To download from Plex, you need an active Plex Pass subscription and permission from your server owner. Once those are in place, you can download your personal media from your Plex Media Server to a phone, tablet, or computer for offline playback.
What you need before you can download from Plex
Three critical prerequisites must be met before you can download from Plex. The most common points of failure are missing one of these three requirements.
1. An active Plex Pass subscription. The Downloads feature requires an active Plex Pass subscription for the user performing the download. This is not a free feature; your account must have a current Plex Pass.
2. Server owner permission. The owner of the Plex Media Server must allow your account to download content. Even with a Plex Pass, you cannot download media unless the server owner has granted you this permission.
3. Compatible server and client versions. Both the Plex Media Server and the Plex client app must be signed in to a Plex account. The server must be running version 1.16.3 or newer for desktop apps, and version 1.41.2 or newer for iOS and Android mobile apps. If either version is too old, downloads will not work.
How to download media on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Downloads are supported on Plex desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The process is identical across all three operating systems.
- Open the Plex desktop app and navigate to your media library.
- Hover your cursor over the poster of the movie, TV show, or other video you want to download. A context menu will appear.
- Select "Download" from the context menu. This option is also available on pre-play screens and on the right side of list view items.
- Choose your desired download quality. You can adjust download quality for video and music in the app's settings before starting the download.
- The download will begin. All completed or in-progress downloads are accessible in the "Downloads" library, located in the app's left sidebar.
Once the download is complete, you can play it directly from the Downloads library without needing an internet connection.
How to download media on mobile (Android and iOS)
Downloads are supported on Plex mobile apps for Android and iOS. The process is nearly identical on both platforms.
- Open the Plex mobile app and navigate to your media library.
- Tap on the movie, TV show, or music item you want to download to open its detail screen.
- Tap the "Download" icon on the item's detail screen. This icon looks like a downward-pointing arrow.
- The download will begin. You can view progress and access completed downloads from the "Downloads" section in the app.
To play downloaded content on mobile, you must access it from the Downloads section. Playing from other sections will still stream the content from your server.
What you can and cannot download
Understanding what is supported sets accurate expectations for what you can download from Plex.
Supported content types
You can download the following types of content from your personal Plex Media Server:
- Movies
- Music (artists, albums, or individual tracks)
- TV (shows, seasons, or individual episodes)
- Other Videos
Unsupported content types
You cannot download the following types of content from Plex:
- Plex-provided free movies and shows (the free streaming content Plex offers)
- Live TV
- Movie rentals
If you want to download movies for free to watch offline, you need to add your own personal media files to your Plex Media Server. This is different from services where you can download on Tubi, as those services handle their own content licensing and distribution.
Managing and playing your downloaded files
Once you have downloaded media, proper management ensures you can access it offline and free up space when needed.
Accessing the Downloads library
All completed or in-progress downloads are accessible in the "Downloads" library. This library is located in the app's left sidebar on desktop, or in the Downloads section on mobile. This is the only place where you can play downloaded content offline.
Playing downloaded content
To play downloaded content, you must access it from the Downloads library. If you navigate to the movie or show in your main library (Movies, TV Shows, etc.) and try to play it, the app will stream the content from your Plex Media Server instead of playing the downloaded copy. This requires an internet connection and uses data.
Deleting downloads
To free up storage space, you can delete downloaded files at any time. In the Downloads library, locate the item you want to remove and select the delete or remove option. This only removes the downloaded copy from your device; it does not delete the original file from your Plex Media Server.
Note that "Plex Sync" is an older term for this Downloads feature. "Cloud Sync" was a separate Plex Pass feature for syncing media to cloud storage providers, which was discontinued on September 25, 2018. The current feature is called Downloads and works only for downloading to your local device.
