Disney Plus is an excellent streaming service that offers you an ample and vast range of content spread across multiple genres. The offline download feature provided by the streaming service makes it a good option to watch the content whenever and wherever you want to.
However, I found several users claiming to face issues with the offline download functionality on Disney Plus. If you are wondering why is Disney Plus not working, I thought of sharing a few tips on how to fix Disney Plus downloads not working.
Why are Disney Plus Downloads Not Working?
There can be multiple reasons why Disney Plus downloads won't play offline. Even the error messages you get may be different based on what exactly is causing these issues.
Some of the errors that I personally encountered include:
- Account-related issues: There were a few times when my account had some glitches. Have you checked if your subscription allows downloads? Plans with the ads feature may not have the download functionality. You might have failed to login to your account for a long time.
- Incompatible devices: Disney Plus may not be compatible with a few specific devices. In fact, if you have an older device with an outdated operating system, you are most likely to end up with issues with the download feature.
- Unstable network connection: That was the most common issue that I typically faced with the Disney Plus download feature. This results in video buffering and thus affects the downloads as well.
In these cases, you may encounter error messages such as "download failed," "unable to connect," etc.
Even the default download functionality comes with several other limitations. The downloaded titles come with an expiry date and cannot saved with you forever. Apart from that, they also have several issues, such as device restrictions and DRM protection-related problems.
How to Fix Disney Plus Downloads Not Working?
Well, there are several ways to fix Disney Plus downloads that are not working. Depending on what causes the issues, you can apply a few fixes that I have personally used.
Check internet stability & disable the VPN
To use a Disney Plus download, you need a stable and strong internet connection. For a standard streaming experience, you need at least 5 Mbps speed, while for 4K or HD videos, you should aim for 25 Mbps.
Apart from that, Disney Plus can detect if you are using a VPN to change your location. Turning off your VPN connection is the only and best option to fix the download issues.
Update the Disney Plus app to the latest version
I once had this issue. Disney Plus app had an update pending, and I was not aware. Updating to the latest version helped me fix the problems, and I was able to download the Disney Plus videos easily for offline viewing. Go to your app store and check if the app has an update.
Clear app cache/data (mobile/tablet)
An accumulated cache on your device can result in affecting your downloads. You can check the cache on your relevant devices and clear them right away. This will help you fix any issues and get your device and download functionality back on track.
Follow the steps here below:
- Android: Settings > Apps > Disney Plus > Storage > Clear Cache
- iPhone/iPad: Uninstall & Reinstall the app (Apple doesn’t allow manual cache clearing)
Reinstall the app & restart the devices
The app on your device may have certain issues. If you face the obstruction to downloads even after you have updated your app, you can reinstall the app. This should get your app back on track and help it function properly.
You can even restart your device to get rid of any issues and glitches on your device. In fact, restarting the app should ideally fix the problem for practically a wide range of issues that you may be facing.
Verify storage space and file permissions
Downloads can take a substantially huge space on your device. If your device does not have enough space, you may need to clear it. The lack of storage can hinder your downloads and leave it with an error like download failed.
Also, ensure that you have given storage permission to your app. Without the relevant permissions, the app may fail to write to your storage.
Why Official Fixes Often Fail?
While the official methods above are the best way to fix the download errors on your Disney Plus app, I have observed that they fail quite often. There can be many reasons why this happens.
- Technical reasons: It may be due to several technical reasons imposed by Disney Plus on your downloads. These can be a result of any issues like regional or content-related restrictions on your downloads and even the DRM issues.
- Platform-related issues: They include compatibility issues with your Android and iOS devices.
- Server problems: You may also have server-side restrictions and limitations during peak hours.
Reliable & Permanent Solution: StreamGaGa Disney Plus Downloader
The best way to download your videos from Disney Plus, if the official methods are not working, would be to use a third-party downloader for the purpose. There are several Disney Plus downloaders that you can try out, and StreamGaGa Disney Plus Downloader is an excellent option that should help you fix the issues.
StreamGaGa Downloader is your one-stop solution for almost all practical purposes. The robust downloader lets you download any video from Disney Plus in a batch download and high-quality resolution.
I found the auto-download feature to be a blessing as I watch a lot of series and keep looking for the next episodes. I could easily set the Auto-download option and the new episodes were downloaded as and when they were released. Access to all the restrictions like region-specific content or license-specific content was another great feature as it helped my thirst for foreign content.
I loved the following features to be an excellent option:
- It could remove all the DRM restrictions, thereby providing me with a full-fledged download performance across all the titles
- Batch downloads were helpful in downloading multiple titles all in one go.
- I could choose multiple languages for the subtitles based on my preferences.
- High-quality downloads in resolutions as high as 1080p offered a streaming-quality download experience.
- The fact that it has download compatibility with Mac along with Windows further makes it more universal in its approach.
Also, check out how to download Hulu shows for offline viewing.
StreamGaGa vs. Disney+ Official
The table below should give you a better comparison between the StreamGaGa Downloader and Disney Plus official method.
Feature |
StreamGaGa |
Disney+ Official |
Offline Access Duration |
Unlimited |
Limited (expires) |
Cross-Device Compatibility |
Yes |
No |
Batch Download Support |
Yes |
No |
Subtitle & Audio Options |
Multilingual |
Limited |
FAQs
Is it legal to use StreamGaGa?
Yes, It is entirely legal as long as you do not use the downloaded titles for commercial purposes. You should use the downloaded titles only for personal consumption.
Can I transfer downloads to other devices?
The default download option does not let you transfer the downloaded titles onto another device. However, you can use third-party downloaders to download the titles and use them for offline viewing.
Does StreamGaGa work with Netflix/Hulu?
Yes, the downloader works with over 100 streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu. It also supports over 1500+ different video-sharing services.
Conclusion
Wondering why can't I download movies on Disney Plus? It can be pretty frustrating to see Disney Plus downloads not working. However, there are several ways to fix Disney Plus downloads not working. It may not always be easy to resolve the issue due to DRM restrictions and platform limitations.
That is where a third-party downloader can be really handy. StreamGaGa Disney Plus Downloader comes truly handy in fixing all the issues and problems you may have with offline downloads. I have used the tool and have found it offers an excellent array of services.