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Netflix’s popular Smart Downloads feature is now available on iOS

That’s… smart, I guess.

netflix smart downloads streaming
Image: Engadget

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One of the coolest features of the Netflix mobile app is losing its Android exclusivity. The Smart Downloads feature made its debut back in July last year, with Netflix promising that it would be arriving on iOS before 2018 was out. It might have missed its self-imposed deadline, but the Smart Downloads feature is now available on the Netflix iOS app.

Netflix users loved the Download feature when it first came out back in 2016 but often complained that downloading full series of shows took up too much space on their devices. Smart Downloads is a way to fix that issue, by cleverly automatically downloading episodes as you go on.

How it works

netflix smart download

Image: CNET

It’s pretty nifty. If Netflix detects that you’ve downloaded one or more episodes from a series, it will automatically download the next episode in order when you finish the episode you’re currently watching. It’ll also delete the episode you just watched, so you won’t use up all your storage. The Smart Downloads feature will only work if you’re on a stable Wi-Fi connection, so don’t worry about eating through your mobile data plan.

That should mean no more having to wait for buffering or the next episode to download, letting you enjoy your content when you want. Of course, if you prefer to have the entire season downloaded, you can do that too. Just turn off the Smart Downloads feature in your app.

The feature should be in the iOS app today, so check for updates. If you want to know more, head on over to the help page at Netflix.

Excited to have this feature? Plan on using it? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.

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