Netflix has announced an upcoming change for its Windows app that may disappoint frequent travelers.

The new application will eliminate the ability to download videos for offline viewing, a feature that many users have come to rely on.

In a notification within the existing Windows app, Netflix states: "Coming soon: a new Windows app experience."

While the update promises exciting new features like access to live events and compatibility with ad-supported plans, it also clearly indicates that offline downloads will no longer be available.

Users are encouraged to utilize supported mobile devices for watching their favorite shows and movies without internet access.

Is it acceptable to remove this feature? Many frequent travelers might disagree, especially those who rely on laptops when bandwidth is limited or nonexistent.

Airplanes serve as a prime example, where in-flight Wi-Fi—except for Starlink—rarely offers the speed necessary for streaming movies or shows and often incurs additional fees. Amtrak’s free Wi-Fi, even on the busy Northeast Corridor, frequently struggles with streaming as well. And hotel Wi-Fi is not always reliable either.

Netflix's response to inquiries about the removal of this feature lacked specificity. They addressed questions like, "Why was this feature eliminated?" and "How long will the old app remain available?" without providing a detailed explanation and simply reiterated the rollout of the new app.

While users can still download content on Netflix's mobile applications, those who prefer using a laptop might find their offline viewing options limited to the smaller screens of their phones, which is less than ideal for longer films. This change is akin to streaming services like Spotify restricting playback to inferior laptop speakers.

Moreover, the new displayport video output feature on Google’s Pixel 8 series doesn’t offer a solution. When connecting a Pixel 8a to a laptop via USB-C, Netflix refused to play video content, while YouTube functioned perfectly, indicating potential restrictions within the Netflix application itself.Netflix has decided to align itself with the trends of other video streaming platforms, much to the disappointment of its users.

Unlike its competitors such as Disney+, Hulu, Google TV, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock, which primarily offer download capabilities through their mobile applications, Netflix has opted out of this feature for its Windows app.

Interestingly, while Disney+ classifies Windows laptops as “mobile devices,” its app functions merely as a version of Microsoft Edge, allowing only streaming.

Apple TV+, on the other hand, does permit downloads, but this option is exclusively available to Mac users.

In contrast, Amazon's Prime Video app for Windows continues to offer the ability to download content for offline watching.

The decision by Netflix to render its service less functional compared to its main rivals raises questions that are as perplexing as the content available on its platform.

Eric Zeman contributed to this report.

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