Netflix has announced a new “Downloads For You” feature that will automatically download recommended TV shows or movies to your device “based on your tastes.”
The feature, available on an opt-in basis, launches today for Android devices. The streaming giant said it will begin testing on iOS soon.
The company touts the feature as an expansion of its Smart Downloads feature. In 2018, Netflix launched the Smart Downloads feature as a way to automatically download the next episode of a TV show a user is currently watching and delete downloaded episodes after they have been watched.
“Today we’re launching Downloads For You, a new feature that automatically downloads recommended shows or movies to your mobile device based on your tastes,” Netflix said in an announcement. Whether you’re a comedy fan stuck on a long car ride or a rom com lover without internet, we do the work so there is always something new waiting to entertain and delight you.”
Netflix said Android users can turn on the feature by going to the Downloads tab and toggling on the new “Downloads For You” option. Users can choose how much content they want downloaded to their device (1GB, 3GB, or 5GB).
Customizing the Netflix experience
In recent months, Netflix has announced several new features designed to personalize users’ viewing experience. In January, the company announced a new “shuffle play” feature that it said was geared towards users who may not know what to watch when they fire up Netflix.
“It’s really working for us where our members can basically indicate to us that they just want to skip browsing entirely, click one button and we’ll pick a title for them just to instantly play,” Netflix COO and chief product officer Greg Peters said during the company’s Q4 investor interview. “And that’s a great mechanism that’s worked quite well for members in that situation.”
Netflix has also announced that it’s testing a new timer feature that lets users choose to have the show they’re watching stop streaming after a set period of time. Like the new “Downloads For You” functionality, the timer feature is currently being tested among Android users.