Recently Netflix announced that its subscribers will be able to download and view movies and media content offline, a move analysts said was inevitable due to pressure from consumers and big competitions like Amazon.
Netflix said the offline mode feature will only work for select contents on its platform and are available to only iOS and Android enabled devices.
“Netflix members worldwide can now download in addition to stream great series and films at no extra cost,” Eddy Wu, director of Product Innovation, Netflix wrote in a post.
To use the feature, ensure that you have satisfied the requirements like if your device runs on iOS make sure that it is updated to iOS 8.0 or later. For Android users, the firmware should be updated to at least 4.4.2. Your Netflix app should also be the latest iterations. Finally you must be connected to a strong internet source. Downloading and streaming consume similar amounts of data. It is highly recommended you download only when you are connected to a WiFi.
Next, search for a title and see if it supports offline viewing. You can check the download icon located on the description page. Once the icon shows it is downloaded, click and start the download – a blue-progress bar at the bottom of the app. Even better, simply go to the menu and select Available for Download, once you have your title, tap the icon. If it is a TV show, the icon will appear next to each available episode.
The completed files can be accessed and viewed from inside the My Downloads section which can be found on the menu icon. Press play and start watching.
You also have options to download higher quality videos. To do so, just to go to the menu and scroll down to App Settings. Under Downloads, tap Video Quality and choose the option that suits you. The two options available are Standard and Higher Quality.
FRANK ELEANYA
