Can you Download Netflix Movies on Mac?

If you subscribe to one of the Netflix ad-free plans, you can download Netflix content on compatible mobile devices. However, macOS is currently not among the supported systems for you to download shows and movies from Netflix

In the past decade, Netflix has never announced support for downloading Netflix series on Mac systems, and, based on current circumstances, Netflix does not appear to have plans to support downloading movies and shows on Mac.

how to download movies on netflix on macbook

I am aware of how troublesome this flaw can be, but fret not, for after my investigation, I have unearthed a method to safely download Netflix movies on a laptop and watch offline on a Macbook.

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I think this is a great supplement to the limits of Netflix movies and shows downloads on Mac devices. Suitable for all Netflix plans, and preserves original lossless audio & video quality. 

[3 Verified Methods] How to Download Netflix Movies & Shows on Mac

I've tried several methods and shifted out 3 common and feasible solutions, follow my step-by-step guides and chosen options below for downloading Netflix content on your Macbook. 

Here is a simplified compare sheet among the 3 methods, you can click to jump to the related passages directly. 

 

Effectivenss

Ratings

StreamFab Netflix Downloader 🏅 High - Download any Netflix shows and movies in 1080P HDR effect on your Mac permanently ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mac & Win Dual System Medium - Download 1080P HDR Netflix shows and movies on Mac, but will expire ⭐⭐⭐
Screen Record Netflix Low - Get Netflix 480P/720P recorded movies and shows on Mac, but time-consuming and will face black screen problems  ⭐⭐

1. Download Netflix movies and shows on Mac with StreamFab

Considering that the built-in download feature is disabled for Mac devices, therefore, an assistant is required to download Netflix movies on Mac. 

Download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

With this Netflix video downloader, you can effortlessly download Netflix movies and shows on Mac/Windows with original lossless HDR 1080p quality and Atmos/EAC3 5.1 audio.

Key Features
  • Get ad-free Netflix downloads on your Mac from any country for an unlimited period.
  • Unlimited Netflix downloads on Mac with lossless 1080p & EAC3 5.1 or AAC 2.0 audio track.
  • Downloading option with H.264 or H.265 codecs to save your Mac storage space.
  • MP4/MKV saving for flexible access to downloads on Mac or share with other devices
  • Get Netflix video downloads with your best-suited subtitles & metadata.
  • Scheduled mode to download newly released videos from Netflix on Mac automatically.

By using StreamFab, it is easy and simple to get Netflix movies downloaded on Mac, without limitations on the available content, time expiration, regional inaccessibility, etc. Steps are as follows:

Step 1

Download the StreamFab video downloader

Install this Netflix video downloader on your device and open the interface. Tap the VIP Services to find the Netflix icon, and log into your Netflix account.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

Step 2

Choose the streaming service

Search for the movies you want. You can also copy and paste your video URL directly into the address bar on the Homepage.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

Step 3

Customize the Netflix shows

Then a pop-up window will ask for your video options. You can choose the audio and subtitle language, as well as save Netflix to MP4 or save Netflix to MKV.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

Step 4

Start to download Netflix episodes on Mac

After customization, you can download it right now or add it to the queue for later downloading. 

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This method can safely download Netflix movies on Mac and save them permanently, without any quality loss. This is why we recommend it in the #1 position. 

2. Use Dual System to Download Netflix Movies on Mac

If you are utilizing a MacBook/iMac equipped with an Intel CPU, you may consider installing a virtual Windows system on your Mac. Subsequently, you will be able to utilize Netflix for Mac (Windows system) to download videos on your MacBook/iMac to watch Netflix offline

*Boot Camp involves repartitioning the Mac drive to accommodate Windows installation, allowing it to run like Windows itself without any performance loss. Therefore, if you wish to download Netflix videos on Mac through a dual-system setup, Boot Camp is a recommended option.

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If you utilize the following approach, your Netflix downloads may also be subject to the official download limits imposed by Netflix. You must view them in their entirety before they expire.

The steps are as follows:

Step1
Open Boot Camp and create your installation media first. 

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook 

Step2
Once the partition tool is finished, choose 'Windows 10' for installation. Don't forget to nominate the 'BootCamp' partition you prepared earlier.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook 

Step3
Wait for the process, and select the language, keyboard layout, wifi, etc. And then install BootCamp on your windows system, too. 

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook 

Step4
Then, you can use BootCamp to enter the Windows system on Mac, browse Netflix as if you are a windows user, and download Netflix movies on your Mac devices, too

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

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Boot Camp or native Windows booting is not supported on Apple Silicon Macs equipped with an M1 or newer processor. So if you are using an M1 or M2 MacBook, or if you want to download Netflix movies on a Mac without limits, the method mentioned in Part 1 is more suitable. 

3. Screen Record Netflix Videos on Mac

Finally, there is a simple and widely used method for downloading: Rip Netflix Netflix movies on Mac. By using a screen recorder, you can save Netflix videos as MP4 files on a Mac for offline viewing.

However, recording Netflix on Mac can be quite time-consuming, requiring a stable internet connection and often encountering issues such as black screens. Therefore, it is advisable to disable hardware acceleration and check the network connectivity status before recording to ensure a stable screen recording process.

Additionally, it is recommended to conduct a test beforehand to check the synchronization of audio and video in Netflix movies before recording.

Step1
Access Netflix via Chrome on your MacBook/iMac. Please note, use Chrome and not Safari.
Step2
Navigate to "Settings", go to the "System" tab, and disable the "hardware acceleration" feature for Chrome.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook 

Step3
Launch QuickTime Player and select "New Screen Recording", then play a Netflix movie and start recording your Mac screen. Once done, you can watch Netflix movies offline on your MacBook Air/Pro/iMac.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

FAQs

1. How to Download Netflix Movies on MacBook?

Netflix does not provide the option to download videos on Mac. However, you have the alternative of installing a Windows virtual machine on your MacBook. Additionally, you can explore the option of using StreamFab Netflix Downloader to download Netflix shows on Macbook and enjoy them offline.

2. Why Can't I Download Movies from Netflix on My MacBook and Macbook Air?

Netflix does not allow downloading movies or shows on Mac devices because the company uses a technology called “Microsoft PlayReady” to protect its content from piracy and unauthorized distribution. This technology is supported by Windows operating systems. 

Mac devices (including Macbook and Macbook air) use a different DRM system called “FairPlay” which is incompatible with Microsoft PlayReady. This means that Netflix cannot use the same DRM protection for downloaded content on Mac devices as it does on Windows devices, making it difficult to ensure that downloaded content is protected from piracy and unauthorized distribution.

Conclusion

For Macbook users, downloading Netflix episodes on Mac is a difficult problem. How to download Netflix shows on Macbook? In order to solve this issue, this article provides some feasible therapies for you. Have a try and start your Netflix movie downloading on Mac with the 3 methods right now!