Netflix's biggest storage use is the shows and movies you've downloaded for offline viewing, sometimes several gigabytes. You can clear them from inside the app in seconds, and your account and watch history are never affected.
Short answer:
- In the Netflix app, open Downloads (or My Netflix > Downloads), tap Edit, and delete titles.
- To wipe everything at once, use App Settings > Delete All Downloads inside Netflix.
- Android only: Settings > Apps > Netflix > Storage > Clear cache removes temporary files safely; Clear data wipes downloads and logs you out.
Why Netflix Takes Up So Much Storage
The main space user in Netflix is offline downloads. A single movie in standard quality is roughly 0.5-1GB, and in High quality it can be 2-3GB or more. Download a few series for a flight and Netflix can occupy 5-10GB easily. On top of that, the app keeps a smaller cache of artwork, previews, and thumbnails.
To see the scale on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Netflix > Storage, where downloads show under user data. On iPhone, check Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Netflix and look at Documents & Data.
Delete Individual Netflix Downloads
The cleanest approach is to remove only the titles you've already watched or no longer need.
- Open the Netflix app.
- Tap My Netflix (bottom-right) and open Downloads, or tap the Downloads tab directly.
- Tap Edit (pencil or "Edit" in the corner).
- Select the titles to remove and tap the delete (X or bin) icon.
The downloads are removed and that space is freed immediately. Your watch progress, list, and recommendations all stay intact because they live in your Netflix account, not in the download.
Delete All Netflix Downloads at Once
If you want to clear everything in one go, Netflix has a built-in option.
- Open the Netflix app.
- Go to My Netflix > the menu (hamburger or gear) > App Settings.
- Tap Delete All Downloads.
- Confirm.
This wipes every offline title at once, the fastest way to reclaim several gigabytes. It doesn't touch your account, so you can re-download anything later. This is the recommended method on both iPhone and Android because it's clean and safe.
Clear Netflix's Cache on Android
On Android you can also clear Netflix's temporary cache from system settings, separate from your downloads.
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Tap Netflix.
- Tap Storage (or Storage & cache).
- Tap Clear cache.
Clear cache removes only temporary files (artwork, previews) and is completely safe, your downloads and login stay intact. The button next to it, Clear data / Clear storage, is different: it resets Netflix to a fresh install, deleting all downloads and signing you out, so you'll need to log back in. Use Clear cache for routine cleanup; only use Clear data if the app is misbehaving. See clear cache vs clear data on Android for the full distinction.
Clear Netflix Storage on iPhone
iOS doesn't offer a per-app cache button, so handle Netflix downloads from inside the app, then reinstall if needed.
- Use Delete All Downloads in the app (above) to clear offline titles.
- For a deeper clean of cached data, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Netflix > Offload App, then reinstall. Your account and progress are server-side, so you just log back in.
Because everything important lives in your Netflix account, deleting downloads or reinstalling never costs you anything but the convenience of re-downloading.
Download Smarter to Use Less Space
A few settings keep Netflix from filling your phone again.
- In App Settings > Download Video Quality, choose Standard instead of High to roughly halve the size of each download.
- Enable Smart Downloads so Netflix deletes a watched episode and downloads the next one automatically, keeping only what you're about to watch.
- Delete finished series promptly rather than letting them sit.
Keep Netflix (and Your Phone) Lean
A short routine prevents downloads from piling up:
- Delete watched titles after each viewing session.
- Set download quality to Standard and turn on Smart Downloads.
- Run Delete All Downloads before you're tight on space.
Netflix's tools handle the app itself, but video is rarely the only thing filling your phone. A review-first tool like Cleanor for Android (or Clenoir for iOS) scans on-device and surfaces your largest videos and duplicate photos, showing everything before you confirm a deletion. For more, see the large videos cleanup guide and the clean up phone storage guide.
With downloads trimmed and Smart Downloads on, Netflix keeps your offline shows ready while taking far less space on your phone.
Want the fast version? Cleanor for iPhone scans on-device — nothing uploaded — and surfaces your largest videos, duplicate photos, and heavy caches in one pass. For the full routine, see the free up phone storage guide.
FAQ
How much storage do Netflix downloads actually use?
A single movie in standard quality is roughly 0.5-1GB, and in High quality it can be 2-3GB or more, so downloading a few series can easily occupy 5-10GB. The app also keeps a smaller cache of artwork, previews, and thumbnails.
How do I delete all my Netflix downloads at once?
Open the Netflix app, go to My Netflix > the menu > App Settings, tap Delete All Downloads, and confirm. This wipes every offline title in one go without touching your account, and it is the recommended method on both iPhone and Android.
How can I make Netflix downloads use less space going forward?
In App Settings > Download Video Quality, choose Standard instead of High to roughly halve the size of each download, and enable Smart Downloads so Netflix deletes a watched episode and downloads the next one automatically. Deleting finished series promptly also helps.