Can you Download Netflix Movies on Mac?

If you subscribe to one of the Netflix ad-free plans, you can watch Netflix offline 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 episodes on Mac systems, and, based on current circumstances, Netflix does not appear to have plans to support downloading movies and shows on Mac. I am aware of how troublesome this flaw can be, but fret not, for after my investigation, I have unearthed some methods to safely download Netflix movies on a Macbook.

how to download movies on netflix on 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. 

[5 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 to download Netflix to MP4 or MKV files on your Macbook. 

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

 

Effectiveness

Ratings

StreamFab Netflix Downloader 🏅 High - Download any Netflix shows and movies in 1080P HDR effect on your Mac permanently. Easy to operate for all users. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Airplay Netflix to Macbook High - Watch Netflix on any Macbook, but a stable internet is required. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
iOS App Stimulator High - Download any Netflix shows and movies in 1080P, but will expire. Relatively easy to operate than Method 3. ⭐⭐⭐
Mac & Win Dual System Medium - Download 1080P HDR Netflix shows and movies on Mac, but will expire and very complicate to operate. ⭐⭐
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. By utilizing the StreamFab Netflix Video Downloader—an optimal choice for Mac and MacBook users—you can effortlessly download Netflix videos onto your MacBook and fully indulge in your favorite Netflix films.

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. After that, you can transfer the Netflix videos to USB or mobile phones for more convenient playbacks.

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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. 

More information:

2. Airplay Netflix Movies from iPhone/iPad to Macbook

All Apple devices natively support the AirPlay feature, and the Netflix application is also compatible with AirPlay. Therefore, if one wishes to watch Netflix on a MacBook, one can seamlessly airplay Netflix videos from an iOS iPhone or iPad to macOS MacBook. The procedure is as follows:

Step1
Ensure that the AirPlay feature is enabled. Typically, the AirPlay functionality is activated by default on iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and the Netflix application. If it is not, please navigate to "Settings" to enable it manually.
Step2
Open the Netflix application on your iPhone or iPad. Locate the movie, series, or program you wish to download, and proceed to download it onto your iOS device.
Step3
Access the "My Downloads" folder, and click on the downloaded file to begin playback. Simultaneously, utilize the AirPlay feature to stream the Netflix content from your iPhone or iPad screen to the larger display of your MacBook for offline viewing.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

The default setting for the Netflix application on the iPhone permits downloads only in Wi-Fi environments. If your Wi-Fi connection is weak or unavailable, you must first disable this restriction in the Netflix application settings before downloading movies to your iPhone.

 

More information:

3. Netflix iOS Application (for M1/M2/M3)

As introduced in the preface, the Netflix application is incompatible with the MacBook, which means that direct downloads of Netflix videos onto the MacBook are not feasible. However, the Netflix iOS application, designed for iPhone and iPad, does support the download feature. You can utilize the Apple-exclusive Netflix iOS application for mobile devices to download Netflix videos on your MacBook.

So, how can one use the Netflix iOS application on a MacBook?

This is where the iOS device simulator known as iMazing comes into play. By installing iMazing, you can operate a virtual iOS device through your MacBook. By installing the Netflix iOS application on this virtual iOS device, you can download Netflix videos onto your MacBook.

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However, this method is exclusively compatible with MacBooks equipped with the M1/M2/M3 chip; therefore, in other scenarios, it is advisable to utilize the method in Part 1. Furthermore, videos downloaded using this approach cannot be played on any players other than Netflix.
Step1
Launch the emulator installed on the MacBook. Download the Netflix iOS application from the App Store.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook 

Step2
Upon launching the Netflix iOS application, the system will prompt you to log in to your account. Once logged in, you can select your preferred video. You will notice a download button displayed at the bottom of the video playback screen.
Step3
Click the download button to commence the downloading of Netflix videos. You may adjust settings such as download quality and duration for offline viewing, if necessary.
Step4
Once the download is complete, access the downloaded videos using the file explorer or download manager available within the emulator.

how to download Movies on Netflix on Macbook

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With this method, you can download Netflix videos by installing an iOS emulator on your MacBook and using the Netflix iOS app. I would like to express that after the initial installation phase, it is relatively easy to use; however, as "iMazing" is a paid software, it does not prove to be as professionally efficient as the "StreamFab Netflix Video Downloader" introduced in Method 1. Some may consider it lacking in value for the price.

4. Use Dual System to Download Netflix Movies on Mac (for Intel CPU)

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, please try the solution in Part 1 or Part 2.

5. 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, screen recording Netflix can be quite time-consuming, requiring a stable internet connection and often encountering issues such as black screens because it cannot bypass Netflix DRM. 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 4 methods right now!