How to Download Netflix on a Laptop in 2025: Windows, Mac & Chromebook
Summary: Netflix removed laptop downloads for Windows/Mac. Find real ways to watch Netflix offline on laptops in 2025, including Chromebook and safe alternatives.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: Can You Download Netflix Movies on Laptop? 2025 Update
If you’re using a laptop, the availability of Netflix downloads depends entirely on the type of laptop you have. The sheet below shows the up-to-date information for laptop users to download Netflix movies in 2025:
| Laptop | Can I Download Netflix Movies? |
|---|---|
| Chromebook (with Google Play Store support): | ✅ Yes.The only laptop category that still supports official Netflix offline downloads. |
| Windows 10/11 Laptops | ❌ No longer support offline downloads. |
| MacBooks / macOS | ❌ Cannot download Netflix titles. |
Last year, when Netflix removed download function on Windows, I immediately felt the impact—because data is particularly expensive in my state, I often rely on offline content on airplanes, in hotels, and during my commute.
Therefore, in this guide, I'll show you which methods still work, which don't, and how you can leverage your existing Netflix subscription plan to download videos if you're using a Windows or Mac laptop.
Why Netflix Download Capabilities Vary on Different Laptops
When Netflix quietly started phasing out downloads on Windows last year, a lot of users—including me—were confused. Why Netflix decided to do so? Here’s the short, straightforward explanation.
Fo a detailed explains and analysis, see the content below:
1. Chromebook Laptop: Why Still Support Netflix Movie Downloads
At first glance, I felt quite strange: Windows and macOS laptops can’t download Netflix videos, but some Chromebooks still can. They’re all laptops, right? To understand this problem, I looked up relevant information.
The key is: Chromebooks don’t run a desktop Netflix app. They run the Android version of Netflix.
Most modern Chromebooks support the Google Play Store, which means the Netflix app they run is actually an Android version like a phone or tablet. Even though the device looks like a laptop, the underlying Netflix experience is mobile, not desktop.
This is why only Chromebook laptop (with Google Play) users can watch Netflix offline, while Windows and macOS laptop users cannot achieve that.
- Older education models or enterprise-managed Chromebooks may not allow Android apps.
- To check if your Chromebook laptop supports Netflix movie downloads, please go to "Settings >> Apps >> Google Play Store"
2. Windows Laptop: Why Netflix Removed the Download Feature
On Windows, the older Netflix app (the UWP version, Universal Windows Platform) did support offline downloads. I used it for years when traveling. To keep downloads working on Windows, Netflix had to maintain an entire standalone system: its own DRM implementation, encrypted cache storage, license checks, and compatibility for every Windows update.
But over the years, the UWP ecosystem shrank, developer support faded, and maintaining a separate UWP-based app became increasingly expensive for Netflix. Meanwhile, video consumption shifted heavily toward mobile devices, where the majority of Netflix’s active users are now on iOS and Android, not on Windows laptops.
Here is a compared table about Netflix UWP version vs. Netflix WebView 2 verison:
| Feature | Old Netflix Windows App (UWP) | New Netflix Windows App (WebView2) |
|---|---|---|
| Downloads | ✅ Supported offline downloads with full encrypted storage | ❌ No download support; WebView2 cannot handle encrypted offline files |
| DRM System | Windows-native DRM + dedicated encrypted cache system | Browser-level Widevine DRM, designed only for streaming |
| Maintenance Cost for Netflix | High — requires separate DRM, cache, and update systems | Low — one codebase for both web and app; updates sync automatically |
| My Using Experience | Felt like a “real” app with offline mode and native system integration | Mostly a browser-like experience, functioning as a web wrapper |
The new Netflix WebView2 app on Windows is essentially the web version in a wrapper, which cannot support encrypted offline files—so the download feature disappeared.
From a business perspective, it didn’t make sense for Netflix to keep investing in a declining platform for a smaller segment of users. But as Windows laptop users, we've lost the right to watch Netflix videos offline.
2. macOS Laptop: Why Netflix Never Supported Offline Downloads
Unlike Windows, where offline downloads were removed after the app was rebuilt, macOS is a different story: Netflix has never offered offline downloads on any Mac device.
macOS users have always been limited to browser Netflix online only. While now, with Netflix already moving Windows from UWP to a WebView model, it’s clear the company is not planning to create new native desktop apps, nor to add support for Netflix movie downloads for macOS users.
As Netflix rolled out these changes, Reddit discussions exploded—especially in subs like r/Netflix and r/windows. I followed a lot of these threads and saw many complains like "the new Netflix app on laptop is no different from a browser" (yes, there really isn't much difference), while some users are shocked that Chromebooks have become such a winner.
