If you want to download a WOWOW video for offline viewing, first check the official WOWOW On Demand app. Eligible programs show a download arrow and can be saved on supported smartphones and tablets; WOWOW does not provide its official download feature on computers or TV devices. If you specifically need a local MP4 or MKV file on Windows or macOS, the separate desktop workflow below covers that use case.
Whichever method you use, start with a WOWOW account and title you can already access. A downloader does not create a WOWOW subscription or grant access to paid programs.
How to Download WOWOW Videos with the Official App?
WOWOW On Demand includes an official download feature for selected programs on supported smartphones and tablets. Computers and TV devices cannot use this official download function.
Follow WOWOW's official app installation instructions to install the app from Google Play or the App Store. Launch the app, sign in with your current account, and open the movie or episode you want to watch offline. If the program is eligible for download, a download arrow will appear on the program or episode page. Tap it to save the title to the device's internal storage, then open My List > Download to watch it offline.
A title that can be streamed is not automatically downloadable. Live programming also does not necessarily become an archived or downloadable program after the event ends.
The Limits of the Official WOWOW Download Feature
The official WOWOW download feature is convenient for mobile viewing, but its downloads remain inside the app and are subject to device, title, and expiration limits. They are stored only in the smartphone or tablet's internal storage and cannot be moved to an SD card, USB drive, or computer as normal video files.
| Limit | Official WOWOW download rule |
|---|---|
| Supported devices | Eligible smartphones and tablets |
| Download devices | Up to two per contract |
| Saved titles | Up to 15 per contract |
| Downloads per program | Up to two downloads within one year |
| Storage | Internal device storage only |
| Before playback | Up to 30 days |
| After offline playback starts | 48 hours; reconnect to renew the offline viewing window when the title remains available |
WOWOW On Demand download rules checked in October 2026.
Logging out of WOWOW or deleting the app makes the existing downloaded items unavailable, so they must be downloaded again if they are still eligible. A new download can still count toward WOWOW's limit of two downloads per program within one year.
If you need standard local files on a computer instead of app-only mobile downloads, KeepStreams provides a separate Windows and macOS workflow for supported WOWOW titles you can already access.
Download WOWOW Videos Using KeepStreams on Windows and Mac
KeepStreams for WOWOW is a desktop downloader for supported WOWOW videos. Available for Windows and macOS. KeepStreams primarily uses direct-download and remux workflows; the exact processing method depends on the platform, title, and current compatibility. For the WOWOW module, current product documentation lists MP4/MKV output and video quality up to 720p.
The official app and KeepStreams serve different offline-viewing needs:
| Method | Device | Output | Storage | Offline viewing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official WOWOW app | Supported phones and tablets | App-only download | Internal device storage | Up to 30 days before playback; 48-hour offline window after playback starts |
| KeepStreams for WOWOW | Windows and macOS | MP4 or MKV, up to 720p for supported titles | Computer storage | Local-file playback where the title and current compatibility are supported |
For offline viewing on a phone or tablet, the official WOWOW app is the simplest option when the program offers a download arrow. If you specifically need standard local files on a Windows or macOS computer, KeepStreams for WOWOW provides a separate desktop workflow for supported titles.
Before starting, install the current KeepStreams build and confirm that your WOWOW account can already play the title you want.
STEP 1: Download KeepStreams for WOWOW from the official product page and install it on your Windows PC or Mac.
STEP 2: Open the installed program. Click the VIP Service option on the left menu and select the WOWOW service.
STEP 3: Log in to the WOWOW account that can play the program, find the movie or episode, and open it in the integrated browser. Wait for analysis to begin.
STEP 4: If the current title is supported, the download settings will show the video, audio, subtitle, and format options available for that title. Select MP4 or MKV, choose an available resolution up to 720p, review the offered audio and subtitle tracks, and click Download Now. If analysis does not start, update KeepStreams and retry the same playable title before assuming it is unsupported.
STEP 5: Open the Downloads section to monitor active tasks and view completed local files.
