Netflix is now allowing users to download select movies and TV shows for offline playback, the company announced Wednesday.
Airplane mode. Road trip mode. Stuck-in-the-subway-for-20-minutes mode. Your favorite stories are now available for download any time. pic.twitter.com/g7QZA3TyE8
— Netflix US (@netflix) November 30, 2016
The feature, which users have been asking for FOR YEARS, has been rumoured to be in the works since June. Back in November, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos alluded to the feature in an interview with CNBC, but it seemed like it might only be targeted at countries without solid internet access.
Of course, there are some caveats. Offline playback won’t be available for all Netflix content. Netflix says that “many of your favourite streaming series and movies are already available for download, with more on the way”, and right now that includes original series such as Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things and The Crown.
You can download content for offline playback on iOS and Android, you just need to update the app. It works with all Netflix plans. To download content, look for the download button in the app.
Netflix isn’t the first streaming service to offer offline playback. Amazon brought offline downloads to Amazon Prime video last year (which you can finally get in Australia). But Netflix has more content (even if some of it isn’t as good as it used to be), so this is a BIG deal.
All I know is that the next time I have to get on an aeroplane or a train, I’m going to pre-download a ton of Parks and Recreation episodes beforehand.