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Why PC Users Can’t “Just Download” from ITVX
Most viewers discover the roadblock the moment they open ITVX in a browser: there is no download button at all on desktop. The reason is technical and contractual. On desktop, ITVX uses protected streaming protocols so that the video is only played inside your browser and not saved as a standard MP4 file. Community posts also note that the newer ITVX delivery system broke older “ITV Hub” download tricks, making casual recording tools unreliable. In practice, handling these protected streams would require complex, specialist workflows that are far beyond what ordinary users should attempt and may also conflict with ITVX’s terms of use, so it is not recommended.
Meanwhile, ITVX’s own download feature is mobile-only. According to ITV support, you must pay £5.99 a month (or £59.99 a year) for ITVX Premium before the download arrow appears on iOS or Android. Each offline file self-erases after seven days—or 48 hours once you hit Play—and remains locked to the original handset, so copying it to a laptop simply will not work. ITV’s help pages highlight the same limitation when you travel: if you leave the UK without starting the episode first, downloads refuse to play; the official workaround is a UK VPN endpoint.
- Stream directly in a browser, which uses more data and still shows ads unless you upgrade to Premium;
- Use approved apps or third-party tools such as StreamFab that sign in with your own ITVX account and help you save selected, eligible programs for personal offline viewing during your valid subscription;
- Use general screen-recording software, which simply captures whatever is playing on your display in real time but usually produces large files, potential quality loss, and no subtitle or automation support.
In short, the absence of a PC download button is deliberate: it reflects ITVX’s content-protection and licensing obligations. Any method you choose should stay within ITVX’s terms of use and applicable copyright law, and this guide focuses on the official mobile downloads plus a safer, subscription-based way to manage personal offline viewing on PC.
How to Download ITVX Programs on Your Phone?
What You Need
ITVX Premium subscription—£5.99per month or £59.99 per year
A supported device—ITVX lists Android 7.0+ phones/tablets and iOS 12+/iPadOS 13+ as the minimum
Free storage—an HD episode averages 600 MB (ITVX does not disclose exact file sizes, but most user reports cluster here)
For More Kind of Devices: How to get ITVX on my TV?
Five-Step Guide
Step 1: Sign in to the ITVX mobile app with your Premium account.
Step 2: Navigate to an eligible show and tap the ⬇︎ Download icon.
Step 3: Watch progress under My Downloads; files arrive in 720p (ITVX’s current catalogue ceiling).
Step 4: Play the episode any time within seven days of download.
Step 5: The moment you hit play, a secondary 48-hour timer starts; finish or re-download before it lapses.
Built-In Limitations
|
Limitation |
Detail |
|---|---|
|
Expiry |
7 days from download, 48 h after first play |
|
Device lock |
File tied to the handset; cannot be copied to PC |
|
Audio |
Stereo AAC only – ITVX does not offer Dolby 5.1 yet |
|
Geo-fencing |
Playback and new downloads are blocked outside the UK unless you use a UK VPN node |
|
Content gaps |
Some titles are not downloadable due to licence terms |
How to Download Shows of ITVX on Windows & Mac?
Quick-Read Comparison
|
|
Max Quality✱
|
Ads Cut-off?
|
Auto-Scheduler?
|
Subtitle Control
|
File Expiry
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
StreamFab ITVX Downloader
|
720 p✱
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
SRT / burn-in
|
Start the download task and wait for StreamFab to finish saving the selected videos for personal, non-commercial viewing on your device. |
|
ITVX App + USB Cable
|
720 p
|
Yes (Premium)
|
No
|
Burn-in only
|
7 days
|
|
Aiseesoft Screen Recorder
|
Up to 4 K (real-time)
|
n/a
|
No
|
None
|
Never
|
✱ Most of ITVX’s back catalog maxes out at 720p; only a handful of brand-new dramas stream in Full HD. StreamFab’s July 2025 build will capture 1080p automatically whenever ITVX offers it.
Feature-Depth Bar Chart
- StreamFab sweeps all five power features—batch queue, subtitle choice, ad skip, auto-scheduler, and full metadata tagging—thanks to its July 2025 engine rewrite.
- The ITVX app + cable is restricted to phones, locks files to seven days, and offers no metadata control or surround sound.
- Screen Recorder is the most basic option: it records whatever appears on your screen in real time, so it works more like a virtual camera than a download tool. The trade-offs are significant—large file sizes, potential quality loss, no subtitle tracks, and no scheduling or library management.
Tool needed: StreamFab ITVX downloader
If you want to watch ITVX programs offline on a Windows or Mac computer, you can use StreamFab ITVX Downloader with your own valid ITVX subscription to save selected episodes for personal viewing.
This ITVX video downloader focuses on convenience: it lets you queue multiple titles, keep them in a device-compatible format, and organise your library so you can watch during travel or in places with poor connectivity. Its use should always stay within the rights granted by your ITVX account and local copyright law.
And here is a high-level overview of how StreamFab ITVX downloader works for offline viewing.
FAQ
Why can’t I get 1080p?
ITVX still serves the bulk of its back catalog at 720p; only a handful of 2024-25 originals and the new Disney+ crossover titles stream in Full HD. StreamFab can fetch 1080p automatically when it exists.
Is this legal?
Section 70 of the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 recognises a limited “time-shifting” exception that lets individuals record broadcasts for private, domestic viewing only. This is not a blanket permission to copy everything: you must still respect ITVX’s terms of use, must not share, resell, or redistribute what you save, and must never try to deal with any technical protection measures. If you are unsure how these rules apply to you, it is best to seek independent legal advice.
Some shows won’t download at all.
Licensing blocks certain U.S. imports (Family Guy, The X-Files, etc.) from being downloaded, even on mobile. ITV’s help page confirms those titles are stream-only.
2025 Update—Disney+ × ITVX “Taste of Disney+”
On 17 July 2025, ITVX and Disney announced a two-way, curated carousel: Taste of Disney+ on ITVX and Taste of ITVX on Disney+. Viewers can now stream titles such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars: Andor and Futurama as part of a curated, ad-supported selection on ITVX, while Disney+ users see picks like Love Island and Mr Bates vs. The Post Office highlighted on their home screen.
Note: The partnership does not change how downloads work: ITVX still limits its own offline files to time-limited mobile downloads, and any use of tools such as StreamFab on PC should remain within your valid subscriptions and local copyright rules.
Wrap Up
Saving eligible ITVX episodes for offline viewing is a convenient way to keep up with your favourite shows when you are travelling or have an unstable connection. With StreamFab ITVX Downloader, you can, during a valid ITVX subscription, create local MP4 copies of the programmes you can already watch online, so that you can enjoy them later on compatible devices for personal, non-commercial use only. A limited free trial is available via the buttons below.