Note: Use local files only for content you are authorized to access and where saving is permitted by applicable law and platform terms. Keep saved WOWOW videos for permitted personal offline viewing and do not redistribute them.
[Bonus] All About WOWOW On Demand
WOWOW combines its Japanese BS broadcast service with WOWOW On Demand. The online service includes simulcast channels, live streams, archive programs, and selected on-demand titles, and it can be viewed on supported smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs.
Core Features of WOWOW On Demand
WOWOW On Demand extends the broadcast service with online viewing across supported devices. The exact programs available for streaming, archive playback, or download depend on the title and licensing period.
- Live, archive, and on-demand programming
WOWOW On Demand carries simulcast programming, live sports and music, archive programs, and streaming titles included with the subscriber's plan. Program availability varies over time, and PPV content can have separate conditions.
In addition to its program catalog, WOWOW On Demand supports viewing across several device categories.
- Multi-device support
The service can be used on supported smartphones, tablets, computers, and television devices. Downloading, however, is a separate mobile-only feature for eligible programs.
Registered devices and simultaneous streams are separate limits.
- Registered devices and simultaneous viewing
A WOWOW subscriber can currently register up to five WOWOW On Demand devices. The Standard plan allows one on-demand stream at a time, while the Triple monthly and yearly plans allow up to three simultaneous streams. Official download-device limits are separate: one contract can use the download feature on up to two smartphones or tablets.
The Three WOWOW Channels Explained
As of October 2026, the Standard plan costs JPY 2,530 per month and allows one WOWOW On Demand stream at a time. The Triple plan costs JPY 3,960 per month or JPY 43,560 per year and allows up to three simultaneous streams. Standard billing through Apple's in-app payment method is JPY 2,790 per month. These are prices for the Japanese WOWOW service.
WOWOW's current BS lineup includes Prime, Live, and Cinema:
- Prime: WOWOW's main channel, carrying selected programming across multiple entertainment genres.
- Live: A channel centered on live entertainment, including sports, music, and stage programming.
- Cinema: A movie-focused channel covering Japanese films, international films, and other cinema programming.
FAQs
Q1. Why is the download button missing for a WOWOW title?
A1. The official WOWOW On Demand app displays the download arrow only for eligible programs. A title may be available for streaming without being downloadable, and a finished live event does not automatically become an archived downloadable program.
Q2. Can I download WOWOW videos on a Mac?
A2. WOWOW's official download feature is not available on computers. If you need a local-file workflow, KeepStreams for WOWOW is available for Windows and macOS. Sign in with a WOWOW account that can already play the title and check the output options available for that program.
Q3. Can KeepStreams download WOWOW videos in 1080p or 4K?
A3. The current WOWOW-specific KeepStreams documentation and module update history list video quality up to 720p. The WOWOW module update history also documents AAC 2.0 audio. Check the actual resolution and audio options shown for the title before starting the download.
Q4. Can I save English subtitles with WOWOW videos?
A4. You can select subtitle tracks that are actually provided for the current title and supported by the downloader. Choosing English does not create an English subtitle track when WOWOW does not provide one, so review the available tracks in the analysis window.
Q5. Does the KeepStreams trial include a WOWOW subscription?
A5. No. The KeepStreams downloader trial and a WOWOW subscription are separate. The current trial allows up to 3 full WOWOW videos within 30 days, but you still need your own WOWOW account with access to the paid program you want to test.
Final Thoughts
For eligible programs on a supported smartphone or tablet, WOWOW's official app is the simplest offline option. It does, however, keep the downloads inside the app and applies limits including two download devices, 15 saved titles per contract, up to two downloads per program within one year, a 30-day unplayed period, and a renewable 48-hour offline window after playback begins.
If you already have authorized access to a WOWOW title and specifically need a standard MP4 or MKV file on a computer, KeepStreams for WOWOW provides a separate Windows and macOS workflow for supported titles, with current WOWOW-specific documentation listing quality up to 720p.
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