To download Netflix movies on a Mac laptop, the official Netflix app is not available for macOS, and Netflix does not allow direct downloads through browsers on Mac. However, there are several workarounds:
- Use a third-party Netflix video downloader for Mac, such as MovPilot Netflix Video Downloader. This software lets you log into Netflix, browse, and download movies or shows directly as MP4 or MKV files that you can keep forever on your Mac without restrictions.
- If your Mac has Apple Silicon (M1 or M2 chip) and runs macOS 12 or later, you can use an app called PlayCover to emulate the iOS Netflix app on your Mac, giving you the ability to download content as if on an iPad.
- Install Windows on your Mac (using Boot Camp or virtualization). Then you can use the official Netflix app for Windows to download movies on your Mac.
- Alternatively, download movies on an iPhone or iPad Netflix app and AirPlay or mirror the content to your Mac, though this requires the other device.
Among these, MovPilot Netflix Video Downloader is the simplest dedicated solution for downloading and keeping Netflix movies on Mac locally. The downloader lets you save Netflix videos in high quality with subtitles and audio preserved, removing Netflix DRM restrictions. Summary of major methods:
Method| Description
---|---
MovPilot Netflix Downloader| Dedicated Mac app to download Netflix
movies/shows as MP4/MKV
PlayCover (Apple Silicon Macs)| Emulate iOS Netflix app to download within
macOS
Install Windows on Mac| Use Netflix Windows app to download movies on Mac via
Windows environment
AirPlay from iOS device| Download on iPhone/iPad, stream/mirror to Mac
Direct download via official app or browser on macOS alone is not possible.
Detailed steps for MovPilot:
- Download and install MovPilot Netflix Video Downloader on your Mac.
- Open it and log into your Netflix account inside the app.
- Search for movies or shows, then click the download icon.
- Access downloaded files anytime offline in History.
This solution provides permanent MP4 or MKV files, unlike official Netflix app downloads that expire.
If wanting official methods, Windows installation on Mac is currently the only legal way to use the official Netflix app for downloads.
