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If you're trying to find out how you can watch Crunchyroll offline on your own devices, this article is exactly what you need. We are going to introduce the best methods to download and then watch Crunchyroll anime without any net connection, manage your downloads, and troubleshoot common issues.
💡All information about Crunchyroll offline viewing mentioned in this guide is 100% written by the editor after his actual in-person review and testing. This article is not artificially generated content; we aim to provide you with reliable and latest info.
- Crunchyroll's offline viewing feature is only available for the Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan plans; it's not supported for the Fan plan.
- On mobile devices (iOS/Android/Nintendo Switch), you can download selected series through the official app, but download validity is limited.
- If you want to watch stuff offline on a PC/Mac, grabbing a third-party tool (like StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader) is pretty much the only way. It helps you get past the time limits and save the files as MP4/MKV.
- You might run into a few snags, like downloads just failing, really slow speeds, the download button disappearing, or just getting a black screen if you try to record. Combining the official FAQ with third-party tools can resolve most issues.
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Can I View Crunchyroll Offline?
Yes, but not all subscription plans can do it. It sure has an offline feature that allows you to download favorite shows and movies for later viewing, no matter if you are eager to reach the latest storyline but are about to have an unstable internet connection or just want to start the second round of certain anime anytime.
What is the Limitations of Official Crunchyroll Offline Viewing?
Crunchyroll's Offline Viewing feature allows users to download anime in advance when they have an internet connection and watch them even when they don't. However, this feature has certain limitations:
- Subscription: Only available with Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan plans
- Device Support: Only available on iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch
- Download Validity: Automatically expires after 7 days if not played, and expires 48 hours after playing
- Storage Limits: Some titles cannot be downloaded, and the maximum number of downloads depends on the device's storage capacity
A quick view to see what you need to prepare to unlock the offline viewing feature on Crunchyroll:
| Crunchyroll Plans | Price | Offline Viewing | Device Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fan Plan |
$7.99/month |
❌ |
❌ |
|
Mega Fan Plan |
$9.99/month |
✅ |
iOS, Android, Nintendo |
|
Ultimate Fan Plan |
$14.99/month |
✅ |
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch |
Here is a more detailed plan description from the official:
How to View Crunchyroll Offline on Mobile? [Mega & Ultimate Fans]
Tool Required: Crunchyroll App
As mentioned above, the Crunchyroll app is the only tool you need for offline viewing anime. With an available subscription higher than the Fan plan, the download function will be automatically activated.
Operation Steps
Not knowing how exactly the Crunchyroll offline viewing feature works? Check out the steps below to see how to watch Crunchyroll anime without the internet:
Make sure you have the latest version of the Crunchyroll app installed on your device.
Sign in to your account and select the anime you want to download. Look for the “Download” button next to the episode or series you want to save.
Click the “Download” button and choose the video quality you want. Keep in mind that higher-quality downloads will take up more storage space on your device.
Wait for the download to complete. Once the download is complete, navigate to My Lists →Offline tab to view your downloaded content.
What if I want to view these anime offline without a download button on Crunchyroll? Or what if I want to download Crunchyroll episodes on PC devices or save them permanently for more convenient offline viewing?
To break the device and time limits, an extra assistant is required.
How to View Crunchyroll Offline on PC? [for ALL Fans]
Since even with the Mega Fan or Ultimate Fan plan, there are still chances that the shows or episodes you want for offline viewing are not covered by the Crunchyroll offline viewing feature, and this is when and where a 3(rd)-party video downloader like StreamFab kicks in.
Official vs. Third-Party (PC/Mac) Offline Viewing
| Option | Supported Plans | Devices | Video Format | Download Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official App | Mega / Ultimate Fan | iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch | Encrypted DRM | 7 days / 48 hours | Mobile & tablet users |
| StreamFab Downloader | All accounts | PC, Mac | MP4 / MKV | Permanent | Cross-device use & long-term save |
Tool Required: StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader
✨ Upgraded Subtitle Features: To perfectly meet the needs of anime fans and subtitle enthusiasts, this downloader now offers four professional subtitle solutions:
- External ASS: Download subtitles as separate ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha) files, allowing full customization of fonts, colors, and advanced effects.
- MKV Remux (with ASS): Get the highest quality video (remuxed, no re-compression) with soft ASS subtitles embedded. You can toggle them on or off in your player.
- Hard Subs: Burn subtitles directly into the video, ensuring they display perfectly on any device, like TVs or mobile phones, without extra setup.
- External SRT: A classic, highly compatible format for most video players.
Operation Steps
Here below are the steps to access Crunchyroll anime in a netless situation with StreamFab:
Download & install StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader on your PC, whether running Windows or macOS operating system.
Tap the VIP Services tab on the left panel, find the Crunchyroll website from the supported streaming services, then open it with the built-in browser
Log in to your account to search for the Crunchyroll episode you want and play it.
A pop-up window will ask for your preferred output options. This is where you can select the video quality (up to 1080P), audio track, and your newly upgraded subtitle format (e.g., external ASS, MKV Remux with soft subs, Hard Subs, or SRT).
After customization, you can download it right now by clicking on "Download Now" or "Add to Queue" for later downloads.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Crunchyroll’s offline viewing feature:
Because the Fan plan doesn't support offline viewing, and some anime are restricted from downloading.
Make sure you are a Mega or Ultimate Fans subscriber, and check if there is a download button on the anime. If not, you don't have access to offline options or some anime are just originally unable to be saved. To fix this problem, use StreamFab to download Crunchyroll videos for offline viewing.
Because downloaded videos require periodic online DRM verification before playback.
The reason for this frequently reported issue is that Crunchyroll set an internet check on downloaded anime with DRM encryption.
To solve this, flick on 'airplane mode', give the Crunchyroll app a restart, or maybe just use StreamFab to download the Crunchyroll videos instead.
No — DRM protection blocks screen recording, which results in a black screen.
No. Animes on Crunchyroll are DRM-protected, a black screen will appear when you screen record Crunchyroll. This method is not feasible.
No — mobile downloads are hidden DRM files and cannot be transferred to other devices.
No. The Crunchyroll downloads are hidden files and are protected by DRM. You can only watch them via the Crunchyroll mobile app. If you want to view them on other devices, StreamFab Crunchyroll Downloader can help you to get MP4/MKV files.
Hard Subs are permanently burned into the video image and cannot be turned off. This ensures they play on any device (like TVs). Soft Subs (ASS/SRT) are separate tracks that you can toggle on or off in your video player (like VLC or MPV).
ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha) is the format most anime fansubs use. It supports custom fonts, colors, on-screen positioning, and effects (like for opening song lyrics). Downloading in this format with StreamFab gives you the full, intended viewing experience that basic SRT files can't provide.
Compliance & Safety Notice
⚠️ Just a heads-up: Crunchyroll's official downloads have DRM protection and they do expire. Tools from third parties, like StreamFab, are really just meant for personal offline backup only. Always make sure you're respecting the copyright laws and Crunchyroll’s Terms of Service where you live.
Don't worry about safety—StreamFab software gets checked by all the big antivirus tools. It's verified as safe, meaning the installation won't add any junk.
Final Thoughts
So, Crunchyroll's offline viewing feature is their official way of letting you watch Crunchyroll offline. It's the feature that lets you grab your favorite anime shows and movies so you can watch them later, pretty much anytime or anywhere.
But, if the specific anime you want can't be downloaded officially (it happens), you'll need to fall back on an external downloader. Something like StreamFab will let you download them for keeps, so you can watch them offline whenever. Stop hesitating and try StreamFab today to start the fantastic offline viewing experience of the Crunchyroll anime you want!
