Netflix lets you read shows and movies directly to your laptop, but only through the Netflix app — not through a web browser

Netflix's read feature works on Windows and Mac laptops, but you must use the Netflix app from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or Mac App Store, not the website. Once you read a show, you can watch it without an internet connection for up to 30 days. After 30 days, the app will ask you to reconnect to verify your account before you can watch again.

The read button appears next to most titles in the app. Not every show or movie is available for read — Netflix licenses content differently depending on the title and your region, so some will have no read option at all. Downloaded files stay on your laptop until you delete them, and they take up storage space the same way any other file does.

Key Takeaways

  • You must use the Netflix app on Windows or Mac, not the website, to read shows and movies.
  • Downloaded content expires after 30 days offline and requires a reconnection to your Netflix account to watch again.
  • Not all titles are available for read because Netflix's licensing agreements vary by show, movie, and region.
  • Downloaded files take up storage space on your laptop and remain there until you manually delete them.
  • You need an active Netflix subscription to read and watch offline content.

Installing the Netflix app on Windows

Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows laptop. Search for "Netflix" in the search box at the top. Click the official Netflix app (published by Netflix, Inc.) and select "Get" or "Install". The app will read and install automatically. Once finished, click "Open" to launch Netflix, or find it in your Start menu.

Sign in with your Netflix email and password. If you have a free trial or a paid subscription, you can read content right away. The app takes a few minutes to fully load the first time you open it.

Installing the Netflix app on Mac

Open the Mac App Store on your computer. Search for "Netflix" in the search box. Click the official Netflix app and select "Get", then "Install App". You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Once installation finishes, the button will change to "Open" — click it to launch Netflix.

Sign in with your Netflix email and password. Your subscription will work the same way it does on any other device.

How to read a show or movie

Open the Netflix app and search for the title you want to read. Click on the show or movie to open its details page. Look for a read icon — it usually looks like a downward-pointing arrow or a circle with a line underneath. Click that icon to start the read.

The app will show a progress bar while the read happens. Depending on the file size and your internet speed, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Once the read finishes, you will see a checkmark or "Downloaded" label next to the title. You can now watch it without an internet connection.

If you do not see a read button, that title is not available for read in your region or under your subscription plan. Some Netflix plans (like the ad-supported tier) may have restrictions on which titles can be downloaded.

Where downloaded shows are stored and how much space they use

Downloaded Netflix files are stored in your laptop's local storage, not in the cloud. On Windows, they typically go into a Netflix folder in your user directory. On Mac, they are stored in the Netflix app's data folder. You do not need to know the exact location — the Netflix app manages them automatically.

File sizes vary widely. A single episode of a TV show might be 500 MB to 2 GB, depending on video quality and length. A movie can range from 1 GB to 4 GB or more. If your laptop has limited storage, check how much free space you have before downloading several titles. You can see how much space Netflix is using by checking your laptop's storage settings.

Watching downloaded content and the 30-day expiration

To watch a downloaded show or movie, open the Netflix app and go to your "Downloads" section or library. Select the title and click play. It will play from your laptop's storage, not stream from Netflix's servers, so you do not need an internet connection.

Downloaded content expires 30 days after you first read it. After 30 days, the Netflix app will prevent you from watching the file until you reconnect to the internet and sign in again. This is Netflix's way of verifying that your subscription is still active. Once you reconnect and the app confirms your account, you can watch the downloaded content again, and the 30-day timer resets.

If your subscription ends or is cancelled, you will not be able to watch downloaded content even if the 30 days have not passed.

Deleting downloads and freeing up storage space

Open the Netflix app and go to your Downloads section. Find the title you want to remove. Right-click on it (Windows) or click and hold (Mac) and select "Delete" or "Remove read". The file will be deleted from your laptop when ready, and that storage space will become available again.

You can also delete downloads by opening the Netflix app settings, finding the storage or downloads section, and clearing downloads from there. If you want to free up space quickly, deleting downloads is the fastest way — the Netflix app does not automatically delete old downloads, so you have to do it manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Netflix shows on my phone or tablet too?

Yes. The Netflix app on iOS and Android phones and tablets has the same read feature. Downloaded content on your phone does not sync to your laptop — each device stores its own downloads separately. You can read the same show on multiple devices if you want.

What if I see a read button but it does not work?

Check that you have an active internet connection and that your Netflix subscription is current. Make sure you are using the official Netflix app from the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store, not a web browser. If the button still does not work, try signing out and signing back in, or restart the app. If the problem continues, contact Netflix support through the app.

Can I read Netflix shows to watch on a different device?

No. Downloaded files are locked to the device they were downloaded on and cannot be moved or transferred to another laptop or device. If you want to watch a show on a different computer, you must read it again on that device.

Do I need a specific Netflix plan to read shows?

Most Netflix plans allow downloads, but the ad-supported plan has restrictions on which titles can be downloaded. Check your plan details in your account settings. Premium and Standard plans have no read restrictions.

What happens if I lose internet connection while downloading?

The read will pause. When you reconnect to the internet, the Netflix app will resume the read from where it stopped. You do not have to start over from the beginning.