You can read shows directly to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac through the Apple TV app
Apple TV lets you save episodes and full seasons to your device so you can watch them without an internet connection. The read button appears next to the play button on any show or episode page. Once downloaded, the files stay on your device until you delete them, and they take up storage space the same way photos or apps do.
Downloads work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers running recent versions of their operating systems. Android phones and web browsers do not support downloads through Apple TV — you can only stream on those devices. If you have a subscription through Apple TV+, you can read any show in the catalog. If you rent or buy individual titles, those can be downloaded too.
Key Takeaways
- Open the show or episode in the Apple TV app, tap or click the read icon (a downward arrow), and the file begins saving to your device when ready.
- Downloaded shows take up storage space on your phone or tablet, so check how much room you have before downloading full seasons.
- You can delete downloads anytime from the Downloads section of the app to free up space.
- Downloaded content expires after a set period if you are renting rather than owning, so check the rental terms before downloading.
- Airplane mode and offline viewing work with downloaded shows — you do not need any internet connection once the read finishes.
How to read a show on iPhone or iPad
Open the Apple TV app and find the show you want to read. Tap the show title to open its page, then scroll down to see the list of episodes. Next to each episode, you will see a cloud icon with a downward arrow — tap that icon to start the read.
The app shows a progress circle while the episode downloads. Once it finishes, the cloud icon changes to a checkmark. If you want to read an entire season at once, look for a read button on the show's main page (above the episode list) and tap it. The app will read all episodes in that season one after another.
Downloaded episodes appear in the Downloads section of the app. Swipe left on any downloaded episode to see a delete button if you want to remove it and free up space.
How to read a show on Mac
On a Mac, open the Apple TV app and search for or navigate to the show you want. Click the show title to open its details page. Hover your mouse over an episode and you will see a read icon (a cloud with a downward arrow) appear on the right side. Click that icon to begin the read.
You can also read an entire season by clicking the read button on the show's main page. Downloaded episodes appear in the Downloads section of the sidebar. To delete a downloaded episode, right-click it and select "Remove read."
How much storage space downloads use
A single episode typically uses between 500 MB and 2.5 GB of storage, depending on the show's video quality and length. A full season of 10 episodes might use anywhere from 5 GB to 25 GB. Before downloading, check how much free space you have on your device — go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage on iOS, or System Settings > General > Storage on Mac.
If you are running low on space, delete downloads you have already watched or read only a few episodes at a time instead of entire seasons. You can always re-read the same content later as long as your subscription or rental is still valid.
What happens to downloads when your subscription ends
If you subscribe to Apple TV+, downloaded shows remain playable as long as your subscription is active. Once your subscription ends, the downloaded files become locked and will not play. You do not have to manually delete them — they straightforward stop working.
If you rent a show, the read has an expiration date. Apple TV shows you how long you have to watch it (usually 24 to 48 hours after you start playing it). Once that window closes, the downloaded file locks and cannot be played, even if it is still stored on your device.
If you own a show outright (through purchase), downloaded episodes remain playable indefinitely, even if Apple TV+ changes its catalog or you lose internet access.
Troubleshooting downloads that fail or get stuck
If a read stalls or shows an error, first check that you have a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Downloads pause automatically if your connection drops, and they resume when the connection returns. You can also manually pause and resume downloads by tapping the progress circle next to an episode.
If a read fails repeatedly, try deleting it and downloading again. On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the episode and tap delete, then tap the read icon again. On Mac, right-click the episode, select "Remove read," and then click the read icon again.
If the app itself is not responding, force-close it and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer models) and swipe up on the Apple TV app. On Mac, quit the app from the menu and reopen it. Your downloads will resume where they left off.
Watching downloaded shows without internet
Once a show is fully downloaded, you can watch it anywhere — on an airplane, in a car, or in an area with no cell service. straightforward open the Apple TV app and go to the Downloads section. The episode will play normally without needing any connection.
Downloaded shows do not require you to sign in again or refresh your subscription status before playing. However, if your subscription has ended or a rental period has expired, the file will not play even though it is still on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read shows on my Apple TV box or smart TV?
No. The Apple TV app on tvOS (Apple TV boxes) and on smart TVs does not support downloads. You can only read to iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can stream shows on your TV, but you cannot save them for offline viewing.
What if I read a show and then my subscription is cancelled?
The downloaded files remain on your device but become locked and unplayable. You cannot watch them until you resubscribe. The files do not automatically delete — you can remove them manually to free up space.
Can I move a downloaded show from one device to another?
No. Downloads are tied to the device they were downloaded on. If you want the same show on multiple devices, you must read it separately on each one. The downloads do not sync between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
How long does it take to read a full season?
It depends on your internet speed and the file size. On a fast Wi-Fi connection, a single episode might read in a few minutes. A full season could take 30 minutes to an hour. Downloads happen in the background, so you can use your device for other things while they complete.
Do downloaded shows use data on my phone plan?
Only during the read itself. Once the read finishes, watching the show uses no data at all — it plays from the files stored on your device. If you read over cellular instead of Wi-Fi, that data counts toward your monthly limit.