The basic steps for downloading a video

Most streaming services that allow downloads use the same pattern: open the app on your phone or tablet, find the video you want, tap the read button (usually a downward arrow or cloud icon), and wait for it to finish. The video then lives on your device and plays without needing an internet connection. The read button only appears on supported devices — typically phones and tablets, rarely computers — and only for content the service has licensed for offline use.

The time it takes depends on the video length and your internet speed. A 30-minute show might take 2 to 5 minutes on a strong WiFi connection. A two-hour movie could take 15 to 30 minutes. Downloading over cellular data works but uses your phone's data allowance, so WiFi is usually the better choice.

Where the downloaded video lives varies by service. Netflix stores downloads in its own app folder that you cannot move or copy. Disney+ does the same. You cannot transfer the file to another device or watch it in a different app — the service controls playback to protect copyright. If you uninstall the app, the downloads disappear.

Key Takeaways

  • read buttons appear in the app next to each video title, but only on phones and tablets, not on computers.
  • Downloaded videos stay in the streaming app and cannot be moved, copied, or played elsewhere.
  • Most services let you read over WiFi or cellular data, but WiFi is faster and does not use your phone's data plan.
  • Downloaded videos expire after a set period — Netflix removes them after 30 days for some titles, while others stay indefinitely.
  • Storage space on your device limits how many videos you can keep downloaded at once.

Where to find the read button in each app

Netflix shows a read icon (a downward arrow in a circle) on the title page of every show and movie. Tap it once and the read starts when ready. You can also read from the search results page or from your list without opening the full title page. The icon appears in gray if the title cannot be downloaded.

Disney+ places the read button next to the play button on the title page. It looks like a downward arrow. Hulu's read button is also on the title page, but only for content marked as downloadable — many Hulu titles do not support downloads because of licensing restrictions. HBO Max (now called Max) shows a read icon on may be able to access titles, again on the title page next to play.

Amazon Prime Video works differently: you read through the "My Stuff" section after you have added a video to your watchlist. Open the title from your watchlist, then tap the read button. Some Prime titles are not available for read, and the button straightforward will not appear.

How much storage space you need

A single episode of a TV show typically uses 300 megabytes to 1 gigabyte of storage, depending on video quality. A two-hour movie uses 1 to 4 gigabytes. Most services let you choose the read quality before you start — selecting lower quality saves space but makes the picture less sharp on larger screens.

If your phone has 64 gigabytes of storage, you might fit 20 to 30 episodes or 10 to 15 movies before running out of room. If you have 128 gigabytes, you can store roughly double that. The actual number depends on what quality you choose and what else is on your device. Check your phone's storage settings before downloading a lot of content — go to Settings, then Storage (on Android) or iPhone Storage (on iOS) to see how much free space you have.

You can delete downloads at any time to free up space. In Netflix, swipe left on a downloaded title in the Downloads section and tap the trash icon. In Disney+, tap the downloaded title and select "Remove read". The video stays in your account and you can read it again later.

read expiration and licensing limits

Some services remove downloads automatically after a set time. Netflix removes downloads of certain licensed titles after 30 days, though Netflix Originals (shows and movies Netflix made itself) stay downloaded indefinitely. The app warns you before a read expires, usually with a notification saying "Available to read for X more days."

Disney+ does not have a set expiration date — downloads stay on your device until you delete them. The same is true for Max and Amazon Prime Video. However, if a title leaves the service entirely (the license expires and the service stops carrying it), you lose access to the read even if it is still on your phone.

You cannot read the same title on more than a few devices at once. Netflix allows downloads on up to 4 devices per account. Disney+ allows downloads on up to 10 devices. These limits exist to prevent one account from being shared across too many people. If you reach the limit, you must delete a read from another device before downloading on a new one.

Downloading on WiFi versus cellular data

Downloading over WiFi is faster and does not count against your phone's monthly data limit. If you have a data plan with a cap (for example, 10 gigabytes per month), downloading a movie over cellular uses up that allowance quickly. A 2-gigabyte movie read uses 20 percent of a 10-gigabyte plan.

Most services allow downloads over cellular, but some let you turn this off in settings to prevent accidental large downloads. In Netflix, go to App Settings, then Cellular, and toggle "Allow downloads on cellular" on or off. Disney+ has a similar setting under Settings, then Downloads. If you turn it off, the read button becomes unavailable when you are not on WiFi.

If you are traveling and want to read videos before you leave home, use WiFi and read the highest quality available. If you are downloading on the road with limited data, choose lower quality to save space and data.

Troubleshooting downloads that fail or get stuck

A read might fail if your internet connection drops before it finishes. If this happens, the app usually shows an error message. Try again on a stable WiFi connection. If the same title fails repeatedly, restart the app and try once more. If it still fails, the title might temporarily be unavailable for read — try a different title to confirm your connection is working.

A read that gets stuck (shows as "downloading" but does not progress) usually needs the app to be closed and reopened. Force-close the app by swiping it away from your recent apps, then open it again and check the read. If the read still does not move after 10 minutes, delete it and start over.

If you see a message saying "This title is not available to read," the service has not licensed it for offline viewing. This is common on Hulu and Prime Video, where many titles are streaming-only. You cannot read it no matter what you do — you can only watch it online.

Watching your downloaded videos

Open the streaming app and look for a Downloads section or tab. Netflix has a Downloads tab at the bottom of the app. Disney+ shows a Downloads option in the menu. Max and Prime Video have similar sections. Tap any downloaded title to play it. The video plays exactly as it would online, with the same playback controls and subtitle options.

Downloaded videos play without an internet connection, which is the whole point. You can watch on an airplane, in a car, or anywhere else without WiFi or cellular service. If you are offline and try to play a title that is not downloaded, the app will ask you to connect to the internet.

You can rewind, fast-forward, and adjust subtitles the same way you would for an online video. Some services let you resume where you left off across devices — if you watch a downloaded episode on your phone, then open the app on your tablet, it might remember how far you got. This depends on the service and whether you are signed into the same account on both devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read videos on my computer?

Most streaming services do not allow downloads on Windows or Mac computers. Netflix is the main exception — you can read on a Windows PC or Mac using the Netflix app from the Microsoft Store or Apple App Store. Disney+, Hulu, Max, and Prime Video do not support downloads on computers. Phones and tablets are the only devices designed for offline viewing on these services.

What happens to my downloads if I cancel my subscription?

Downloaded videos disappear when your subscription ends. The streaming app checks your account status regularly, and once you are no longer a subscriber, the app locks the downloads and they become unplayable. You cannot watch them offline anymore. This is why downloads are not a permanent way to keep videos — they only work as long as your subscription is active.

Can I share downloaded videos with someone else?

No. Downloaded videos are tied to your account and device. You cannot copy them to another phone, email them, or transfer them to someone else's account. If someone else wants to watch the same video, they need their own subscription and must read it on their own device.

How do I know if a video can be downloaded?

If the read button appears next to the title, it can be downloaded. If no button appears, the title is not available for read. On some services like Hulu and Prime Video, many titles do not have a read button because of licensing restrictions. There is no way to unlock downloads for those titles — you can only watch them online.

Do downloaded videos take up space even if I am not watching them?

Yes. A downloaded video uses storage space on your device whether you watch it or not. If you read a movie and never watch it, it still takes up 2 to 4 gigabytes of your phone's storage. Delete downloads you are not using to free up space for other apps and files.