From Netflix to HBO Max: why does only one streaming platform allow you to download movies and series on notebooks?

This type of consumption occurs especially when you cannot access a Wi-Fi network, for example on a flight, traveling on the road or at an unconnected campsite. But the issue that draws attention is that these downloads can only be made on cell phones or tablets, and not on desktop PCs or notebooks.

The impediment is suffered mainly by those who must travel for a few days with their notebook for work reasons. Thus, those who get on a plane for work reasons and could watch a movie or their favorite series in mid-flight, with the same notebook on which they will later display spreadsheets, they stay outside.

What is the reason why the entertainment giants do not allow their subscribers to download their content to a notebook, but they can do so to a cell phone or a tablet?

Strictly speaking, not everyone prohibits it. Amazon Prime does allow you to download content to a notebook. Of the best-known platforms, it is the only one that has this option enabled.

“Customers can watch Prime Video downloads on a Fire tablet, or use the Prime Video app for iOS, Android, macOS, or Windows 10 or 11. Prime Video allows users to watch downloaded titles on laptops, as well as mobile devices,” Amazon Prime sources told Clarion.

The rest of the platforms do not allow downloading content to notebooks. And from the companies They don’t explain why.

“There are two reasons,” says Martín Micucci, Computer Security researcher at ESET Latin America. And he explains: “They want you to stream because that gives them a different degree of control at the time of playback. For example, there are already platforms that show advertising before the start of the movie, and that gives them greater revenue.”

“The other issue is that of the security“, continues Micucci. “Technically you can copy a movie from both a PC and a cell phone, but from a cell phone it is much more work. You have to transfer everything to a cloud… you have more obstacles. On the other hand, if you download the file to the PC it is easier. There can be cloning and copies can be made. On Windows you can have a torrent and throw it there, etc. However, these kinds of files cannot be copied so easily.”

Leandro Cuozzo, Security Analyst at Kaspersky’s Research and Analysis Team, has a similar view. “Movies and series are distributed through digital protection systems that control how they can be stored and played. On mobile devices, platforms have greater control over the execution environment, since applications operate within more closed systems and with integrated security mechanisms. On the other hand, a computer offers a more open environment, with more tools and possibilities of interaction with the system and, consequently, greater risks that the content can be manipulated or copied. Therefore, although no mechanism is completely foolproof, many platforms consider the risk of unauthorized copying or distribution to be higher on PC and they choose to limit downloads there.”, he explains.

From Prime Video they tell how to download movies or series.

To download titles, open the Prime Video app on your device and search for the title you want to download. In the Prime Video app for Android and Windows, you can select where to save downloaded titles. We do not recommend saving downloads to USB-connected drives.

-For movies: Select the option to download the title from the details page.

-For series: There is an option to download the entire season. To download individual episodes, select the download icon in the episode list.

Playback of downloaded content via Chromecast or Airplay is not allowed. Offline playback on a TV is possible with compatible devices and the use of appropriate adapters.