To change Netflix download settings, open the Netflix app and navigate to App Settings, where you can adjust the Download Video Quality between Standard and High. This allows you to control how much storage space your offline content uses and whether it plays in standard or high definition. You can also change quality on Netflix for streaming to save data while watching online.
How to change Netflix download settings on mobile
Changing your download quality on a mobile device helps you manage storage space or improve video resolution for offline viewing. The process is nearly identical on iPhone, Android phones, and Amazon Fire Tablets.
- Open the Netflix app and sign in to your account.
- Tap the More or Menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or your profile icon).
- Scroll down and tap App Settings.
- Under the Downloads section, tap Download Video Quality or Video Quality.
- Select Standard or High (sometimes labeled "Higher").
Standard quality downloads faster, uses less storage, and plays in standard resolution (SD). High quality takes more time to download, uses more storage, and plays in up to 1080p or high definition (HD) video quality. This setting applies to all future downloads only; it does not affect content already on your device.
To change the download location to an SD card on Android or Amazon Fire devices, go to App Settings, then Downloads, and tap Download Location to select "SD Card" or "Internal Storage". This is especially useful if you want to free up space on your device's internal storage for other apps and files.
How to change Netflix download settings on Windows
- Open the Netflix app on your Windows computer and sign in.
- Click the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper-left corner to expand the side menu.
- Scroll down and click App Settings.
- Under the Downloads section, find the Video Quality option and click it.
- Choose Standard or High from the drop-down menu.
- Click Save or Apply to confirm the change.
Remember that higher quality settings require more storage space and may take longer to download. The change only affects titles you download after adjusting this setting.
Manage your Netflix downloads and storage
Keeping your downloaded library organized helps you avoid running out of space and ensures you can always find what you want to watch offline. To delete all downloads from a device at once, go to My Netflix, then App Settings, Downloads, and select Delete All Downloads. This instantly frees up all the storage space those files were using.
Your download limit depends on your Netflix plan. Ad-free Netflix plans allow up to 100 active downloads per device. Ad-supported plans are limited to 15 total downloads per device per calendar month, with the limit resetting on the first day of each month. If you hit your limit, you must delete some downloads before adding new ones.
Not every device supports Netflix downloads. The following devices can download content for offline viewing:
- iOS and Android phones and tablets
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers (via the Netflix app)
- Select Android TV devices
Troubleshooting Netflix download issues
If you encounter problems while trying to change Netflix download settings or download content, these solutions address the most common issues.
Insufficient storage errors
When you see a storage error, check how much free space your device has. If space is low, delete old downloads you no longer watch, or move existing downloads to an SD card if your device supports it. You can also switch your download quality to Standard, which uses significantly less storage per title.
Download limits reached
If you cannot download a new title, you may have reached your plan's limit. For ad-supported plans, remember the 15-download-per-month cap resets on the first of each month. For ad-free plans, delete at least one existing download to make room under the 100-download-per-device limit.
Verifying the correct app settings are being used
Sometimes a download issue is simply because the wrong settings are active. Double-check that you are in App Settings and have selected the desired Download Video Quality. If you changed the download location to an SD card, ensure the card is properly inserted and has enough free space.
