Netflix has finally rolled out a feature subscribers have been requesting for years: The company will now let members worldwide download select TV shows and movies for viewing on Apple and Android devices while disconnected from the internet.
A Netflix statement said that “many of your favorite streaming series and movies” would be available for download and offline viewing on mobile devices.
“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,” said a blog post from product innovation chief Eddy Wu.
The latest versions of the company’s mobile apps include a “download” button on the details page for a film or TV series although not all titles on the streaming service are currently available to watch offline.
The app also includes a “find something to download” feature. Netflix said it will add more series and movies to download in the future. Original series including “Orange Is The New Black,” “Narcos,” “House of Cards,” “Stranger Things,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Master of None” and “The Crown” are available for download starting yesterday.
Netflix’s new download feature is included in all plans and available for Android and iOS phones and tablets. To download titles, users will need iOS 8.0 or later or Android 4.4.2 or later as well as the latest update of Netflix’s app.
Netflix did not offer details on how much content would be available offline, noting that it was in discussion with copyright owners.
“Netflix is working with lots of partners globally to get downloading rights for the bulk of the content on our service,” a statement said.
Netflix, which is in a global push and has more than 86 million members, is facing increasing competition from rivals including Amazon, which also is in the midst of an international expansion of its streaming service. Amazon already allows downloads of videos — noting that some content is restricted by copyright holders in terms of offline viewing.