My MacBook is my travel office and my movie theater. On a recent long-haul trip, I learned the hard way that Disney+ on macOS has no download button, streaming works, but once Wi-Fi drops, everything stops. I tested a few tools, avoided the sketchy ones, and landed on a workflow that gives me reliable, high-quality offline files for flights and hotels.
My search involved wading through some truly questionable third-party apps and more than a few dead ends. The biggest difference, honestly, was between the tools that promised a solution and the one that actually delivered without turning my laptop into a mess. Here’s the method that got the job done.
Can You Download Disney Plus on Mac?
The official answer from Disney is simple: you can't. Not on a Mac. While the iPhone and iPad apps let you save shows for offline viewing, the feature is deliberately absent from the macOS experience. Go look on their website or in the desktop app; you won't find a download button. Dig through the help forums, and you'll find the party line: laptops are for streaming only. It’s a policy that feels completely disconnected from how people actually travel with their computers.
This is all about control. Specifically, DRM, Digital Rights Management, is the digital lock that prevents content from being copied and passed around freely. It’s also why the most common "workaround" you'll see suggested online is a non-starter. Downloading a movie on your iPhone and trying to AirPlay it to your Mac just doesn't work for offline playback; the system is designed to send a signal to a TV, not transfer a permanent file to your computer.
- This leaves you with two real paths. The official one involves being tethered to your phone's smaller screen and accepting that your downloads will expire, and other Disney Plus download limits.
The other route is using a third-party tool. Before I picked one, I looked at a general overview of how to download Disney Plus videos, which covers the landscape of official methods and other tools like StreamFab. It helped confirm that my problem didn't have an easy, official solution.
How to Download Movies from Disney Plus on Mac
1. StreamFab Disney Plus Downloader
This tool is currently my main solution. After trying a handful of apps, StreamFab Disney Plus Downloader stood out as the most complete and dependable choice to rip movies from Disney+.
- Supports 1080p, HDR10 & Dolby Vision downloads
- Handles Dolby Atmos, EAC3 5.1, and AAC audio tracks
- Offers H.264 or H.265 encoding to balance size vs quality
- Downloads as MP4 or MKV; MKV allows multiple audio/subtitle tracks
- Includes a built-in browser with automatic playback detection
- Features like batch downloads, scheduled downloads, and intro/ad skipping
- Works across regional Disney+ services (US, EU, Hotstar, etc.)
- Offers embedded or separate .srt subtitle files, multiple languages
Move on by opening StreamFab’s own built-in browser—logging into Disney+ right there, not somewhere else. If I try logging in with Chrome or Safari first, things can get messy. I find it way easier and less problematic to stick with the browser built into StreamFab. This helps me avoid those strange errors that sometimes pop up when using outside browsers. Trust me, it saves a lot of hassle.
Then, I start up the movie or episode I want to watch. As soon as it begins, StreamFab picks up on the stream right away. The program then gets to work unlocking the video, so I can save it easily.
When I work with video files, I usually choose MP4 or MKV formats. Both can handle up to 1080p, and I make sure to add HDR10+ or Dolby Vision if that's an option.
Files are saved locally with metadata (title, cover art). Unlike Disney+ mobile downloads (which expire in 48 hours), StreamFab downloads are permanent. However, sharing these files violates copyright laws
Once it’s downloaded, I can play it with VLC, IINA, or QuickTime; everything works, and the subtitles and audio tracks switch smoothly.
2. Movpilot Disney Plus Downloader
This is another tool I tried. It’s simpler, but not as powerful. It supports MP4 and MKV formats and allows basic downloads in up to 720p resolution. Dolby 5.1 is supported for audio. You can also keep some metadata and organize your files by episode.
However, I noticed the download speed was inconsistent, and it occasionally failed to grab subtitles properly. Batch downloads are possible, but you don’t get as much control or automation as with StreamFab. Thus, for me, Movpilot works as a backup if I only need to grab one or two episodes and don’t care too much about resolution.
Download the video downloader
Download the Movpilot Downloader and launch the app. Use the built-in browser to log into your Disney+ account—this lets the tool access the full library
Choose the streaming service
In the search bar, type the title of the movie or show.
