How many devices can watch Netflix offline?

Downloading Netflix: How Many Devices Can Actually Watch Offline?

Netflix offers a handy download feature, letting you take your favorite shows and movies on the go, perfect for commutes, flights, or areas with patchy internet. But how many devices can actually hold these downloaded treasures at once? Understanding the limits of your Netflix download allowance can save you frustration later.

The key isn’t just the number of downloads, but also the number of devices allowed to store them. While you can download a substantial amount of content, the device restriction is more stringent. A standard Netflix subscription allows downloads on a maximum of two devices simultaneously. This means you can have downloads stored on your phone and tablet, for example, but not on your phone, tablet, and laptop all at the same time.

Furthermore, there’s a cap on the number of downloads permitted across these two devices. You’re allowed a total of 15 downloads at any given time across both devices. So, you could have 10 downloads on one device and 5 on the other, or any other combination totaling 15 or fewer. This limit isn’t per device, but rather a combined total for both designated download devices.

This allowance refreshes on the first of each month. Any unused downloads don’t roll over. So, if you only used 5 downloads one month, you still start fresh with a 15-download limit the next month.

Subscribers to the Netflix plan with ads have a slightly different restriction. Instead of a combined 15 downloads across two devices, they are limited to 15 downloads per device each calendar month. This means a potential total of 30 downloads across two devices. Similar to the standard plan, this download allowance also resets on the first day of each month.

It’s important to manage your downloads actively. Removing a downloaded title from one device doesn’t automatically free up a download slot for the other. You need to specifically delete the download on each device to free up space within your allowance.

Knowing these limits can help you maximize your offline viewing experience. Plan your downloads strategically, delete watched content promptly, and be mindful of the two-device restriction to avoid any unexpected interruptions to your Netflix binge sessions.