Where Are Netflix Downloads Stored on PC, iPhone, and Android?

If you prefer to download Netflix videos for offline viewing, you must have encountered the "short of storage" problem. After all, a 1080p movie can take up to 2-3 GB. To free up more storage space on your computer, iPhone, or Android device, it's useful to find the exact Netflix download location and move the Netflix downloads to other devices.

Although Netflix buries its download location by design, this post will explain the possibility and steps to find the Netflix download location on various devices. Read on to discover where Netflix downloads are stored and how to change the Netflix download location to any device you like.

Reality Check: Why Can't I Get the Netflix Files Directly?

Netflix keeps updating its encryption tech for protecting not only online streaming content, but also the downloaded titles. Even if we successfully get to the Netflix download location, we might only find files named with random strings of numbers, instead of a list of clean "Stranger Things.mp4" files:

• .nfv files: These contain the video stream, but they are heavily encrypted and fragmented.
• .of files: Typically related to the audio tracks.
• .manifest files: The "instruction manual" that tells the Netflix app how to stitch these pieces together during playback.

Collins

In short, Netflix doesn't "download" a movie in the traditional sense. It downloads a puzzle that only the official Netflix app knows how to solve.

These downloaded videos are locked by Digital Rights Management (DRM). If you try to move Netflix downloads manually, the app will likely mark them as "corrupted" or "expired." If your goal is to move downloads across devices without limits, an extra tool is necessary (check Section 5).

Netflix Download Location on Android

Is it possible to find the Netflix download location on Android phones or tablets? Of course, but it becomes more and more difficult nowadays. To begin with, you should install the latest version of the Netflix app on your Android mobile device and download some titles.

Default Path in Android Internal Storage

Since Android 13, Google has blocked most file managers from accessing the /Android/data folder to protect user privacy. To see these files, you can choose one of the following methods:

• Connect your phone to a PC via USB and set the connection to "File Transfer."
• Use a high-end file manager like Solid Explorer that has specific permissions to bypass limits.

The default storage path on Android is : Internal Storage/Android/data/com.netflix.mediaclient/files/Download/offline

How to Change the Netflix Download Location to SD Card on Android

The Netflix app for an Android phone or tablet is embedded with a function to "choose external storage". To do it, follow these steps to find all Netflix downloads on Android mobile devices:

Find and tap "Internal Storage", and navigate to Android > data > com.netflix.mediaclient > files > Download > .of.

Just like the picture shows above, the Netflix downloads are stored in folders with such names.

However, it should be noted that you can only find the encrypted files on Android devices. Although they can be moved to other locations, the downloaded videos can only be played via the Netflix app.

Troubleshooting: Why Can't I Change the Netflix Download Location to SD Card?

Sometimes, you might fail to change the download location to the external SD Card directly through the Netflix app. When you tap the option, it always reverts back to internal storage, even after you reinstall the app. If you're troubled by this issue, please read on to fix it quickly with Developer Permission:

1. Enable Developer Options: Go to Settings > About phone > Build number, and tap it 7 times until you see a message saying "You are now a developer!"

2. Turn on USB Debugging: Go to Settings> Developer options > USB debugging, and turn it on.

3. Download ADB Tools on your Computer: See details in the Android Studio (developer.android.com/tools/releases/platform-tools).

4. Open Command Prompt on PC: Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select "Run as administrator".

5. Connect your Phone: Use a USB cable to connect your phone to your PC. Make sure your phone is in Meida Transfer (MTP) mode when you plug it in.

6. Navigate to ADB in Command Prompt: In the command prompt, go to the folder where you unzipped the ADB Platform Tools. Type cd ("cd" followed by a space) and then drag and drop the platform-tools folder into the command prompt window. Press Enter. It should look something like this: cd C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\platform-tools

7. Check if Your Phone is Connected: Type adb devices in the command prompt and press Enter. You should see a list of connected devices, and your phone should be listed.

8. Grant Netflix Permission: Now, you can type this exact command and press Enter: adb shell pm grant com.netflix.mediaclient android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

9. Check the Result: Open your Netflix app and try changing the download location again. It should work now.

This detailed guide is based on an answer from r/GalaxyTab on Reddit.

Netflix Download Location on iPhone/iPad/Mac

Apple's ecosystem is the most restrictive of all. On iOS and iPadOS, every app is "sandboxed." This means Netflix's data is isolated from the rest of the system. You cannot use the "Files" app to find your downloads. Therefore, it's impossible to find the "iPhone Netflix download location".

