Disney Plus lets you read content to watch offline on phones and tablets, but not on computers or TV devices

You can save Disney Plus movies and TV episodes to your phone or tablet so you can watch them without an internet connection. Downloads work on iPhones, iPads, and Android phones. You cannot read to a computer, Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, or any other streaming device — only the Disney Plus mobile app supports this feature.

The read button appears next to the play button on most titles. Tap it, pick your video quality, and the episode or movie saves to your device. You can keep downloads for up to 30 days before they expire and disappear automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Downloads work only on the Disney Plus mobile app for iOS and Android phones and tablets, not on computers or TV devices.
  • You tap the read icon next to the play button, choose your quality setting, and the title saves to your device.
  • Downloaded content expires after 30 days and is removed from your device automatically.
  • Your Disney Plus subscription must be active to watch downloaded content — the files do not play if your account lapses.
  • Downloaded episodes take up storage space on your phone or tablet, so delete old downloads to free up room for new ones.

How to read a movie or single episode

Open the Disney Plus app on your phone or tablet and find the title you want to read. Tap the title to open its detail page. Below the play button, you will see a read icon — it looks like a downward arrow or a cloud with an arrow pointing down, depending on your device.

Tap the read icon. A menu will appear asking you to choose a video quality: Standard or High. Standard uses less storage space on your device. High uses more space but looks sharper on your screen. Pick the quality you want, and the read begins. You will see a progress bar showing how much of the file has downloaded. Once it reaches 100 percent, the title is ready to watch offline.

How to read a full season of a TV show

If you want to read multiple episodes at once, open the show's detail page and scroll down to the episodes list. You will see a read icon next to each episode. Tap the read icon next to the season number or the "read Season" button if your app version has one — this varies by device and app version.

If there is no season read button, you must read episodes one at a time. Tap the read icon next to each episode you want to save. The app will queue them up and read them in order. This takes longer than downloading a single episode, so plan ahead if you are preparing for a trip.

Where to find and manage your downloads

Your downloads live in the Downloads section of the Disney Plus app. On most phones, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom of the screen, then tap Downloads. You will see all your saved movies and episodes listed there, along with how much storage space each one uses.

To delete a read and free up space, find the title in your Downloads section, tap and hold it (or swipe left on some Android devices), and select Delete or Remove read. The file disappears from your device when ready, but you can read it again later if you want to watch it.

Storage space and read limits

Downloaded files take up storage space on your phone or tablet. A single episode of a TV show typically uses 300 megabytes to 1 gigabyte of space, depending on the quality you chose and the length of the episode. A movie can use 1 to 4 gigabytes. If your device is running low on storage, delete downloads you have already watched to make room for new ones.

Disney Plus does not set a hard limit on how many titles you can read at once, but your device's storage capacity is the real limit. If you have a 64-gigabyte phone and other apps and photos on it, you will not be able to read as much Disney Plus content as someone with a 256-gigabyte phone.

Why your downloads might disappear

Downloaded content expires 30 days after you read it. When the 30-day window closes, the file is automatically deleted from your device. You will see a countdown timer on the read showing how many days are left before it expires. If you want to keep watching it, read it again before the timer runs out.

Your subscription must stay active for downloaded content to play. If your Disney Plus subscription lapses or you cancel it, your downloads will not work even though the files are still on your device. Once you resubscribe, they will play again.

Devices that support downloads

Downloads work on iPhones running iOS 12.2 or later and iPads running iPadOS 12.2 or later. On Android, you need version 5.0 or higher. Check your device settings to see which version you have and update if needed.

Computers, Roku devices, Fire Sticks, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Samsung Smart TVs do not support downloads. If you want to watch Disney Plus offline on a computer, you will need to use a different method, such as screen recording (though this may violate Disney's terms of service). For TV devices, your only option is to stream over an internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Disney Plus content on my computer?

No. Downloads work only on the Disney Plus mobile app for phones and tablets. Computers, streaming devices, and smart TVs cannot read content. You can only stream on those devices.

How long do downloads stay on my device?

Downloaded titles expire 30 days after you read them and are automatically deleted. You can read them again anytime before they expire. Your subscription must stay active for the downloads to play.

Do downloaded shows use my internet data?

No. Once a read finishes, you can watch it without an internet connection. The read uses data only while it is downloading. After that, it plays from your device's storage.

What happens if I delete the Disney Plus app?

All your downloads are deleted when you uninstall the app. If you reinstall it later, you will need to read the titles again. Your watch history and saved favorites are tied to your account, not your device, so those come back when you log in.

Can I share my downloads with someone else?

No. Downloads are tied to your device and your Disney Plus account. Someone else cannot watch your downloads on their phone, even if they use the same WiFi network. They would need to log into their own Disney Plus account and read the content themselves.