A long flight, a train through a dead zone, or a hotel with terrible Wi-Fi can ruin a travel day, but it does not have to ruin your viewing. Netflix lets you download many movies and shows to watch offline, and setting it up takes less time than packing your bag. The catch is that the feature only works on certain devices, not every title can be downloaded, and downloads expire. This guide covers the whole process so you can board the plane with a full library and no surprises.

Downloads work on the Netflix app for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire tablets, and Windows computers using the Netflix app. They do not work in a web browser, so you cannot download from Netflix.com on a laptop and expect it to play offline. You also cannot download on a smart TV or a streaming stick, because those devices are designed for streaming only. If you are planning to watch on a laptop, install the Netflix app from your device's app store first and sign in there.

Your plan matters too. Downloads are available on every plan, including the Standard with ads plan, but the number of devices you can download to matches your plan's screen limit. The Standard plan allows downloads on two devices, and Premium allows six. If you hit the limit, Netflix will tell you, and you can remove a device from your account settings to free a slot. Check this before you travel, not at the airport.

Open the Netflix app, find the film or show you want, and look for the download icon, a downward arrow, on the title page. For a film, one tap starts the download. For a series, you can download individual episodes, or use the Download Season option where it is offered. The download will appear in the Downloads section of the app, with a progress bar. Download over Wi-Fi before you leave, because a single film can be several hundred megabytes, and hotel or airport Wi-Fi is often too slow to finish in time.

Two settings make the process easier. In the app settings, set Video Quality to Standard if you want to fit more titles on your device, or High if you have the space and a good screen. Turn on Smart Downloads, and Netflix will automatically delete a watched episode and download the next one when you are back on Wi-Fi, which is perfect for a long series on a long trip. Also check your storage before downloading: a few films in high quality can fill a phone quickly, so delete old downloads first.

Downloads do not last forever. Most titles must be watched within a set period after downloading, and once you press play, you usually have 48 hours to finish before the download expires. The app shows the expiry time for each download in the Downloads section, so check it before you board. If a download has expired, delete it and download it again while you still have internet. Some titles can only be downloaded a limited number of times per year, so do not delete and re-download the same film repeatedly.

If a title has no download icon, it is not available for download, usually because of licensing. This happens with some licensed films, especially on the ads plan, where a small number of titles are excluded entirely. In that case, pick a Netflix original instead: originals are almost always downloadable. If a download stalls, switch to Wi-Fi, restart the app, and check that your device has enough free storage. And remember that downloaded titles are tied to your account, so they will not play if you sign out.

Download over Wi-Fi the night before you travel, use Standard quality to fit more titles, and check the expiry time in the Downloads section before you board. Netflix originals are the safest downloads, because they are almost always available offline.