To download a Netflix TV show episode to your iPhone, open the Netflix app, find the show, and tap the download button next to the episode. Tap Download Season to get every episode in a season. Your downloads appear under Downloads in the app, where you can watch them without an internet connection.
This guide covers downloading, watching offline, download quality, automatic next-episode downloads, deleting downloads, and Netflix’s download limits. The steps follow Netflix’s How to download titles to watch offline and related Help Center articles.
In this article:
- Download a Netflix episode
- Watch your downloads
- Change download quality
- Download the next episode automatically
- Delete downloads
- Download limits and rules
- Frequently asked questions
How to Download a Netflix Episode on iPhone
- Open the Netflix app. Netflix recommends connecting to Wi-Fi to save on data.
- Find the show. To see everything you can download, tap Downloads > See What You Can Download.
- Open the show and tap the download button next to an episode, or tap Download Season.
Result: The episode downloads to your iPhone. Netflix notes that not every show or movie is available for download, so look for the download icon. You need the latest version of the Netflix app, and some older iOS versions may not support downloads.
How to Watch Your Downloads
- Open the Netflix app.
- Tap Downloads.
- Find the episode and tap Play.
Result: The episode plays without an internet connection. Netflix says you need to stay signed in to watch downloads offline. Downloads stay on the device you used, and you can watch them from any of your Netflix profiles. On a Kids profile, titles with higher maturity ratings may not be available offline.
How to Change Download Quality
- In the Netflix app, tap My Netflix in the lower right.
- Tap your profile name at the top.
- Tap App Settings.
- Tap Download Video Quality (or Video Quality) and choose Standard or High/Higher.
Result: Netflix says Standard downloads are quicker and use less storage, and play in standard definition. High/Higher takes longer and uses more space, but plays in up to 1080p HD. Some shows and movies aren’t available in HD.
How to Download the Next Episode Automatically
Netflix’s Download Next Episode feature deletes an episode after you watch it and downloads the next one:
- Tap My Netflix, tap your profile name, then tap App Settings.
- Under Downloads, tap Smart Downloads.
- Turn on Download Next Episode.
Result: Netflix says the next episode downloads when you’re on Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t use mobile data or extra storage. The last episode of a series isn’t deleted automatically. This feature isn’t available on ad-supported plans.
How to Delete a Downloaded Netflix Episode
- Tap Downloads in the upper right.
- Select the show, then tap the download status icon next to the episode.
- Tap Delete Download.
To delete everything, tap My Netflix, tap your profile name, tap App Settings, select Delete All Downloads, and confirm with Delete.
Result: The downloads are removed and the storage is freed. If you lose access to a device, Netflix says you can delete its downloads by removing the device: tap My Netflix, your profile name, Account, then Mobile download devices and Remove device.
Download Limits and Rules
- Ad-free plans: up to 100 active downloads at a time per device, based on the number of devices in your plan.
- Ad-supported plans: 15 total downloads per device per calendar month.
- Downloads expire after a period of time, and some titles can only be downloaded a limited number of times per year.
- If you cancel your account, downloads on your device are deleted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I download a certain show?
Netflix says not all shows and movies are available for download. Use See What You Can Download to browse titles that are.
Do downloads use mobile data?
They can if you’re not on Wi-Fi. Netflix recommends Wi-Fi when downloading. To control streaming data, see how to control how much data Netflix uses on iPhone.
Why did my download disappear?
Downloads expire after a period of time, Download Next Episode deletes watched episodes, and canceling your account removes downloads. For another service, see how to download a movie in Disney+ on an iPhone or how to download HBO Max movies on an iPhone.
More Netflix Guides
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.