Downloaded movies won’t play without WiFi?

I discovered this the hard way. Long flight, ready to relax and enjoy my movies. No Internet connection and no movies. Watching movies while offline is one of the main reasons why I and many people own an iPad. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to solve this "problem". The simple answer is you can't fix this "problem", because it isn't a problem. I believe this has been put in place intentionally for reasons mentioned in this thread, copyright protection, etc, whatever. I just want to watch MY owned movies on My owned device.

However there is a workaround. Download the VLC app onto your device and transfer your movies to VLC using file share in iTunes while your device is connected. Your movies will play while offline, every time.

This is not the best solution for everyone as you need to sync your device with iTunes to get your movie content, but it will get you watching your movies in the air.

Just tried and succeeded with a workaround:

— download content while on WiFi

— after fully downloaded and while still on WiFi, press Play to spool a couple of seconds of the movie/TV show

— cancel play and back out to the main Downloaded screen

— turn off Apple device WiFi and put Airplane mode on, to test the workaround

— select your movie/TV show again and hit Play

— content now plays while WiFi is off and Airplane mode is on

This workaround has been successful today for two iPads Pro and two iPhones X.

It's been a been a while, but I've figured out that using Home Sharing in iTunes does not actually put the video on your device. It takes the video that is on the iTunes Library and plays over WiFi. Instead, for me, I turned off Home Sharing, and "desynced" my library. This removed the video that was never there. Then I synced the library and the movie copied over.

You don't need full internet just a "wifi" connection I tested earlier this week and was able to play the home movies after connecting to Southwest's wifi (without paying for the internet service) the connection itself allowed it to play. I connected to my wife's phone acting as a hotspot and got the same result of it allowing to play. I was able to shutoff the connection to save battery afterwards and it allowed it to finish playing.

See Rent movies from the iTunes Store - Apple Support, in particular the section Watch your movie rental offline.

To watch your movie when you're offline, like on an airline flight where Wi-Fi is not available:

• Find the rental and tap the download icon . Download the entire movie before you go offline.
• Press play to start watching. The 48-hour timer starts even if you're offline.

You might want to download rented movies prior to the day of your trip to make sure you have time to download all of the content.

The same trick should work with purchased content. As long as you are online the first time you try to play it then iTunes or your device should be able to validate your use of the protected content. You then shouldn't have any problems playing it while offline.

tt2

Frustrating event.

I downloaded a purchased movie from iTunes, and I can’t play it thru AppleTV from myacbook pro.

I flew from Chicago to Panama City Beach, Florida to help my brother during the Mitchell’s storm. There was no internet nor TV cable in his house. So I said great, we can watch my downloaded movie on his AppleTV. Surprise, AppleTV in cohort with iTunes couldn’t connect to the internet, so no movie night.

I was able to connect via his local WiFi but no to the internet. Even when using my iPhone as a hotspot to connect to the internet, which worked great, but then I needed to switch to his local internet to see his AppleTV, and that’s when I got the grey box and iTunes searching for internet. Which it couldn’t find because laptop and AppleTV needed to be on the local network.

So no movie watching. Thanks to Apple’s draconian, overzealous, paranoica, DRM crap.

Paid for a movie and was useless when it was needed the most.

No more purchases from iTunes.

Also, I learned how useless iCloud is during no internet or WiFi access. Luckily, ATT cell plan allowed me to access iCloud, but at a price.

Don’t put all your eggs in one iBasket!

Use the TV APP> Library> Downloaded

Newer iPad iOS 11.4

I enabled on airplane mode, opened the TV APP to my library and was able to play all my downloaded movies.

Use Feedback - iTunes - Apple to let Apple know that downloaded movies are not playing when you're offline. They're not listening here. Your fellow users don't have a fix to suggest.

tt2

In had same problem a few days ago. Got home rang apple, apple connected to my device and the problem was solved.

now I can watch apple movies offline

I am having he same problem. I bought a movie and downloaded it to my iPhone to watch on my flight and I was unable to watch it without WiFi. This used to never be a problem on my older iPad in the past. I’m quite annoyed about this. I was all set up with movies for a flight and I couldn’t watch any of them. I was going out of my mind bored because my whole plan fell through. It was really upsetting especially because I spent the extra money and bought the movie. If there’s any work around to watch it please let me know. I’m flying back home tomorrow and still have the movie on my phone. It’s a bit ridiculous if you ask me. Owning a video files on your phone but not being able to play it???

I have the kind of the same issue too on my Ipad. I found out that IOS 11.xxx now uses the built in TV app. You can go to library and find the downloaded movie.

I found my movie but when I press "play" and the popup window asks if I want to play it, the screen goes black for a fraction of a second and then comes back to the library screen with the play button. I tried numerous times. Same result.

I tried a full two-finger reset but it never would play the file.

When you're at 30,000 feet and you've already paid for a movie rental and it's not possible to re-download it again =

NOT HAPPY!

I’m spewing venom this morning because of this!! Why? Why, would I need an internet connection to watch something that is already downloaded? It’s on my device!!!! This is absolutely ridiculous! I’m so mad I’m actually leaving a comment, I never do this stuff. BS

I don't see where anyone has ever replied with anything of help. I too had this happen and feel your pain. What's the point of having this "support" if no one is actively supporting? I'm having an error message for downloading pics to my laptop and same thing. No help! 😠

Same issue. I was on a plane today and started a movie. The movie is downloaded, but would not play without using an internet connection.