Update – February 7, 2019: Netflix has rolled out Smart Downloads feature for iOS users. Similar to Android and Windows, this will automatically delete episodes you’ve watched and download the next one when you are connected to WiFi. You can disable it from the Downloads section. Grab the latest version of the iOS app to enjoy the feature.
Earlier: Netflix had rolled out Download feature back in 2016 and one and a half year later the company is rolling a new feature “Smart Downloads” that automatically deletes an episode of a TV series you’ve finished watching and downloads the next one.
However, if you wish to rather keep the watched episode on your device, you will need to turn off Smart Downloads so you can manually manage your downloaded content. The Smart Downloads feature only turns on when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, and it won’t impact your device storage, because it will always delete the last watched episode before downloading the next one. This feature is currently only available for Android starting today and the support for iOS will be coming later this year.
Cameron Johnson, Director of Product Innovation, Netflix said:
We know how annoying it can be to go through all your apps and delete files you no longer need; we also understand that when it comes to Netflix, the faster you can get to the next episode you want to watch, the better. Whether it is smart downloading or viewing a mobile preview, we realize the best part of Netflix is connecting with the stories you will love in an easier and more fun way.