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User-friendly guide to watching Netflix content offline on your MacBook
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Wondering if you can download Netflix movies and shows to your MacBook so you can watch them even when you’re not online? Unfortunately, there’s no Netflix app for macOS yet, which means you can’t download content the same way you can on iOS, Android, or Windows devices. However, we’ve found several workarounds you can use to get the Netflix app experience on your Mac. We’ll also explain how to download or screen-record Netflix content, although these techniques aren’t recommended since they violate Netflix’s terms of use.
Things You Should Know
- There’s no Netflix app for macOS.
- Netflix doesn’t currently support streaming to your Mac with AirPlay.
- You can download Netflix videos on your Mac by installing an iOS or Windows emulator and running the Netflix app in the emulator.
Steps
Section 3 of 7:
Using PlayCover (M1 & M2 Only)
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Download the newest release of PlayCover from Github. PlayCover is an app that allows you to run iOS applications on Macs with M1 or M2 chips. You won’t be able to use it if your Mac has an Intel processor. However, if it’s compatible with your MacBook, you can use it to run the mobile Netflix app and download content that way. It’s available here .
- The latest version, 3.0.0, is in beta.
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Open the DMG file and drag PlayCover into Applications. Once you’re finished downloading the install file, double-click it. In the window that opens up, drag the PlayCover installation file to your Applications folder. [2] X Research source
- You should find the DMG file in your Downloads folder.
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Double-click the app and click Open . Open your Applications folder and double-click the PlayCover app. A dialog box will pop up asking if you are sure you want to open the app. Click Open .
- Select Install if you’re prompted to install the Xcode Command Line Tools .
- Finally, you’ll be asked to authenticate the installation with Touch ID or your administrator password.
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Open PlayCover. Once you’ve downloaded the IPA file, launch the PlayCover app.
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Drag the IPA file into the main PlayCover window. This will install the Netflix app. You can also click the + Add App button at the top of the PlayCover window to browse for the IPA file you downloaded.
- You’ll see a bar showing you the progress of your installation.
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Double-click the Netflix icon to launch the app. Once the installation is finished, you’ll see the Netflix app in the main PlayCover window. Double-click it to open the app.
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Download and watch videos within the app. Now you can use the iOS app and download content just like you would on an iPad or iPhone! Sign in with your Netflix account, then browse for movies or TV episodes you want to download. Click the Download button to start the process.
- Once you download something, you can find it by tapping the My Netflix button in the lower right corner of the screen. You’ll find your content under the Downloads header.
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Section 4 of 7:
Installing Windows on Your Mac (Parallels)
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Use Parallels if you have an M1 or M2 chip. For more recent MacBooks that have an M1 or M2 chip, you can install Windows using Parallels. This allows you to run Windows on your desktop without having to reboot to switch between operating systems. From there, you can install the Netflix app for Windows and download content that way.
- Unfortunately, this option comes with a pricey yearly subscription, although there is a free trial option.
- Make sure your macOS is up to date before you start.
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Download the Parallels app. Visit https://www.parallels.com/ and click Buy now or Download free trial .
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Open the installation file. It should be in your Downloads folder. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Parallels.
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Launch Parallels and select the version of Windows you want. When you first install Parallels, it will allow you to download and install Windows 10 for free. You can also click Skip if you want to purchase or install a different version of Windows. [3] X Research source Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
- Once the installation is done, you’ll be prompted to sign up for a free Parallels account. You’re now ready to use Windows on your MacBook!
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Download the Netflix app from the Microsoft Store . Once you have Windows up and running on your Mac, open the Start Menu and search for Microsoft Store . Search for Netflix , then click Get or Install to start downloading it.
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Launch the app and sign in. Log in with your Netflix account to get started.
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Find and download the content you want to watch. Not all titles are available for download, but those that are available will display a Download button.
- Click the Download button. Wait for your content to finish downloading.
- To find your downloaded content, click the ☰ Menu button , then select My Downloads . Open the video and click Play to watch it offline.
- You can also click Menu and navigate to an option called See What You Can Download , Find Something to Download , or something similar to browse for downloadable content.
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Section 5 of 7:
Installing Windows on Your Mac (Boot Camp)
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Use Boot Camp if your MacBook has an Intel Processor. For MacBooks with an Intel processor released in 2015 or later, or MacBook Pro or Air models released in 2012 or later, you can install Windows 10 with the Boot Camp utility . This will allow you to use the Netflix app for Windows on your Mac and download content that way.
- If you’re not sure what kind of processor your Mac has, click the Apple Menu at the top of your screen and select About This Mac . You’ll see information about what kind of chip you have and when your MacBook was released. [4] X Research source
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Download the Windows 10 installer file. Before you get started, you’ll need a copy of Windows 10. You can download it for free here .
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Make sure Secure Boot is enabled on your Mac. It should be set to Full Security by default. To check: [5] X Research source
- Restart your computer and press and hold ⌘ Command + R right after the Apple logo appears.
- Enter your administrator password when prompted, then select Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu. You may need to enter your password again.
- Make sure the radio button next to Full Security is selected. Follow the onscreen instructions to save your settings and finish booting up your MacBook.
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Launch Boot Camp from your Utilities folder. Open a Finder window and select Applications from the sidebar, then open the Utilities folder. Launch Boot Camp Assistant .
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Insert a USB drive if prompted. Depending on what kind of MacBook you have, you may be asked to insert a USB drive. You’ll need one with at least 16 GB of free space. Some Macs will create the partition on your hard drive instead of requiring a separate drive.
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Follow the prompts to start making the Windows partition. After Boot Camp assistant finishes creating the partition, the Windows installer will restart. Make sure BOOTCAMP is selected as the location of the installation and click Format .
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Click Next and follow the onscreen instructions. Follow the prompts to finish installing Windows in the BOOTCAMP partition. Before you start, make sure the only external device plugged into your MacBook is the USB drive you used to create the partition (if you needed one).
- Your MacBook should now restart in Windows and guide you through installing the necessary drivers and support software.
- To switch between Windows and macOS, press and hold ⌥ Option during startup.
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Download the Netflix app from the Microsoft Store . In Windows, go to the Start Menu and search for Microsoft Store . Search for Netflix , then click Get or Install to start downloading it.
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Launch the app and find content to download. Log in with your Netflix account to get started. Open the show or movie you want to download. Not all titles are available for download, but those that are available will display a Download button.
- Once you find something you want to play offline, click Download and wait for your content to finish downloading.
- To find your downloaded content, click the ☰ Menu button , then select My Downloads . Open the video and click Play to watch it offline.
- Alternatively, click Menu and navigate to an option called See What You Can Download , Find Something to Download , or something similar to browse for downloadable content.
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Tips
- While Android emulators such as NoxPlayer and BlueStacks could theoretically allow you to use the Netflix app for Android on your MacBook, BlueStacks currently doesn’t support the Netflix app and NoxPlayer doesn’t work on Macs with M1 or M2 chips. These issues may be resolved in the future.Thanks
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