You can read most Udemy courses to your phone or tablet, but not to a computer

Udemy lets you save course videos, lectures, and resources to your mobile device so you can watch without an internet connection. The read feature works on the Udemy mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android phones—but not on the web version or desktop app. Once you read a course section, you can watch it offline for 30 days before Udemy requires you to reconnect and refresh your access.

Not every course allows downloads. Instructors can disable this feature, and some content like live sessions or external links cannot be saved locally. Before you start, open the course on your phone or tablet and look for a read icon next to the lecture title. If you don't see one, that instructor has turned downloads off for that material.

Key Takeaways

  • Downloads work only on the Udemy mobile app for iOS and Android, not on computers or the web browser.
  • You can read individual lectures, sections, or entire courses by tapping the read icon next to each item.
  • Downloaded content stays on your device for 30 days, then requires an internet connection to refresh your access.
  • Some instructors disable downloads, and certain content types like live sessions cannot be saved offline.
  • Downloaded files take up storage space on your device, so check available space before downloading long courses.

How to read a single lecture on the Udemy app

Open the Udemy app on your phone or tablet and navigate to the course you want to read. Find the specific lecture or video you need and look for a read icon—it usually looks like a downward arrow or a cloud with an arrow. Tap that icon and the video will begin saving to your device.

The read time depends on the video length and your internet speed. A typical lecture might take a few minutes to an hour. You'll see a progress bar showing how much has downloaded. Once it finishes, a checkmark or filled icon appears next to the lecture title, letting you know it's ready to watch offline.

How to read an entire course section

If you want to read multiple lectures at once, go to the course overview page and find the section (sometimes called a module) you want to save. Look for a read icon next to the section name—it may appear as three dots or a menu button. Tap it and select the read option.

Udemy will queue all the lectures in that section for read. Depending on how many videos are in the section and how large they are, this can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. The app will continue downloading in the background even if you close it or use other apps, as long as your device stays connected to power and Wi-Fi.

Storage space and device requirements

Downloaded videos take up significant storage on your phone or tablet. A one-hour lecture in standard quality typically uses 300 to 500 megabytes of space. A full course with 20 hours of content could use 6 to 10 gigabytes. Before you read, check how much free space your device has by going to Settings on iOS or Storage in Android settings.

If your device is running low on storage, you have two options: delete old downloads you no longer need, or read only the sections you plan to watch soon. You can always re-read the same course later if you need it again—your purchase doesn't expire.

The 30-day refresh requirement and what happens after

Udemy's licensing system requires downloaded content to "check in" with the Udemy servers every 30 days. This means that 30 days after you read a lecture, you must connect to the internet and open the Udemy app so it can verify you still own the course. If you don't refresh within 30 days, the downloaded video becomes unwatchable until you reconnect.

The refresh is automatic—you don't have to do anything except open the app and let it sync. As long as you use the app at least once a month, your downloads will stay active. If you're traveling or know you won't have internet access for more than 30 days, read your courses before you leave and refresh them before you go offline.

Why some lectures cannot be downloaded

Instructors control whether their content can be downloaded. Some choose to disable downloads to protect their intellectual property or to encourage students to engage with the platform's interactive features. Live sessions, Q&A videos, and external links (like YouTube videos embedded in the course) also cannot be saved locally.

If you see a lecture without a read icon, that content is streaming-only. You can still watch it on the Udemy app over Wi-Fi or mobile data, but you cannot save it for offline viewing. If offline access is important for your learning, check the course preview or contact the instructor before purchasing to confirm that the material you need can be downloaded.

Deleting downloads to free up space

To remove downloaded lectures and reclaim storage space, open the course in the Udemy app and find the lecture you want to delete. Tap and hold on the lecture title (or look for a menu icon) and select the delete or remove option. The video will be removed from your device when ready, but you can re-read it anytime as long as you own the course.

You can also delete entire sections at once using the same method. On some devices, you can go to your app's storage settings and clear the Udemy app cache, which removes all downloads at once—though this may also clear your viewing progress and bookmarks, so use this option only if you're sure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Udemy courses on my computer or laptop?

No. The read feature only works on the Udemy mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. On a computer, you can stream courses over the web but cannot save them locally. If you need offline access on a computer, you would need to use screen recording software, though this may violate Udemy's terms of service depending on the course license.

What happens if I don't refresh my downloads after 30 days?

Downloaded videos become unwatchable until you connect to the internet and open the Udemy app to refresh your access. The refresh is automatic and takes just a few seconds. Your downloads don't disappear—they just lock until you verify your course ownership with Udemy's servers.

Can I share downloaded courses with friends or family?

No. Downloaded content is tied to your Udemy account and device. Sharing downloads or course files violates Udemy's terms of service. Each person who wants to watch the course must purchase their own copy and read it to their own device.

Do downloaded videos have subtitles or captions?

Yes, if the course includes captions, they read along with the video. You can usually turn captions on or off in the video player settings while watching offline. Not all courses have captions—check the course details to see if subtitles are included before purchasing.

How much internet speed do I need to read a course?

A stable Wi-Fi connection is best for downloading large video files. Mobile data works but can be slow and may use a lot of your data allowance. A typical lecture downloads faster over Wi-Fi than over 4G or 5G. If you're on a slow connection, read during off-peak hours or when connected to a faster network.