The best way to watch Netflix is using its official apps, regardless of the operating system, unless you’re a Mac owner in which case you’re stuck with a browser or experimenting with third-party apps. But if you were hoping for Netflix to just port its iPad app to Mac now that macOS Catalina is available and Apple’s Catalyst tech is available to developers, you’ll have to think again. For the moment, that’s not happening, although it might have to do more with Apple than Netflix.
Netflix is available on Mac computers using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or the Safari browser. Netflix streaming features on Mac computers include: Navigation Browse rows of movie posters: The main Netflix.com page displays rows of TV shows and movies for you to browse. Netflix is available on Mac computers using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or the Safari browser. Netflix streaming features on Mac computers include: Navigation Browse rows of movie posters: The main Netflix.com page displays rows of TV shows and movies for. Netflix for Mac: How to Download App on Macbook. Netflix is a superior online streaming platform for watching Netflix originals series, movies, and many more binge watch shows. Netflix app is wildly used in Windows, Smartphones, iPad, and iPhone. However, the Netflix app is not available for Mac.
An extensive Bloomberg report earlier this week explained the various issues iOS developers have with porting their iPad apps to the Mac via Catalyst.
Apple’s dream is to have developers code an app once and then launch it on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. In practice, however, that’s not so easy, which explains why you’re not witnessing a flurry of updates from iOS apps telling you those apps are available on Mac as well. Some developers have had to postpone their macOS launches to further iron out wrinkles. Others had to inform buyers that a macOS version would require a separate purchase, even if they’ve already bought the app from the App Store on an iPad or iPhone. Then there are user interface issues that might need fixing, given that several iPad apps that were imagined for a touch-only experience need to be adapted for a mouse and keyboard.
These issues will be ironed out as Catalyst matures, and the work of developers will surely be cut in half in the future. Apple obviously wants to bring more apps to the Mac, especially the ones that are popular on iPhone and iPad. Once that happens, Netflix might move its iPad app to macOS as well. In the meantime, the streaming giant has confirmed to Bloomberg it has no plans to bring its popular iPad app to the Mac. Netflix has standalone apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad), Android, and Windows 10.
If you do want to watch Netflix inside an app on your Mac, you’ll have to resort to a third-party solution, and it so happens that we’ve discovered a great option. It’s called Clicker for Mac and it’ll completely change the way you watch Netflix, packing a bunch of features that are not even available in the official Netflix app, like the ability to resume playback as soon as you open the app and to automatically skip intros or jump to the next episode.
Netflix may be missing its expectations for subscriber numbers growing, but one thing is certain: millions of people still love and use the platform on a daily basis. The competition by Apple TV and Disney+ is a good thing; it forces Netflix to add more high-quality content.
For Mac users, however, there’s a problem: there’s no Netflix app for Mac. Maybe it’s an Apple’s thing. Maybe they don’t want you to have a dedicated app, so you’ll focus on Apple TV. Whatever the case is, the lack of Netflix app for Mac means we’ll have to find a way to work around the issue. Fortunately, there is a way.
We’ll share a few tips on how to watch content, but we’ll also explain how to download Netflix on Mac for offline viewing. But keep in mind that we’ll talk about a legal Netflix download.
The Simplest Way to Watch Netflix on Mac
Get Netflix App For Mac
The easiest way to access Netflix content through your Mac is to simply use your browser. That’s the method the platform suggests. To set up Netflix for Mac, you’ll simply get at the website, sign into your account, and stream away.
But wait; everyone knows how to do that. We promised a Netflix download here. Fortunately, it’s possible to download content for offline viewing.
This is where AirPlay gets into the picture.
When you access your Netflix app on iPad or iPhone, you’ll notice that you can download content. The Netflix download button is not always available, but it’s there on most original shows. However, you won’t see it when you access the platform via laptop.
That’s why you’ll connect your computer to your phone or tablet via AirPlay. Open AirPlay on the device and go for the Screen Mirroring feature. Then, you’ll see your Mac in the list of available devices for mirroring. Choose it. You’ll see the phone’s display on your Mac. Get into the Netflix app and download the content you need.
That answers your question: can you watch Netflix offline on Mac? Yes; you can. Thanks to the Apple ecosystem that effortlessly connects devices, you won’t even feel like you lack the Netflix app for Mac.
How To Download Netflix Shows On Mac
Another Option: Use the Screen Recording Feature to Watch Netflix on Mac Offline
Let’s say you don’t have a problem accessing Netflix through its website. The only issue is that you can’t stream content offline. If you’re planning a weekend getaway in a remote area, that’s a big problem. How do you prepare a few episodes and possibly a movie ahead, so you can watch it later?
If you hit Command+Shift+5 on your Mac, you’ll see the screenshot and screen recording options. If you record the screen while the video streams, you’ll be able to save the file and watch it offline. This is a rather inconvenient option that takes a lot of time. You have to play an entire movie just to get a Netflix download on your computer. However, it’s pretty cool for people who want to watch their favorite episodes multiple times.
We have to mention the fact that this is considered privacy. Your default screen recording tool might not get you through the entire episode or movie. Capto is a third-party app with better screen recording functionality.
Keep this in mind: since piracy is illegal, make sure you’re recording Netflix for Mac for personal use only. Never share that content with someone else!
Your Final Option: Get a Netflix Download via Windows
If you know that you won’t have Internet connection where you going and you absolutely need the app on your computer for offline viewing, you can install Windows 10 on your computer.
You didn’t see this coming, did you?
This is a workaround for extreme cases. Once you setup Windows on your Mac, you can download and install the Netflix app. It supports the download function, so that gets your offline Netflix for Mac.
Now you may be wondering: “Can’t I download Netflix content on a Windows computer and then watch it on my Mac?” Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do that. Netflix gives you the download feature for some content, but you’ll be able to watch your downloaded titles only through the device that you used to get them. If you got them on an iPad or iPhone, you can use the screen mirroring feature to watch the content on a Mac. But if you got them on a Windows computer, you can’t transfer them. That’s why we suggest installing Windows if you really need to download and use the full-featured Netflix app for Mac.
Can You Watch Netflix Offline on Mac?
Mac users are used to the ultimate convenience. As they always say about their computers “they just work.” In the Netflix case, they don’t really work. The platform limits your access only through a browser. That’s nice, but it doesn’t work if you want to watch content offline.
Download Netflix For Mac
There are three potential solutions, which we listed above. Choose the one that works for you, and happy watching!