How do I download things to watch offline?
Downloading before a journey, what actually expires, and why the downloads sometimes will not play when you get there.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 15 min
- Read
- 3 min
Short answer
Download over wifi in the app itself, not the browser, and check the storage on the device before you start. Downloads expire — some after a set period, some once you begin watching — so do it shortly before travelling, not weeks ahead.
Offline downloads are the difference between a usable journey and a very long one, and they fail in a small number of predictable ways: no space, expired licences, or downloads made on the wrong device.
Step by step
- Do it in the app, over wifi.Downloads are only offered in the mobile or tablet app, not the website. Connect to wifi first — a film over mobile data can be several gigabytes.
- Check free storage before starting.A film is typically 1–4GB depending on quality, and a series considerably more. Downloads failing silently near the end is almost always a full device.
- Choose a lower download quality.Standard quality is a fraction of the size of high definition and is perfectly watchable on a phone. On a small screen, on a train, the difference is negligible.
- Understand what expires.Downloads carry a licence: often thirty days to start watching, then a much shorter window — sometimes 48 hours — once you begin. They also disappear when a title leaves the service.
- Download shortly before you travel.A week ahead is fine; a month ahead often is not. Refreshing an expired download needs a connection, which is exactly what you will not have.
- Download on the device you will use.Downloads do not transfer between devices. A film downloaded on a phone will not appear on the tablet you take with you.
- Set a download location if there is one.On Android many apps can download to an SD card, which avoids filling the phone. It is in the app's own settings, not the system ones.
- Test one before you leave.Turn on flight mode at home and open a download. It takes a minute and catches an expired licence or an incomplete file while you can still do something about it.
- Delete them afterwards.Finished downloads sit there consuming storage indefinitely. Most apps have a manage-downloads screen that will remove watched items in one go.
Tips
- Not everything on a service is downloadable — licensing varies by title. If there is no download icon, that title cannot be downloaded at all.
- Download a couple of extra episodes beyond what you expect to watch. Delays are exactly when you need them.
- Podcasts and music apps work the same way and are far smaller. Worth setting up at the same time.
If it doesn't work
Download stops part way through
Cause: Device storage full, or wifi dropped — Fix: Free up space, reconnect and resume. Most apps resume rather than restarting.
Downloaded title will not play offline
Cause: The viewing licence has expired or the title left the service — Fix: Connect briefly to refresh it, and download closer to when you travel next time.
Questions people ask
Why do my downloads expire?
Each download carries a viewing licence — commonly thirty days to start watching, then a much shorter window once you begin. They also expire when a title leaves the service entirely.
Can I download on one device and watch on another?
No. Downloads are tied to the device that made them. Download on whichever device you will actually be using.