When Netflix began offering support for offline viewing for devices late last year, it only did so for handsets that are powered by the Android and iOS mobile operating systems. But this year, the company is now introducing the same feature to the Windows 10 platform, as first reported by MSPoweruser. But wait, there is a catch -- it can only be used on Windows 10 personal computers and tablet devices.
The feature is being rolled out by way of the updated Windows 10 application, wherein users can download a subset of the Netflix catalog into their PC or tablet, and then get to watch their favorite movies and TV shows even there is no network connection made available (which is quite handy when on the road). Netflix has since confirmed the new feature, saying that its app will have support for the downloading feature on Windows 10 laptops and tablets.
It bears noting though that just like the offline viewing on the Android and iOS platforms, not all content from Netflix will be made available for downloading for Windows 10, mainly because of rights issues. Thus, the feature will only apply a number of licensed content, and of course, original content from Netflix itself. But considering Netflix’s original programming is still pretty extensive, this is far from being a bad deal at all. So get ready to be able to watch titles like Stranger Things, Orange Is The New Black, Narcos, The Crown, House of Cards, Bloodline, and Sense8, among many others. Just a reminder -- the content made available for offline viewing may vary by region, depending on licensing restrictions that apply in that region.
So how does one go about downloading Netflix content for later viewing? After launching the updated app, it is just a matter of tapping the down arrow next to each movie or TV show title or episode and then saving it to one’s Windows 10 PC or tablet. Users can also explore titles through a new section called “Available for Download” where another tab (“My Downloads”) allows one to manage their downloaded content.
Early adopters have reported encountering technical issues when downloading. The good news is that Netflix is already working on resolving those issues. The downloading feature is currently being deployed to all Netflix users across the globe. For those who want download the Windows 10 app, they can find it at the official Microsoft Store.
