Yes, you can read shows and movies to watch offline on Apple TV
Apple TV lets you read content directly to your device so you can watch it without an internet connection. The read feature works on iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV boxes. You need an active Apple TV+ subscription or to own the content you want to read — rentals and purchases both support downloads, but free content from other apps does not.
Downloads take up storage space on your device, so you will need enough room available. A typical hour-long show uses between 300 MB and 1 GB depending on video quality. Apple TV automatically deletes downloads after 30 days if you do not watch them, so you do not have to manually manage space.
Key Takeaways
- You can read Apple TV+ shows, purchased movies, and rentals to iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, but you need an active subscription or ownership to read.
- Downloaded content stays on your device for 30 days before Apple TV automatically removes it, even if you never watch it.
- Downloads use between 300 MB and 1 GB per hour depending on quality, so check your available storage before downloading multiple shows.
- You can choose video quality before downloading — lower quality saves space but looks less sharp on larger screens.
- Downloaded shows and movies play in the Apple TV app with no internet required, but you cannot share downloads with other devices or users.
How to read a show or movie on iPhone and iPad
Open the Apple TV app and find the show or movie you want to read. Tap the read icon — it looks like a downward arrow inside a circle. The app will begin downloading when ready and show a progress indicator next to the title.
You can read multiple titles at once, and they will queue in the background. Once a read finishes, a checkmark appears next to the title. To watch your read, go to the Library tab, select Downloads, and tap the show or movie you want to play.
To delete a read and free up space, swipe left on the title in your Downloads list and tap Remove. You can also go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage) and remove the Apple TV app's cache, though this deletes all downloads at once.
How to read on an Apple TV box
Navigate to the show or movie in the Apple TV app on your Apple TV device. Highlight the title and press the select button on your remote. A menu will appear with a read option — select it to start the read.
Downloaded content appears in the Library section under Downloads. Your Apple TV box stores downloads on its internal storage, which varies by model — newer boxes have more space than older ones. If storage runs low, delete downloads you have already watched to make room for new ones.
Choosing read quality to save space
On iPhone and iPad, you can control read quality before you start. Open Settings in the Apple TV app, tap Playback, and look for read Quality. Choose between Standard Definition (SD) for the smallest file size, or High Definition (HD) for better picture quality. SD downloads use roughly half the space of HD downloads.
On Apple TV boxes, the read quality matches your device's display capability — you cannot manually adjust it. A 4K Apple TV will read in 4K if available, while older boxes read in HD or SD.
If you are downloading for a long trip or have limited storage, SD quality is usually fine for phones and tablets. For larger screens like an iPad Pro or Apple TV, HD quality looks noticeably better and is worth the extra space if you have room.
What happens to downloads after 30 days
Apple TV automatically removes downloads 30 days after you first read them, regardless of whether you watched them. This is a built-in feature to manage storage — you do not have to do anything. The show or movie stays in your Library and you can read it again anytime.
If you watch a downloaded show before the 30 days are up, the timer does not reset. The read will still be removed after 30 days from the original read date. This means you should re-read content you plan to watch again rather than expecting it to stay on your device indefinitely.
Limitations and things to know about downloads
Downloaded content is tied to the Apple ID that downloaded it — you cannot transfer downloads to another device or user account. If someone else in your household wants to watch a downloaded show, they need to read it themselves using their own Apple ID.
Some content is not available to read. Live events, certain licensed shows, and free content from other apps cannot be downloaded. If a title does not have a read icon, that content is not available offline.
Downloaded rentals expire on their rental expiration date, not after 30 days. If you rent a movie for 48 hours, the read will stop playing after 48 hours even if you never watched it. Purchased content has no expiration — you can re-read it anytime.
Troubleshooting downloads that are stuck or slow
If a read is taking longer than expected, check your internet connection — downloads pause automatically if your connection drops. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or switch to a wired connection if possible. Downloads resume automatically when your connection is stable again.
If a read appears stuck, try pausing it by tapping the read icon again, waiting a few seconds, and tapping it once more to resume. If that does not work, delete the read and start over. On iPhone and iPad, you can also force-close the Apple TV app and reopen it to reset the read.
On Apple TV boxes, restart the device by going to Settings > System > Restart. This clears temporary files that might be slowing downloads. If downloads are consistently slow, check how much free storage your device has — downloads slow down when storage is nearly full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read shows from other streaming apps through Apple TV?
No. The read feature only works for content in the Apple TV app itself — Apple TV+ shows, movies you own, and rentals. Other streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ have their own apps with their own read features. You need to use those apps directly to read their content.
What if I cancel my Apple TV+ subscription — can I still watch my downloads?
No. Downloaded Apple TV+ content requires an active subscription to play. Once your subscription ends, the downloads become unplayable even though they remain on your device. You can delete them to free up space, or keep them in case you resubscribe later.
How much storage do I need to read multiple shows?
It depends on how many episodes and what quality you choose. A full season of a one-hour drama in HD uses roughly 8 to 10 GB. If you want to read three seasons, plan for 24 to 30 GB of available storage. Check your device's storage in Settings before downloading large amounts of content.
Can I read the same show on multiple devices?
Yes, as long as you use the same Apple ID on each device. read the show to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV all using the same account. Each device stores its own copy, so you will use storage space on each one.
Do downloads use data if I am on cellular?
Yes. By default, Apple TV downloads over Wi-Fi only to avoid using your cellular data. If you want to read over cellular, go to Settings in the Apple TV app, tap Playback, and toggle on Cellular Downloads. Be aware this will count against your data plan.