Netflix Has Stopped Supporting Downloads on Windows, but There’s a Workaround

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In a recent update , Netflix has ditched its dedicated Windows app and now offers a web app instead. However, this new “app” is essentially a shortcut to open the Netflix website, and as a result, you lose an important feature: downloading.

The ability to download videos and watch them offline is crucial for many streaming services, since it is impossible to stream content all the time. I always have a couple of episodes or movies downloaded on my devices if I want something to watch when the internet is down or when I’m traveling without a connection.

While Netflix still downloads content on iPhone, iPad, and Android, it has stopped supporting downloads for Windows. It’s not clear why, but you’re out of luck if you’re traveling with a PC. As it turns out, there is a workaround that allows you to continue downloading content on Netflix for Windows.

How to Download Movies on Netflix for Windows

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Instead of using the official Netflix “web app”, try downloading an older version of the Netflix app, as shown in this Reddit post . The download feature is still available in this version, so you can continue downloading content as usual.

Remember that this is only a temporary solution. Netflix could stop supporting the older version of its app at any time, rendering this workaround ineffective. However, according to this article, it works. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. If you already have the Netflix Windows update installed on your computer, you should uninstall it. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps , click the three dots next to Netflix and select Uninstall .

  2. You should then turn off automatic updates in the Microsoft Store to prevent Netflix from updating to the latest version, which of course removes the download feature. Open Microsoft Store and click your profile icon. Go to settings and turn off app updates .

  3. Install an older version of Netflix. To download it directly from Microsoft, go to the Adguard store page and paste the Netflix app link . When you click the checkmark, you will see a bunch of results, but you want to download version 6.99.5 from the list. Alternatively, the Reddit thread lists download links hosted on Dropbox and Google Drive , but the preferred method is to download directly from Microsoft.

  4. After downloading the application, open Terminal on your computer and paste the following command: Add-AppxPackage .Downloads4DF9E0F8.Netflix_6.99.5.0_neutral_~_mcm4njqhnhss8.AppxBundle

The old version of Netflix will be installed on your computer and you can download movies and TV shows as you always have. Note that the Terminal command assumes that you have downloaded the Netflix app package to the Downloads folder on your computer. Feel free to change the path if it is saved elsewhere. It’s also worth noting that even if you turn off automatic app updates, the Microsoft Store may sometimes try to update all the apps on your computer. You can avoid this issue by manually canceling the download or leaving the Microsoft Store closed.

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