A new Windows 11 Netflix app will remove offline downloads feature

The feature-less downside of web app experiences

2 min. read

Published onMay 14, 2024

published onMay 14, 2024

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Netflix is working on a new Windows 11 app experience. Unfortunately, Netflix looks to ostensibly be developing a web wrapper of its browser-based app equipped with all the same features and downsides.

If you’ve visited your Netflix app on a Windows 11 powered device, a new pop up appears that informs the user that streaming service is working on a “new Windows app experience.”

The update includes access to live events, compatibility with ad-supported plans, and more! Downloads will no longer be supported, but you can continue to watch TV shows and movies offline on a supported mobile device.

Thefolks over at WindowsLatestgot in contact with Netflix’s support team and were able to confirm that the prompt is correct and that the ‘new experience’ will be similar to visiting Netflix.com from a supported browser.

When combingthrough support documentson the proposed new app experience, Netflix echoes the same talking points of better streaming quality, live event support, and still no offline download support for Windows devices.

WindowsLatest was also able to nail down an upgrade timeframe of June 2024, at which point Netflix will begin to shuffle users off the old, useful app and onto its new web wrapper via automatic updates in the Microsoft Store.

Eventually the old Windows 11 Netflix app will cease to work, and users will be forced to make do with the same web experience they can get from visiting Netflix.com.

At this time, it is unclear why Netflix has chosen this development path for Windows users who use devices offline when traveling, on insecure networks, in rural areas without broadband or poor connections.

The functional degradation of the Netflix app for Windows will not go unnoticed and comes at a time when Microsoft and partners are gearing up to deliver more mobile device experiences with a crop of devices powered by enhanced mobile processors.

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

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A new Windows 11 Netflix app will remove offline downloads feature#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

A new Windows 11 Netflix app will remove offline downloads feature