Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services for watching movies and TV shows online. With over 209 million paid subscribers globally, Netflix offers an extensive catalog of content in various genres.
However, many Netflix users wish they could download and save movies and shows to watch offline on their devices, especially on trips with unreliable internet connectivity. Unfortunately, Netflix does not have an official app for Mac computers that allows downloading content.
In this article, we will explore legal methods to download and save Netflix movies on a Mac, with a focus on workarounds using iOS devices and Windows partitions.
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Can You Download Netflix Movies Natively on a Mac?
The short answer is no. Unlike the Netflix apps for mobile platforms like iOS and Android, there is no official Netflix app for macOS that lets you download shows or movies.
When you access Netflix through their website on a Mac, there is no option to save or download anything to your hard drive. Netflix only supports downloading content through their mobile and Windows apps.
Why Can’t You Download Netflix Movies on a Mac?
It’s unclear why Netflix does not allow downloading content on Macs. Apple and Netflix have not provided any official explanation.
However, it likely comes down to licensing restrictions imposed by content creators and studios. Offline viewing gives users more permanency and control over content, which rightsholders are generally not comfortable with.
Netflix might also be trying to boost their mobile app usage by restricting downloads to mobile platforms. Or they may eventually release a native Mac app with offline download capabilities in the future.
Workarounds to Download Netflix Movies on Your Mac
Although you can’t natively download Netflix movies on a Mac yet, there are a few legitimate workarounds using iOS devices or Windows partitions:
1. Use an iPhone or iPad
The easiest and most straightforward way is to use an iPhone or iPad, as the Netflix app for iOS allows saving content for offline viewing.
To download a movie or show:
- Open the Netflix app on your iPhone/iPad
- Find the title you want and tap the Download icon
- Connect your iPhone/iPad to your Mac using a cable
- Transfer the downloaded movie file to your Mac through Finder
You can now access the downloaded movie file on your Mac storage and watch it using any compatible video player app, even without an internet connection.
2. Install Windows 10 via Boot Camp
If you have an Intel-based Mac, you can partition your hard drive to install Windows 10 using Apple’s Boot Camp utility. This will let you run Windows natively on your Mac.
Once you have Windows 10 running:
- Download and install the Netflix app for Windows from the Microsoft Store
- Use the Windows Netflix app to download any movies or shows you want
- Exit Boot Camp back into the macOS partition
- Access the downloaded Netflix files from macOS through the Boot Camp partition
This method gives you full access to Netflix’s download functionality through the Windows app even when running macOS. The downside is you need to reboot into Windows each time you want to download new content.
3. Screen Mirroring via AirPlay
If you have an Apple TV and an iPhone/iPad, you can use AirPlay to mirror your iOS device’s screen to your TV. This lets you access the downloaded Netflix content from your iPhone/iPad on a bigger screen.
To mirror your iOS device to an Apple TV:
- Download the movies/shows on your iPhone/iPad Netflix app
- Connect both devices to the same wireless network
- Swipe down from the top right to access Control Center on your iOS device
- Tap Screen Mirroring and select your Apple TV
While not a direct download method, screen mirroring gives you a way to view saved Netflix content from your iPhone/iPad on your TV conveniently.
Third-Party Netflix Downloaders for Mac
There are also third-party Netflix downloader tools and apps available online that claim to let you download and save Netflix videos on a Mac.
However, most of these tools violate Netflix’s Terms of Service, besides facing potential legal issues themselves. I do not recommend using any third-party Netflix downloaders.
Conclusion
While Netflix does not officially support downloading movies and shows on Macs yet, there are a few legitimate workarounds using iOS devices and Windows partitions to access download functionality.
Ideally, Netflix will eventually release a native macOS app with offline viewing support built-in, allowing direct downloads.
For now, using an iPhone/iPad to download and transferring files or screen mirroring via AirPlay are your best options to save Netflix movies on your Mac.
Using third-party downloader tools that violate Netflix’s policies is never recommended.
I hope this guide gives you clarity on how to download and save Netflix movies on your Mac computer legally! Let me know if you have any other questions.
