I just tried recording Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit on Pluto TV Action, only to be greeted by a black screen. So, the answer seems to be no if you're wondering if you can screen records on Pluto TV.
After some digging on Reddit, I learned DRM protection is to blame. The good news? There are workarounds. Below, I've shared a few methods to help you record your favorite shows to watch Pluto TV offline anytime, anywhere.
How to Record Pluto TV on PC?
1. StreamLink [For Live Shows]
I discovered this from a reply from a Reddit user. You can find it on GitHub. It's a command-line tool that streams live shows from Pluto TV and other various services into a video player, such as VLC or mpv. So that you can record Pluto TV within Windows Terminal instead of directly screen recording Pluto TV live channels with black screens.
But it only supports live streams on Pluto TV, and honestly, if you are not a geek or a pro who knows how to deal with command lines, then you will be confused about where to start and how to use it correctly. Besides, it will output .ts files, high quality but average bigger than MP4 or MKV, so watch out for your hard drive.
In case you spend a century figuring out how to use it, I made a simplified guide referring to the official CLI guidebook. If you have any questions or encounter issues, you can find a more specific guide at streamlink.github.io.
Install StreamLink from its release page. Remember to choose the right version matching your system. Then run Windows Terminal.
Make sure you installed VLC media player on your PC and added it to the PATH so that StreamLink can detect it and use it to record Pluto TV live streams.
Search for the video and play it, then a pop-up window will ask for your video options. You can choose the audio and subtitle language.
Paste streamlink --record "~/recordings/{author}/{category}/{id}-{time:%Y%m%d%H%M%S}.ts"
2. RecordFab [For All Titles]
This one, called RecordFab, is my favorite one, since it has a built-in DRM-compatible browser that allows you to not just record on Pluto TV, but also on other popular streaming sites with better user-friendly features than the last one. I used it to record both Live TV channels and on-demand movies and shows on Pluto TV, and it rarely fails. For now, I've got several episodes of The Twilight Zone and Doctor Who on Pluto TV recorded in 1080p through its assistance.
The impressive function while using it, to me, is its ability to continue recordings in the background and the recording speed options up to 2x faster. It just keeps working hard silently and tells you when the Pluto TV recordings are done. You will barely notice its system occupation since it remains device-friendliness along the tasks.
Download RecordFab and install it on your Windows. Launch it and find Pluto TV in the list of All Supported Sites. Click on it.
Navigate to the episode on-demand or playing on live TV channels of Pluto TV. Play it and click Start to customize the settings.
Click on OK to proceed. Wait until the recording is done, and you can find the finished recordings in the My Files section.
How to Record Pluto TV on Mobile?
1. PlayOn Cloud
PlayOn Cloud is a cloud recorder launched on mobile devices. The Pluto TV recording tasks will be completed on the cloud, as its name suggests. So it won't affect the normal use of your phone, but will only inform you by email or a notice that the recordings have finished.
It's good for those who only record a few Pluto TV shows or movies since it utilizes credit instead of subscription plans. 1 credit for SD recordings, 3 credits for HD recordings, and it will be consumed quickly if you decide to record all your favorite episodes on Pluto TV, and that wouldn't be a valuable deal.
Here's a step-by-step guide to record Pluto TV with PlayOn Cloud on mobile devices.
Download and install the PlayOn Cloud app from the App Store or Google Play, then open the app and create or log in to your account.
In PlayOn Cloud, press the Pluto TV sign and navigate to the Pluto TV titles you want to record following the provided path.
Press the video title to enter the detailed info page. Then press Record Now to start. Once the recording is complete, you can download the recorded videos to your mobile phone.
2. Another Phone
The title says everything. What you need to do with this method is get another phone. Sounds goofy, but it always will work. But the quality is very unstable and easily affected by the environment. So, if you have had enough trying hard to come out with a viable way to record Pluto TV, this one is always here. I guess this one doesn't need a guide to clear how to start. So, let's move on.
Better Alternative Way to Record Pluto TV
Enough talking about recording Pluto TV. Since your goal is to save the titles as a personal copy for offline viewing, why don't we directly download Pluto TV videos instead? We don't have to bear the slow recording speed, the damaged output quality, or complex configurations and operations, etc. We can download the Pluto TV episodes seamlessly with the tool below.
Tool Required: StreamFab Pluto TV Downloader
The tool required to download Pluto TV videos is called StreamFab Pluto TV Downloader. It utilizes direct-download mode to rip Pluto TV videos into MP4/MKV format. You may wonder why it would be a better alternative way to record Pluto TV, and the question will be solved after you know what it can do for you.
- Download Pluto TV videos directly to your PC in up to 720p HD with AAC 2.0 stereo
- Save Pluto TV titles in all-device compatible MP4/MKV format
- Remove all advertising for pure offline viewing experiences
- Support downloading the subtitles into an SRT file or remuxing them into the video
- Batch download multiple episodes to save time
- Keep various audio tracks in the different languages you want
- Save metadata together for easy management in the local media library
A Guide to Using StreamFab Pluto TV Downloader
It has a complete built-in browser and its operations are simple. As long as you know how to use a mouse, you know how to use StreamFab as well. Besides, StreamFab offers 3 free downloads in its trial! Check this out to learn how to make full use of it.
Find Pluto TV in VIP Services. Navigate to the movies or shows you want to download to make a personal copy. Then play it.
You will see a customization panel after analyzing. Select the desired resolution, audio, subtitles, etc. Then click on Download Now to start.
FAQs
Is it legal to download or record Pluto TV videos?
That depends. No matter if you just recorded or downloaded Pluto TV videos or live streams, the copies are for personal entertainment only. Do not sell or distribute them because that will cause copyright conflicts.
ADoes Pluto TV have an official DVR function?
Fun Fact: Pluto TV launched a function called "myPluto" in 2014, for users to save live shows on Pluto TV. But now, by 2025, it will have already been gone for a long time. So, the answer is no.
AWrap-up
Recording Pluto TV may seem challenging due to DRM protection, but it's no longer an issue after reading this guide. There is a list of methods to record your favorite Pluto TV shows and movies for offline viewing. Such as the combination of RecordFab for live streams and StreamFab for on-demand titles.
Anyway, with the right tools, you can enjoy Pluto TV content anytime, anywhere. Happy watching!