How to Download Netflix Movies on Laptop: Effective & Verified
After digging through all the technical reasons behind Netflix download functions on different laptops, the next question is simple:
“So what can I actually do to download Netflix movies on my laptop right now?”
That’s exactly what I wanted to figure out during my own tests. And depending on which laptop you’re using—Windows, macOS, or a Chromebook—the answer is very different.
So in this next section, I’ll break down the real, practical options that still work in 2025, starting with the only laptop category that supports official downloads, and then walking through what Windows and Mac users can do if they still need access to download Netflix movies.
- All the results are tested and reviewed by our team. Any unauthorized copy is prohibited. If you want to cite our results as a reference, please contact the editor to get authorization.
1. for Chromebook: the Only Laptop Support Netflix Official Downloads
If you’re using a Chromebook that supports the Google Play Store, you can still download Netflix movies just like you would on an Android phone or tablet. This is because the Netflix app running on Chromebooks is essentially the Android version—not a desktop app.
I’ve tested this on a mid-range HP Chromebook, and the experience is nearly identical to downloading on an Android tablet.
2. Windows & Mac Laptops: Use StreamFab Netflix Video Downloader
If you’re using a Windows or Mac laptop, you won’t see a download icon no matter which browser or app you try. I confirmed this during my own tests on both my ThinkPad Windows 11 laptop and my MacBook Air—every title only showed the “Play” button, no “Download” option.
So if we want to download Netflix movies on Windows and macOS laptop, an assisant is required to achieve that. After multiple tests on both Windows 11 and macOS, I ended up using StreamFab Netflix Downloader more often.
Having tested many other best Netflix video downloaders, StreamFab is the most stable and least error-prone option in my experience. Below is a summary of my personal testing experience.
Runs smoothly on Windows and Mac, with a 99% success rate in saving Netflix videos in 1080p resolution with HDR10 and Dobly Vision.
The steps to use StreamFab Netflix Downloader are very clear. Whether on Windows or Mac, you only need to authorize it once to run it properly.
I downloaded the entire seasons of "Squid Game" and the batch download was very stable without any drops.
Important Legal & Safety Reminder (Please Read This Part)
Even though I'm sharing my testing experience here, I still need to tell you very clearly: StreamFab is for personal use only. Please delete the files promptly after watching Netflix movies on your laptop. StreamFab's use case is to provide laptop users with an offline viewing option during their valid Netflix subscription period.
3. Chromebook Netflix Downloads vs. StreamFab Netflix Downloads
After testing both methods—Netflix’s official download feature on Chromebook and StreamFab on my Windows/Mac devices—I realized that these two approaches actually solve very different problems.
If you’re unsure which one fits your needs, this comparison will make things clearer.
| Feature | Chromebook | StreamFab (Windows/Mac) |
|---|---|---|
| Supported devices | Chromebook with Google Play | Windows and Mac laptops |
| Account safety | 100% safe | 100% safe |
| Quality | Good/Best (no specific resolution data) | up to 1080p |
| HDR10 & Dobly Vision | No | Yes, supported |
| Audio track | AAC 2.0 | EAC3 5.1 or AAC 2.0 |
If you own a Chromebook laptop, using the built-in Netflix download function is undoubtedly the most convenient option.
However, if your laptop is a Windows system or a Mac, StreamFab Netflix Downloader can solve your needs.
FAQs
1. Why Netflix Downloads Expire So Fastly?
According to the licensing rules, Netflix downloads typically expire within 48 hours of you clicking "play". Some movies expire after one week, while others expire the following day.
This expiration mechanism applies to Chromebook, Android, and iOS devices.
2. Can I Transfer Netflix Downloads from Laptop to USB Drive?
No, the official app won't work. Downloaded files are encrypted and locked within the Netflix app's sandbox. On my HP Chromebook, even with enough USB storage, I can't move Netflix movies to usb and other devices for flexible playback.
3. Is It Legal to Use StreamFab Netflix Downloader?
Personal use is perfectly reasonable.
StreamFab is not intended to bypass Netflix restrictions, but rather to enhance your laptop experience provided you have a valid Netflix subscription. There are currently no real legal cases showing users being sued for using StreamFab on their laptops to watch Netflix videos offline.
Conclusion
After testing Netflix downloads on Windows, macOS, and my HP Chromebook, I found that the offline Netflix experience on laptops now completely depends on the device you're using.
If you want the most official way: use a Chromebook that supports the Google Play Store. It's the only laptop that still offers a built-in download button through the Netflix app.
If you're using Windows or Mac and still need to watch offline, StreamFab is the practical choice.
