One of the benefits of being a Netflix subscriber, in addition to getting access to all those shows, is to download them for offline viewing. But it looks like for the Windows app, that feature may be going away. This change may also be arriving as part of an update to the “Windows app experience”.
A user on X, formerly Twitter, has shared a screenshot of said update, which adds “access to live events, compatibility with ad-supported plans, and more” while also removing downloads. It doesn’t look like a universal change though, as another Netflix user has shared as a reply a screenshot of their own update message, which omits mentioning the removal of downloads. Though the person who shared the second screenshot claims that they never use downloads, which may determine which update message is shown.
Mine doesn't say that pic.twitter.com/y9MaPpUctE
— Trevor (@Trevor62271128) May 27, 2024
On one hand, there is maybe some justification for removing downloads on for PC, since it is a stationary device that is expected to always have an internet connection. But the same clearly doesn’t apply to laptops, which the first poster claims to use to watch their Netflix shows when they’re on flights.
It’s unclear which direction the streaming company is going down. Companies frequently roll out tests like these to a small portion of the userbase to test the waters anyway, and this may indeed be one instance of it happening. Either way, until Netflix makes an official announcement, it will probably remain so.
(Source: @ArtemR, @Trevor62271128)
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