of course. As mentioned above, Netflix’s own series are the first to be available for download, and it’s not yet clear how many titles outside of Netflix’s own creation will be available. The service is also currently limited to mobile devices and won’t work on a laptop, so those who want to watch a larger screen will need to do so on a tablet. Still, this is a major move for the service, especially for those in areas where high-speed internet is hard to come by.

You will, of course, have to update the Netflix app on your device to the latest version in order to take advantage of the new feature, but that hardly seems like a steep price to pay for binge watching your favorite programs just about anytime, anywhere. So consider this an early holiday present from Netflix.

Updated on 04-03-2017 by Kris Wouk: Added that offline playback is now available on Windows 10 PCs. This story was originally published on 11-06-2016.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Entertainment

7 underrated Netflix shows you should be watching

The cast of the British show Crashing sitting on a couch and looking at the camera.

Despite numerous setbacks over the years, Netflix is still the king of streamers. Its content is pretty hit or miss, but when it scores, it scores big, with mega hits like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, and Wednesday breaking the internet and reshaping the pop culture landscape. Few, if any, streamers have the same television clout as Netflix, which still reigns supreme when it comes to genre-pushing television content.

Not all Netflix shows can reach Money Heist levels of success, and that's okay. That doesn't mean they're any less good or worthy of finding an audience. Indeed, Netflix has several hidden gems among its impressive catalog that should be getting more attention from viewers. These overlooked shows are great, whether because of their premise, cast, production values, or a combination of everything. And while some might no longer be producing new episodes, they remain a highly recommended watch, especially for those viewers who are always on the lookout for new and entertaining content.
Alias Grace (2017)

Entertainment

Netflix made a docuseries on the Murdaugh family murders — here’s when you can watch it

A boat speeds in a river in A Southern Scandal.

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and that is certainly true with the Alex Murdaugh case. The once wealthy and powerful patriarch of a South Carolina family is accused of brutally murdering his wife and son in 2021. Other revelations have arisen since then, including millions of stolen dollars, a botched suicide attempt, and a reexamination of two other deaths that the Murdaugh family was involved in.

True crime aficionados who have been watching the ongoing trial of Alex Murdaugh are in for even more content as the real-life case is being covered by the most popular streaming service in the world. That's right, Netflix is about to air a docuseries based on the Murdaugh case, Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. But when can you watch it? Digital Trends has all the answers for you.

Audio / Video

Netflix expands its spatial audio, number of devices that can download content

Netflix app icon on Apple TV.

Netflix Premium subscribers are getting an enhancement to their service starting today. The streaming company has increased the number of devices that can download content for offline viewing from four to six. It's also expanding the spatial audio feature it launched in 2022, making spatial audio available on its top 700 titles. The new features are included in the current price of a Premium plan.

Spatial audio on Netflix is similar to Dolby Atmos -- it creates a much more immersive, 3D-like audio experience where sounds feel like they're moving independently of the rest of the soundtrack. However, unlike Dolby Atmos, Netflix's spatial audio can be experienced on any device that has stereo speakers whether they are Dolby Atmos-capable or not.