Since the Netflix downloads don't exist in a way you can touch. It means that you can't get the files directly or transfer them to other locations. They are encrypted and hidden within the app's private partition. The only way to manage this storage is by deleting titles within the Netflix app itself.

In 2026, things took a turn for the better. If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 chips), you can technically run the iPad version of the Netflix app. These downloads are stored in a hidden library folder: ~/Library/Containers/.

But much like the iPhone, these files are strictly managed by the system and cannot be moved to an external SSD or played via third-party software. If you want to save more space on iOS devices, the best way is still to subscribe to iCloud and get extra Cloud Storage.

Netflix Download Location on Windows PC

In 2024, Netflix began migrating Windows users to a web-based Progressive Web App (PWA). For many, this "update" was a downgrade, as it removed the download feature entirely for some regions. But if you're still using the legacy Netflix app, it's still possible to find and change the download location.

Default Netflix Download Location on PC

Netflix once provided an official app for Windows PC. The app has a built-in download button, and the whole process is set well in advance. So you must be confused by the problem of where to find Netflix downloads on a computer.

Is it possible to find the Netflix downloads stored on your computer? Of course, but they are stored as encrypted files with DRM protection. To find the downloaded movies on Netflix, follow these steps:

Navigate to This PC > Local Disk and click View > Show > Hidden items, in order to show the folder named "AppData".

Follow this path to find the videos downloaded in the Netflix app for Windows: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Packages\4DF9E0F8.Netflix_mcm4njqhnhss8\LocalState\offlineInfo\downloads.

You can find all Netflix downloads here, but not in a compatible format. Because Netflix encrypts them to force you to play them using the app, in order to protect the copyright.

How to Change the Netflix Download Location on PC

Now we've learned where Netflix downloads are stored on a PC. But if the local storage is full, how to change the download location? We can take advantage of the Windows function by following these steps:

Click on the Windows icon and search for "Settings" and click it to open the following window. Search for "storage" in the settings window and click "Storage settings" in the results.

There are all the steps to change the Netflix download location on Windows PCs. By doing this, you can free up more storage space on your computer. But remember, if you don't use an extra tool to download Netflix videos into MP4 files, the downloads remain encrypted and can not be directly played.

[Bonus] Move Netflix Downloads to Any Location

Now you've already known where Netflix downloads are stored on PC, iPad, iPhone, and Android, and the way to change the download location. But if you're using an official Netflix app, finding and changing location are the only things you can do.

If you want to move and play the Netflix downloads on any devices, there is a technical alternative. Unlike the official app, which creates an encrypted puzzle of .nfv and .manifest files, KeepStreams for Netflix downloads content directly into a standard MP4 format.

KeepStreams for Netflix

Download 1080p videos from Netflix on Windows PC or Mac.

• Save Netflix videos into MP4 or MKV format
• Video Quality: 720p to FHD 1080p
• Audio: Dolby Atmos, EAC3 5.1, AAC 2.0
• Video Codec: H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1
• Display Specs: HDR10, Dolby Vision
• Detect and remove commercials from downloads
• Save subtitles into SRT files
• Save audio and subs in different languages
• Batch download and metadata saving
• Schedule downloads and get new episodes automatically
• Free trial: Save 3 full-length videos in 30 days

 Free Trial  Free Trial

Learn More

Because of the frequent updates (about 3 times a month), KeepStreams is very stable. With the GPU Acceleration, the download speed can be up to 9MB/s, saving a 1080p movie in several minutes. KeepStreams has a powerful built-in browser, so it's very easy to use:

When the downloads are done, the Netflix titles are saved in a compatible format on your PC. Click the file icon beside each video in the "Downloaded" section to open the local folder where the downloads from Netflix are stored.

All videos will be saved in compatible MP4/MKV formats. You can transfer these videos to any device, such as TVs, game consoles, and mobile devices, and play the Netflix downloads on any device you prefer.

Conclusion

Finding your Netflix download location in 2026 is actually about file management and understanding the limitations of streaming. Here's what we should pay attention to when finding the Netflix download location on PC, iPad, iPhone, and Android:

• Windows: The 2024 PWA update is killing local file access; use System Settings for legacy apps.
• Android: Accessing the path requires a PC or specialized file managers due to Android 14 restrictions.
• Mac/iOS: Zero manual file access; everything is controlled by Apple's sandboxing.

If you simply need to clear some cache, follow the paths mentioned in this post. But if you're looking to truly "own" your library, it's time to use KeepStreams for Netflix to look beyond the encrypted folder.