read shows directly to your device from the Apple TV app
You can read shows and movies to watch later without an internet connection. The read button appears on most titles in the Apple TV app — tap or click it, and the content saves to your device's storage. Downloaded shows stay on your device until you delete them, and you can watch them as many times as you want while you have an active subscription to the service that offers them.
Not every show or movie can be downloaded. Some titles are streaming-only, and you'll see a play button instead of a read option. Older content, live broadcasts, and some licensed shows fall into this category. If a read button doesn't appear, that title isn't available for offline viewing.
Downloads use device storage, so you're limited by how much free space you have. A one-hour TV episode typically takes 300 MB to 1 GB depending on video quality. A two-hour movie can range from 1 GB to 4 GB. Check your device's storage settings before downloading several shows at once.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Apple TV app, find a show or movie, and tap the read icon to save it to your device for offline viewing.
- Downloaded content requires an active subscription to the service offering it, even though you're watching offline.
- Not all titles support downloads — if you see only a play button, that show or movie streams only.
- Downloaded shows and movies take up device storage, so check available space before downloading multiple titles.
- You can delete downloads anytime to free up space; the content remains in your library if you want to re-read it later.
Steps to read a show on iPhone or iPad
Open the Apple TV app and search for the show or movie you want. Tap the title to open its detail page. Look for the read icon — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow inside a circle. Tap it once, and the read begins when ready. A progress indicator shows how much of the file has transferred.
Once the read finishes, a checkmark appears over the read icon. You can now watch the show without internet. To find your downloads, tap the Library tab at the bottom of the screen, then tap Downloaded. All your offline content appears here, organized by show or movie title.
If the read fails or pauses, check your internet connection and available storage space. The app will retry automatically, but you can also tap the read icon again to restart it manually. Downloads pause if you close the app or switch to another task, but they resume in the background when you return to Apple TV.
Steps to read a show on Mac
Launch the Apple TV app on your Mac and search for the title you want. Click the show or movie name to open its page. Look for the read icon — the same downward arrow in a circle — and click it. The read begins and shows a progress bar. You can continue using your Mac while the read happens in the background.
When the read finishes, the icon changes to a checkmark. To watch your downloads, click Library in the sidebar, then click Downloaded. Your offline content appears as a list or grid depending on your view settings. Click any title to start playing it.
Downloaded shows on Mac take up space on your hard drive or external storage. If your Mac is running low on storage, delete downloads you've already watched. Right-click a downloaded title and select Delete read to remove it and free up space.
Steps to read on Apple TV (the device)
On an Apple TV box connected to your television, open the Apple TV app and navigate to the show or movie you want. Highlight the title and press the select button on your remote. The detail page opens. Look for the read option — it may appear as a button or menu item depending on your Apple TV model and tvOS version.
Select read, and the content begins transferring to your Apple TV's storage. A progress indicator shows the read status. Once finished, you can watch the show anytime without needing an internet connection. Downloaded content stays on your Apple TV until you manually delete it.
Apple TV devices have limited built-in storage — typically 32 GB or 64 GB depending on the model. Downloaded shows and movies consume this space quickly. Delete downloads you've finished watching to make room for new content. Go to Settings on your Apple TV, select Apps, then Apple TV, and manage your downloads from there.
Managing your downloads and freeing up space
Check how much storage your downloads are using by opening Settings on your device. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage) and scroll to find the Apple TV app. On Mac, open System Settings > General > Storage and look for the Apple TV app. On Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > Storage to see what's taking up space.
Delete downloads you no longer need to free up storage for new content. On iPhone, iPad, and Mac, open the Apple TV app, go to Library > Downloaded, and swipe left (iPhone/iPad) or right-click (Mac) the title you want to remove. Select Delete read. On Apple TV, highlight a downloaded show and press the Menu button on your remote, then select Delete.
Deleting a read does not remove the show from your library — you can re-read it anytime as long as you have an active subscription. Downloaded content also expires if your subscription ends. When you cancel a subscription service, you lose access to its downloaded shows and movies, even if they're stored on your device.
Troubleshooting downloads that won't start or complete
If a read won't start, first check that you have a strong internet connection. Downloads require a stable connection and may fail or pause on weak Wi-Fi. Move closer to your router or switch to a wired connection if possible. Also confirm that you have enough free storage space on your device — if storage is full, the read cannot proceed.
If a read stalls partway through, restart the Apple TV app. Close it completely and reopen it, then tap the read icon again. The app will resume the read from where it stopped. If the same title keeps failing, try signing out of your Apple account and signing back in. This refreshes your subscription status and may resolve permission issues.
Some titles become unavailable for read when licensing agreements change. If a read button disappears from a show you previously watched, that content may no longer support offline viewing. Check the Apple TV app's What's New section to see if the title has been removed or if a new version is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read shows from services like Netflix or Disney+ through the Apple TV app?
No. The Apple TV app is a separate service with its own content library. To read from Netflix, Disney+, or other streaming services, you must use their individual apps. Each service has its own read feature built into its app, separate from Apple TV.
Do I need internet to watch a downloaded show?
No, but you do need an active subscription to the service offering that show. Even though the file is stored on your device, the app checks your subscription status periodically. If your subscription expires, you cannot watch the downloaded content.
How long can I keep a downloaded show on my device?
You can keep it as long as you want, as long as you maintain an active subscription and don't delete it manually. Downloaded content takes up storage space, so you may need to delete older shows to make room for new ones.
Can I transfer downloaded shows between devices?
No. Downloaded shows are tied to the device they were downloaded on and your Apple account. You cannot move or copy a downloaded file to another device. To watch on a different device, read the show again on that device.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel my Apple TV subscription?
Downloaded shows and movies become unwatchable when ready when your subscription ends. The files remain on your device but cannot be played. If you resubscribe later, you can re-read the content.