What downloading a film actually means
When you read a film from a streaming service, you are saving a copy of that film to your device — usually your phone, tablet, or computer — so you can watch it without an internet connection. The service stores an encrypted file on your device that only works within that service's app. You cannot move it to another app, send it to someone else, or watch it after your subscription ends.
The read button appears in the app itself, not on a website. The process takes a few minutes to an hour depending on the film's length and your internet speed. Most services let you keep the read for 30 days, though some allow longer if you are actively subscribed.
Key Takeaways
- Downloaded films live only in the streaming service's app and expire when your subscription ends or after a set number of days.
- The read button is in the app on your device, not on a website, and you need enough storage space for the full file.
- Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and most other major services offer downloads, but the number of films available to read varies by service.
- Downloaded films use the same video quality settings as streaming, so a lower quality setting means a smaller file and faster read.
Where to find the read button in each app
Netflix: Open the app on your phone or tablet. Search for or navigate to the film you want. Tap the read icon (a downward-pointing arrow) next to the play button. On some devices you can also read from your "My List" by swiping left on the title.
Disney+: Open the app. Find the film. Tap the read icon (a downward-pointing arrow in a circle). The read starts when ready. Disney+ downloads are available on phones and tablets but not on computers.
Amazon Prime Video: Open the app. Find the film. Look for the read icon (usually a downward arrow or a cloud with a down arrow). Tap it. Not all films have a read option — if you do not see the icon, that title cannot be downloaded on your account.
Apple TV+: Open the app. Find the film. Tap the read icon (a cloud with a down arrow). Apple TV+ downloads work on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.
Hulu: Open the app on your phone or tablet. Find the film. Tap the read icon. Hulu downloads are not available on computers, and some titles are not available to read depending on your subscription tier.
Storage space and video quality settings
A two-hour film takes between 500 megabytes and 3 gigabytes of storage depending on the video quality you choose. Before you read, check how much free space your device has. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). On an Android phone, go to Settings > Storage. On a computer, check available disk space in your system settings.
Most streaming apps let you choose read quality before the read starts. Lower quality (often called "Standard" or "Low") uses less storage and downloads faster but looks grainier on a larger screen. Higher quality ("High" or "HD") looks sharper but takes up more space and takes longer to read. If you are downloading on a phone you plan to watch on that phone, standard quality is usually fine. If you plan to watch on a tablet or connect to a TV, choose higher quality.
Check your app's settings to see what quality options are available. Netflix, for example, lets you set a default read quality in the app settings under "read" or "Playback Settings". Amazon Prime Video has similar controls. Disney+ and Apple TV+ typically read at the highest quality your device supports.
How long downloads take and when they expire
A standard-quality read of a two-hour film usually takes 10 to 30 minutes on a home WiFi network. Higher quality takes longer. Cellular downloads are slower and use your phone's data, so most services recommend downloading over WiFi.
Once downloaded, the film stays on your device until one of these things happens: your subscription ends, the read expires (usually 30 days after you read it), you manually delete it, or the service removes the title from its catalog. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video typically let you keep downloads for 30 days. Disney+ and Apple TV+ allow downloads as long as you are subscribed. Hulu's read window depends on your subscription type.
If a read expires while you are in the middle of watching, the app will tell you before it stops playing. You can re-read the same film as many times as you want while it is available on the service.
What you cannot do with downloaded films
Downloaded films are locked to the app they came from. You cannot copy the file to another app, email it, upload it to cloud storage, or share it with another person. If someone else uses your device, they can watch your downloads only if they log into the streaming app with your account.
You also cannot edit, screenshot, or record a downloaded film. The file is encrypted, which means it is scrambled in a way that only the streaming service's app can read. Trying to copy or convert the file will not work — the app straightforward will not play it.
Downloaded films work only on the device where you downloaded them. If you read a film on your phone, you cannot watch that same read on your tablet or computer. You would need to read it again on each device.
Which films can and cannot be downloaded
Not every film on a streaming service is available to read. Licensing agreements between studios and streaming services sometimes restrict downloads. A film might be available to stream but not to read, or it might be downloadable in some countries but not others.
The only way to know if a specific film can be downloaded is to open the app and look for the read icon. If the icon is not there, that title cannot be downloaded on your account. This can change — a film that was downloadable last month might not be next month if the service's license expires or changes.
Some subscription tiers have restrictions too. On Hulu, for example, the ad-supported tier may not allow downloads on certain titles, while the ad-free tier does. Check your app's help section or your account settings if you are unsure whether your subscription tier includes read rights.
Troubleshooting common read problems
The read button does not appear: The title may not be available to read in your region or on your subscription tier. Try searching for a different film to confirm the read feature is working. If other films show the read button, this one straightforward is not available to read.
The read keeps pausing or failing: Move closer to your WiFi router or restart your router. Close other apps that are using the internet. If the read fails repeatedly, try deleting the partial read and starting over. On most apps, you can delete a read by swiping or long-pressing on the title in your downloads section.
The downloaded film will not play: Make sure you are logged into the same account you used to read it. If you are, try closing the app completely and reopening it. If that does not work, delete the read and read it again. Corrupted downloads are rare but do happen occasionally.
You are running out of storage space: Delete downloads you have already watched. Most apps show you how much storage each read uses. You can also lower the default read quality in your settings so future downloads take up less space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read films on my computer?
Some services allow it, others do not. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ support downloads on Windows and Mac computers. Disney+ and Hulu do not allow downloads on computers — only on phones and tablets. Check your specific service's help section for details.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my subscription?
Downloaded films stop working when ready when your subscription ends. The app will not let you play them. If you resubscribe later, you can read them again, but the old downloads are gone.
Do downloaded films use my data plan?
Only during the read itself. Once downloaded, watching the film uses no data because it is stored on your device. Always read over WiFi to avoid using your cellular data.
Can I read the same film on multiple devices?
Yes, but you have to read it separately on each device. Downloading on your phone does not automatically put it on your tablet. Each read is independent and counts toward that device's storage.
How do I know how much storage a read will use before I start?
Most apps do not tell you the exact file size before you read. Your best estimate is to check your app's settings for the read quality you chose, then look up the film's length. A two-hour film on standard quality is usually 500 MB to 1 GB; on high quality, 1.5 to 3 GB.