Viki remains a premier destination for Asian entertainment enthusiasts. However, trending titles—such as the 2025-2026 blockbuster "Omniscient Reader" or the hit series "My Daughter is a Zombie"—may become unplayable at a moment's notice due to the complex licensing agreements between Rakuten Viki and production studios. Once these titles exit the platform's library, you may lose access to them entirely.
Recent market data highlights Viki's standing among its competitors as of January 2026:
Viki vs. competitor sites monthly visits comparison: Viki 23.5 M; MyDramaList 31.4 M; AsianWiki 5.8 M; Bilibili.tv 72.1 M (Similarweb Feb 2026)
This volatility is why we have updated this guide: to help you keep your favorite content locally for personal backup while you still have legal access through your own account. By creating a local copy of the Viki episodes you love for personal offline viewing, you can ensure your favorite dramas are preserved regardless of regional licensing shifts.
Is it Legal to Download Viki Videos?
Note:
- Section 1201 of the U.S. DMCA is often discussed in relation to personal "fair use" style backups in certain situations, but how it applies can vary by context and jurisdiction.
- A 2025 commentary by law firm McBrayer suggests that creating local copies is generally viewed as lower risk when strictly for personal use with no further distribution.
1. Personal Backup Principle
Under the "Fair Use" context, creating a personal backup of media you have already paid to access is widely considered a low-risk activity. This practice, often referred to as "time-shifting" or "format-shifting," allows users to enjoy their legally subscribed content in device-compatible formats without being tethered to a constant internet connection. As long as the content is sourced from a valid Viki Pass Plus subscription or a legal rental, the act of saving a local copy is a private extension of your viewing rights.
2. Non-Commercial Limitation
The legal safety net for personal archiving ends where redistribution begins. To remain within the bounds of "fair use," your personal Viki archives must:
- Be used exclusively for private, non-commercial entertainment.
- Never be shared, uploaded to public sites, or resold.
- Only be retained as long as you maintain a legitimate right to access the original content.
By respecting these boundaries and viewing local archiving as a supplemental convenience for your regular subscription, you are exercising your rights as a consumer to enjoy your favorite Viki dramas in a flexible, personal, and safe manner.
Can You Download Viki Videos on Mobile: via Viki App
The good news is that Viki does offer a download feature for select shows and movies, allowing users to watch their favorite content without an internet connection. The bad news is that the download feature is blocked with many limits:
1. Read before You Download
- ⚠️The download feature is available only in North, Central, and South America
- Only Viki Pass Plus subscribers/users who have purchased rental titles can download the titles
- Not all Viki videos can be downloaded
- The downloaded Viki content will expire after 48 hours/30 Days
- The downloaded format is protected, so users cannot watch Viki downloads with other players
- Officially, only the Viki app can download videos on Android 10.0/iOS 18.0+
- Only one authorized mobile device for downloading Viki videos is allowed
Obviously, many Viki audiences find these limitations inconvenient and start to seek more flexible, subscription-based ways to watch the titles they can access offline while still respecting Viki’s rules.
2. Step by Step Guide on Downloading Viki Videos on Mobile
It's easy to achieve with the official Viki app, which can be easily found in the App Store or Google Play. If you have only used the websites to watch Viki videos before and have no idea how to download Viki videos via the app, here is a clear tutorial for you.
By the way, Viki will stop the support to old version apps regularly, so remember to update the Viki app in time.
Install the app on your phone. Open it, and log in (make sure you’ve got Viki Pass Plus active).
Find the video you want to download for offline watching. Tap it to see the details page.
Then just tap the download button under the play button. That’s it.
3. Important Tech Notice 2026
To successfully archive content within the app, your hardware must comply with the current delivery protocols:
- iOS Users: Requires iOS 18.0 or later for full functionality.
- Android Users: Requires Android 10.0 or later to ensure compatibility with Viki's updated video delivery mechanism.
- Storage: Ensure you have sufficient space for the local copies, as high-definition files can be large.
While the official Viki app provides a convenient way to save titles for short-term viewing on the go, many enthusiasts find that mobile-only archiving has its limits, especially when it comes to long-term storage and screen size.
