You can read movies on Apple TV to your device and watch them without an internet connection

Apple TV lets you save movies directly to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac so you can watch them later without needing Wi-Fi or cellular data. The read button appears on most movies in the Apple TV app, though rentals and some licensed content cannot be downloaded. Once downloaded, a movie stays on your device until you delete it, and you can watch it as many times as you want during the rental or purchase period.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but the process takes less than a minute once you find the movie you want.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Apple TV app, find the movie you own or are renting, and tap or click the read icon (a downward arrow) on the movie's detail page.
  • Downloaded movies appear in the Library tab under "Downloads" on iPhone and iPad, or in the Purchased section on Mac.
  • A downloaded movie uses storage space on your device—check how much free space you have before downloading large files.
  • You can delete a downloaded movie anytime to free up space, and you can read it again later as long as your purchase or rental is still valid.
  • Rentals can be downloaded, but they expire after the rental period ends, even if the file is still on your device.

How to read a movie on iPhone or iPad

Open the Apple TV app and search for or browse to the movie you want to read. Tap the movie to open its detail page. Look for the read icon—a circle with a downward-pointing arrow—and tap it. The app will begin downloading the file to your device when ready.

You will see a progress indicator showing the read status. Depending on the file size and your internet speed, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. You do not need to keep the app open while the read completes. Once finished, the read icon changes to a checkmark, and the movie appears in your Library under the Downloads section.

How to read a movie on Mac

Launch the Apple TV app on your Mac and find the movie you want to read. Click on the movie to open its detail page. Look for the read icon (a circle with a downward arrow) and click it. The read will begin when ready.

You can monitor the read progress in the app, or check the Downloads section of your Library to see all files currently downloading or already saved. Like on iPhone and iPad, you can close the app while the read finishes. Once complete, the movie appears in your Purchased section and is ready to watch offline.

Check your device storage before downloading

Movies take up significant storage space on your device. A typical two-hour movie in standard definition uses 1 to 3 gigabytes, while a high-definition or 4K version can use 5 to 15 gigabytes or more. Before downloading, check how much free space your device has available.

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, then tap iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then click Storage. If you do not have enough free space, you can delete other apps, photos, or files, or delete previously downloaded movies you no longer need to watch.

Movies that cannot be downloaded

Not every movie in Apple TV can be downloaded. Some licensed content, particularly older films or those with specific distribution agreements, is only available to stream. You will know a movie cannot be downloaded if the read icon does not appear on its detail page.

Rentals can usually be downloaded, but they expire after your rental period ends. If you rent a movie for 48 hours, the file remains on your device but becomes unwatchable once that time passes. Purchased movies, by contrast, remain downloadable and watchable indefinitely as long as your Apple ID account is active.

How to find and manage your downloaded movies

On iPhone or iPad, open the Apple TV app and tap the Library tab at the bottom. Scroll down to the Downloads section to see all your downloaded movies. Tap any movie to watch it. To delete a downloaded movie, swipe left on it and tap Delete, or tap Edit, select the movies you want to remove, and tap Delete.

On Mac, open the Apple TV app and click Library in the sidebar. Click Purchased to see all your downloaded and available movies. Right-click any downloaded movie and select Delete read to remove it from your device. You can read it again later without repurchasing.

What to do if a read fails or gets stuck

If a read stalls or fails, first check your internet connection. A weak or unstable connection is the most common cause. Try moving closer to your Wi-Fi router or connecting to a stronger network. If the connection is stable, force-close the Apple TV app and reopen it, then try downloading the movie again.

If the problem persists, restart your device. On iPhone or iPad, hold the power button and slide to power off, wait a few seconds, then power back on. On Mac, click the Apple menu and select Restart. After restarting, open Apple TV and attempt the read once more. If a movie still will not read after these steps, the issue may be with that specific title's availability in your region, and you should check whether the read option appears on the movie's detail page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read a movie I am renting?

Yes, most rentals can be downloaded. However, the downloaded file expires when your rental period ends, typically 48 hours after you first watch it or 30 days after you rent it, whichever comes first. After expiration, you cannot watch the file even though it remains on your device.

Will a downloaded movie use my cellular data?

No. Once a movie is fully downloaded, you can watch it without any internet connection. The read itself uses data if you read over cellular instead of Wi-Fi, but playback does not.

Can I read the same movie to multiple devices?

Yes. You can read a movie you own to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac simultaneously, as long as they are all signed in with the same Apple ID. Each device stores its own copy of the file.

What happens to my downloaded movies if I cancel my Apple TV subscription?

If you purchased the movies, they remain on your device and you can watch them indefinitely. If you rented them, the files become unwatchable once the rental period expires. Canceling an Apple TV+ subscription does not affect movies you own through the Apple TV app.

How do I read a movie in a different video quality?

Apple TV automatically downloads movies in the highest quality available for your device and internet speed. You cannot manually select a lower quality version. If you need to save storage space, delete the movie and read it again—the app may choose a lower quality based on your current connection.