Learn How You Can Watch Netflix Offline for Mac Legally

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Something is missing in today’s digital world—that being the fact that there is still no Netflix application available for Mac devices. It is true that Mac users can still gain access to Netflix by accessing the website using a variety of internet browsers but for some this is still not the convenient option they are hoping for. Luckily for millions and millions of Mac users around the world, there is a perfectly legal and easy option to use Netflix offline instead of online.

If you use a Mac and are currently paying for a Netflix subscription then this is the perfect article for you. Below we will outline a few ways in which you can have a more complete Netflix streaming experience.

Necessary Preparations for Watching Netflix Offline

Before we get into the details of some of these Netflix offline workarounds, you will need to have a few things in order first. You will need to have a currently active Netflix account paid by a monthly subscription to access any of these options below. You will also need to know which content you want to download.

While many TV shows and movies are available for download from Netflix, not all of them have this feature, so you may want to plan ahead in advance which content you will be downloading.

If you choose to go with a streaming option then obviously a wi-fi connection is necessary. Even if you plan on using Netflix offline, you will still need to be connected to the internet to download the app.

And of course you will need some sort of device that supports Netflix in the first place. While the Netflix app does not work on Mac, it does indeed work on iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad. In fact, it’s one of the most frequently installed apps for iOS in the world. While it is definitely strange that Apple refuses to offer a Mac version, do not despair. Try the following workarounds to get it working and you’ll finally be able to enjoy your favorite shows through your Mac.

Airplay Streaming for Netflix on Mac

The next step you’ll want to take is to download a piece of software called Airplay. If you have never heard of it before, Airplay is a screen mirroring app that connects two different devices and essentially streams the content of one device to the other. This is an excellent option for anyone who already owns both a Mac computer and a portable iOS device.

To get the best results with Airplay, we recommend moving your iOS device close to your wi-fi source so that you will get the strongest connection. Once that is done you will need to make sure that your iOS device is connected to this wi-fi point.

Next, you will download the Netflix app onto your iOS device if you haven’t done so already. Before opening up the Netflix app you will first have to open up the Airplay app. Once Airplay is active, you will have to select the option named Screen Mirroring. This is what will allow you to transmit the Netflix signal from your portable iOS device to your computer.

Once you’ve chosen Screen Mirroring you should see your own Mac device appear in the list of options. Select your Mac device from this list and now your iOS device’s screen should be mirroring on your main desktop or laptop monitor. Once this is set up you can select which downloaded content from your Netflix app you want to play and it will be streamed to your Mac’s screen seamlessly.

Note that the effectiveness of this method will depend on the strength and quality of your wireless network. The better your connection and download and upload speeds are, the better quality images you will receive on your Mac.

Once you have Airplay set up for good you can make things a little easier on yourself by downloading Netflix content beforehand and then stream them over your wi-fi network back to your Mac. This will end up with stronger connections and ultimately a better signal.

Don’t forget to plug in your phone if you’re watching a movie or binging on a series. You wouldn’t want it to die while you’re in the middle of a program!

Watching Netflix Offline without an iOS Device

While the Airplay method is an excellent workaround for people who own an iPhone or an iPod, not everyone owns these devices in addition to a regular Mac computer. Luckily for these folk, there is a workaround which involves emulating the Windows 10 operating system.

There are a couple of ways to get the Windows 10 OS working on a Mac or Macbook. You can either use the built-in Boot Camp program or a virtualization program. We recommend the former option as it is a little easier and it will cost a lot less money.

Once you’ve done this, all you need to do is click on the Windows Start menu and then type in “store”. Once you’re at the Windows Store, simply type in “Netflix” in the search box and find the app, then install and download it. Because the Microsoft Netflix app supports offline functionality and downloads of some videos, you’ll be able to get the Netflix offline experience that you’ve been looking for.

Final Thoughts

While you may have to jump through a couple of hoops to get it running, we hope that you have found this article and its advice worthwhile. It is a little unfair that Mac users can’t get the complete Netflix offline experience that so many other people have on their devices. Luckily, these workarounds do a very good job of delivering that same kind of streaming or downloading experience to owners of Macs and Macbooks. Thank you for reading and we hope you enjoy your new Netflix offline setup.