Customize the file
Select format (MP4 or MKV), resolution (up to 720p HDR), and preferred audio and subtitle language
Click the download button
Click the Download button next to your chosen title. For series, you can select multiple episodes at once.
Editor's Words: Why I Don’t Use Screen Recording
- On paper, the next logical step seems to be screen recording. If you can play it, you can record it, right? I looked into using standard tools like QuickTime or OBS, and the entire process is a perfect example of a bad solution to a simple problem.
First, there are the technical hurdles. QuickTime doesn't record your Mac's internal audio on its own, so you have to jury-rig a solution with a plugin like Soundflower. OBS is more powerful, but you have to fiddle with a dozen settings just to get a clean capture. For me, it's a non-starter, especially considering the time-consuming nature. Even with perfect settings, you must record in real time and tie up the machine, with common quality and subtitle sync issues, too much hassle for the result.
The final product is often a compromise, with downgraded video quality and subtitles that are either burned into the image or completely out of sync. Honestly, it’s a lot of hassle and risk for a grainy, unreliable copy. Between Disney's own restrictive mobile app and the third-party downloaders, screen recording Disney+ is easily the worst option on the table.
Feature Comparison of Disney Plus Video Tools for Mac
| Feature / Method | StreamFab | MovPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Supported System | Windows/macOS | Windows/macOS |
| Output Quality |
1080p+HDR10/ Dolby Vision |
1080p/720p |
| Download Speed | 7-9 MB/s | 2-6 MB/s |
| Subtitle | External/Internal | External/Internal |
| Format | MP4/MKV | MP4/MKV |
| Batch Download | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto-Download | ✅ | ❌ |
- Picture & Audio: StreamFab supports up to 1080p with HDR10/Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos/EAC3 5.1 when available.
- Containers & Codecs: MP4 or MKV output; H.264/H.265 selectable to balance size and quality.
- Subtitles: Multi-language, embedded or external .srt; hard-burn option if needed.
- Automation: Batch, scheduling, and auto-skip intros/ads help with long lists and series.
FAQs
1. Is it legal to download Disney+ videos with third-party tools?
I only download stuff that I’ve already paid for or have a subscription to. I usually watch it offline, just by myself. As long as I keep those files to myself and don’t make any money from them, I believe—like many others—that this counts as personal use and is okay.
2. Are high-spec Macs necessary?
Not in the slightest. My entry-level MacBook Air handles it effortlessly because the software processes downloads independently of playback, minimizing hardware demands.
3. Will saved files stop working if my subscription ends?
I can still play files I've saved on my device, but I must remember that these videos are just for my own use. If I think about sharing them with others or putting them online again, I know that isn't allowed.
4. Can I keep multiple audio tracks and subtitles?
Absolutely, I recommend picking MKV if you want to keep several audio or subtitle tracks together. If you only need the subtitles, I just save them as a separate .srt file. When it’s necessary, I go ahead and burn the subtitles right into the video itself.
5. Does HDR/Dolby Vision work on all devices?
Honestly, whether I can watch something in a certain way mainly comes down to two things: what’s available and what my device can handle. Sometimes, if my TV or player doesn’t support a feature, it’ll just show me the regular SDR version. It doesn’t mess up the actual file at all.
Conclusion
- macOS has no official Disney+ downloads; mobile apps only.
- StreamFab saves MP4/MKV with selectable audio/subtitles for offline trips.
- Keep files personal and non-commercial; do not share or re-upload.
There’s no official way to download Disney Plus videos offline on a Mac system. The option to save videos for offline viewing is limited to the mobile apps on iOS or Android. Thus, you can use StreamFab Disney Plus Downloader; I’ve been able to reliably save shows and movies in great quality, with subtitles and audio options included. It supports 1080p, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Audio, which is more than enough for my needs.
Movpilot can work if you’re just grabbing a few episodes here and there. As for screen recording, I found it too slow and unreliable. I now download shows ahead of travel, store them locally, and watch them offline without any hassle. If you’re in the same situation, StreamFab Disney Plus Downloader is definitely worth trying.