For those who prefer to curate a more permanent personal backup on a larger display, transitioning your archiving process to a PC offers significantly more flexibility. By moving Viki content from mobile to desktop, you can better manage your local copies in device-compatible formats, ensuring your favorite dramas are preserved with higher stability and easier access.
How to Download Viki Videos on PC for Offline Viewing?
To overcome the technical boundaries of mobile-only saving, using a dedicated archiving assistant on your computer is the most effective way to maintain your personal backup library.
1. Tool Required: StreamFab Viki Downloader
As for my pick, I chose StreamFab Viki Downloader finally. It’s simple to operate. Instead of relying only on the official app, you can save Rakuten Viki videos that your account can normally play in standard video formats like MP4 or MKV for personal offline viewing. No fuss. Moreover, it can download subtitles in my preferred languages so that I can watch the original dubbed Goblin with an English subtitle.
- Download Viki content in 1080P with AAC 2.0 audio.
- Save videos from Viki in MP4/MKV format for long-term personal offline playback
- Help reduce interruptions from ads during downloading with the Viki free account (actual ad display still depends on your Viki plan and region)
- Download Viki episodes with subtitles in your preferred language
- Schedule mode to download newly released Viki episodes automatically
StreamFab Viki Downloader offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to navigate Viki with ease. The whole download progress is completed in the built-in browser.
2. Step by Step Guide on Downloading Viki Videos on PC with StreamFab
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started with StreamFab to download Viki videos on PC for personal offline viewing.
Log in to your Viki account, and find the video you want to download. StreamFab will analyze it automatically.
Customize the subtitle, video resolution, format, episodes, etc. Then, click 'Download'.
Based on my using experience, StreamFab Viki Downloader and the official Viki App serve very different needs. While the official app is designed for basic on-the-go viewing, StreamFab functions as a comprehensive personal archiving assistant for users who prioritize flexibility and long-term storage.
The following sections break down the data from both the table and the chart to provide a clear comparison for 2026.
| Downloaders | StreamFab Viki Downloader | Viki app |
|---|---|---|
|
System |
Win10,11 /Mac 10.10-15.x |
Android 10.0/iOS 18.0+ |
|
Resolution |
1080p |
1080p |
|
Audio |
AAC 2.0 |
Original |
| Playback on common media players |
✅ |
❌ |
| Ad experience during downloads | ✅ (fewer interruptions in many cases; actual ads still depend on Viki’s plan and policies) |
Depends on plan |
|
Auto-Download |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Batch Download |
✅ |
❌ |
The radar chart highlights the "performance boundaries" across six critical dimensions:
- Viki App: Offline content remains special format and is subject to ads depending on your subscription tier, resulting in low compatibility scores.
- StreamFab: Offers full support for desktop environments, filling the gap for PC and Mac users who cannot save content via a web browser, and dominates in Batch Downloading and Auto-Download capabilities. It can archive entire seasons or automatically download new episodes as they release.
FAQ
If you mean whether Viki content itself is free to download, the answer is no—you still need your own Viki account and, in many cases, a valid Viki Pass Plus or rental to access specific titles.
What you can do for free is try saving Viki videos with StreamFab Viki Downloader: the program gives you three trial download chances so you can test it out first. These trial downloads still require that you can normally play the videos on Viki with your own account.
Downloading for strictly personal, non-commercial viewing is often treated as lower risk, especially when you already have a valid subscription. That said, copyright laws can be a confusing beast depending on where you live. And, whatever you do, don’t start handing it out to others, and double-check Viki’s rules. (Not a lawyer, by the way.)
When downloads get stuck or slow to a crawl, check your internet connection before anything else. Try clearing cache and cookies, update your device, and maybe reboot. Still stuck? Contact StreamFab can usually sort things out fast.
Conclusion
If you're just a North America Pass Plus user, the official offline feature already meets short-distance offline needs; otherwise, combining StreamFab's scheduling with the selectable subtitles will still allow you to effortlessly binge-watch your Nth rerun of Reply 1988 in 2026. Don’t forget: reasonable usage is key, and downloads are for personal viewing only.
StreamFab Viki Downloader is intended solely for personal backup and offline playback of streaming content that you can legally access with your own account. Commercial use or redistribution of downloaded files is strictly prohibited.
