Download and watch offline

The iPhone and iPad app can store titles on the device and play them with no connection at all, on the plane, in the summer house, on the commute. Downloads are available to everyone on a Supporter server; the owner's plan covers every person they've invited.

Today this is an iPhone and iPad feature. The other apps don't have offline downloads yet.

Downloading a title#

On a title's page, open the options sheet (the ⋯ button) and choose Download. It expands into the quality choices, with Original at the top, the file exactly as it sits on your server, and smaller versions below with their sizes, so you can decide between quality and space on the spot. Smaller versions are prepared by the server, and the app shows preparation and download progress.

For shows you can download a single episode, a whole season, or use Download show to grab every unwatched episode in order.

Downloads run one at a time and continue in the background; a pill above the dock follows progress with speed and time remaining, and turns into "Downloaded" when done. By default downloads are Wi-Fi only, so a season doesn't quietly eat your data plan. You can change that in Settings, then Downloads.

Watching offline#

Open the app with no connection, and even from the sign-in screen you can go straight to your downloads. Downloaded titles keep what matters:

• Poster art, descriptions, and durations.
• Text subtitles, stored alongside the video. Image-based disc subtitles (PGS, VobSub) don't come along for the ride yet.
• All audio tracks, so your language choice still works offline.
• Intro and credits skip, same as streaming.
• Your position. Watch half an episode on the train and the resume point syncs back to your server and every other device the next time the app is online.

Downloads don't expire. What you downloaded stays playable until you delete it.

Managing storage#

Your downloads live behind your avatar, under Downloads: per-title progress, pause, resume, retry, and delete. Settings, then Downloads shows total space used and offers Remove All.

Downloaded files are stored inside the app, are not visible to other apps, and are excluded from iCloud and device backups, so a season of 4K doesn't balloon your iCloud storage.

Access rules still apply#

A download is your server's normal access control, extended offline: library restrictions and profile content-rating caps are enforced when the download is made, and each profile's downloads are its own. A kids profile can neither download above its cap nor see anyone else's downloads.

Still stuck? Getting help & feedback covers what to send us.