Netflix Got a Big Upgrade to Discover New Shows — How to Try It Now

Netflix Got a Big Upgrade to Discover New Shows — How to Try It Now

Netflix is making it even easier to discover new shows for missed viewing. The streaming service is rolling out a new feature on its mobile app that automatically downloads recommended shows and movies for offline viewing based on your preferences.

Netflix's announcement explains that Downloads for You is opt-in, so it will not take up any capacity without user approval. Users first determine the storage space (1GB, 3GB, or 5GB) that these recommended content will occupy, and once the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, the shows and movies are downloaded.

This new option builds on the existing Smart Download feature, which deletes downloaded programs already watched and automatically retrieves the next episode.

"Whether you are a comedy fan stuck in a long car ride or a lover of rom-coms without the Internet, we will work to ensure there is always something new waiting to entertain and delight you," Netflix said in a blog post on Monday.

Downloads for You pulls content from Netflix's vast library, but some titles are limited due to licensing rights. Once you watch an automatically downloaded episode, you can delete it to free up storage space and watch more recommended titles.

Offline downloads are useful if you do not have access to the Internet while traveling, especially if you are in an area without reliable cellular coverage or bandwidth.

Still, Downloads for You feels like an unnecessary upgrade. I doubt that many people crave automatic downloads of recommended shows, even with storage limitations; Netflix's algorithms are pretty smart, but they can deliver failures (please don't try to get me to watch "Northern Rescue").

And personally, when I download a show for offline viewing, I like to pick a variety - an episode of this, an episode of that, half a season of something, a movie or two. But perhaps others want a more heuristic experience and want Netflix to surprise them.

Downloads for You is currently available on Android worldwide; Netflix has said it plans to test it on iOS soon.

To take advantage of this feature, Android users can follow these steps:

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