How to Download Netflix Movies on Mac.
Netflix gives you the option to download shows on its Windows app, as well as Android and iOS, but this is not the case for Mac users. For a long time I have been looking for a way to download my favorite Netflix shows on Mac and there was no working solution. Up to this day.
So, I recently found a way to download Netflix videos on Mac. And no, we’re not talking about Mac screen recording. Instead, we’ll be using an application called Parallels that lets you run Windows on your Mac. Yes, you can also run Windows on a Mac with Boot Camp, but this requires you to reboot your Mac every time you need to switch to Windows, not to mention a complicated setup. Parallels, on the other hand, is an optimized virtual machine, so it runs Windows on macOS. The setup is simple and will take about 15 minutes. And it even works flawlessly even with a VPN, so you can watch geo-restricted shows like a US office without any glitches. And if that’s not enough, you can even watch 4K content on your Mac. Sounds unmatched. Let’s see how you do it.
Download Netflix movies on Mac
Step 1. Install Parallels on Mac
Go to www.parallels.com and download the Parallels Desktop application for your computer. Although a one-time license costs $ 80, there is a 14-day trial with full access to the software.
During the trial period, you will not have watermarking errors or prompted for your credit card information. Thus, it makes sense to use this if you are going on vacation where internet may be expensive or not available.
If you like the software, you can purchase a license after a trial run.
After downloading the Parallels dmg file, install it on your Mac like any other software.
What I love about Parallels is that the installation is extremely easy. Just run the program and it takes care of everything from installing Windows to configuring it. In fact, I ran the installer and went for a walk. When I returned, Windows was ready to go. I was surprised I didn’t have to press any buttons.
You may get a popup that says “System Extension Blocked”, which means your macOS needs an exception in the security settings for this app. Click the button to open the settings page and grant permissions.
You just need to click one button to grant the exception, click “Allow” to start the configuration process. You will also be prompted for macOS credentials and authenticate the transaction before providing an exception.
It automatically downloads a copy of Windows from the Windows server, so you don’t need to download the Windows ISO. However, Parallels will download a trial copy of Windows. However, installation will take a few minutes since the package is about 5 GB in size.
After downloading the installation files, Parallels will automatically start the installation process and you will see the installation screen. If you have never used windows, this screen means that you are already in it and it will take another couple of minutes to complete the setup.
Once the installation is complete, you can use your Windows immediately after installation. No need to install any drivers or anything else. It is so simple.
After the installation is complete, Parallels will ask you to create a free account. To save time, you can sign in to your Google account and you’re done.
So, Windows on Mac. Cool. Windows desktop copies the Mac desktop to Windows and adds all files to the Windows desktop, which is great. I can easily access my documents without having to manually copy content from macOS to Windows Imitation.
Step 2. Install the Netflix app
Next, we need to download the Netflix Windows app, so open the Windows Store, search for Netflix, click Get and you’re done. You can even install Netflix without signing into a Microsoft account. Good job Microsoft.
Now that you have the Netflix app, log into the Netflix app with your credentials. One thing I noticed when setting up a Netflix account is the overall smoothness, I mean it’s unrealistic. It works even better than some Windows computers.
I tested this on the weakest 2015 MacBook Air with 128GB storage. If it works on this MacBook, it will work on most Macs as well.
After logging into Netflix, let’s download something to check if it actually works. However, not everything is available for download. To find shows available for download, go to the Available Download section of the menu. If the title you want to download from Netflix is ​​not available for download, you have no choice but to take a screenshot while you watch it.
Once you find the title you want to download in the available directory, click the Download button to start downloading.
Then you will see a blue progress bar at the bottom of the app. Once the download is complete, it will appear in the Netflix app download library. You can find your downloaded shows by going to the menu and clicking “My Downloads”. Just hit the play button and start watching the video.
Videos are uploaded to Macbook storage, so make sure you have enough memory.
You can even play videos when the internet is disconnected. You can try this by turning off Wi-Fi on your Mac. I watched the entire episode in Airplane mode to test the app and it worked great.
Read: Removing a Show from Continued Watching in the Netflix App (Android | iOS)
The Netflix app retains all of its functionality even when simulated in a sandbox, including smart download, which automatically deletes an episode after watching and downloads the next one when you’re connected to the internet.
To enable Smart Download or download higher quality videos, go to the menu and scroll down to the Downloads section. In the Downloads section, tap Video Quality and choose the quality that best suits your needs.
It remembers how long you watched the episode and resumes it even after you restart your Parallels session on the Mac. It’s safe to say that the method is pretty cool at the moment.
Step 3. Upload geo-blocked content
We have a full featured Netflix app that safely stores all downloaded files on the system. While I have no shortage of titles, there are a few homeless people who are not available in my country. You can use a VPN to bypass geographic restrictions to access content from around the world.
Turn on your VPN that supports Netflix unblocking (we recommend Nord VPN or Smart DNS Proxy VPN) and connect to a location where content cannot be blocked. I usually look for titles like “Office” as it is not available in my country. Just search for the title and it should appear in the search results on the Netflix app.
If for some reason the application is not displaying headers, it may be due to a cache issue. Restarting the Netflix app on Windows will not solve this problem, you will have to close the Parallels app on your Mac and restart the sandbox.
After Windows boots up, open the Netflix app again, try searching for the name again and it should now appear in the results.
Step 4. Play Netflix in 4K on Mac
The party is not over yet, there is one more left. It can play Netflix 4k content on Mac. Until now, this could only be done on Windows. We still play content on Windows, but now it’s on Mac. You need a Macbook or 4K TV. Also, upgrade your Netflix account to one that has 4K playback options.
Read: How to Watch Netflix at 1080p on Chrome and FireFox
I’ve tested this on several nearby Macs including MacBook Pro and iMac and it works on all devices. You can even watch 4K content in the Edge browser, but Safari and Chrome just don’t play Netflix content in 4K, so here it is.
Read: 10 Chrome Extensions to Help You Have More Netflix Experience
Closing words
Here’s how to download Netflix movies on Mac. I have been using the installation for the last three days and it works flawlessly. There is no watermark on the simulated Windows and the software does not need to be upgraded to premium. I’ll update the results if there are any updates with this method. Now it’s time for me to pack my bags.
Read: How to Watch Netflix with a Remote Friend (Android | iOS)