How Can I Download Shows From My Desi Net 2?

Below is a simple checklist I use with services such as ‘Desi Net 2’ to help identify certain things: Does the app have an official download page and does it have a download button that works? What download quality do they offer? Is it to stream or download? Can it only connect to download content via Wi‑Fi? Does it need to clear any old downloads first or are they automatically removed after a certain time? How long do any downloaded content items remain in the Downloads/Offline section for? Note: While many items downloaded from such services are now DRM‑protected they will generally only play back within the app and not between devices. If a service does not have offline support check to see if the content is available to purchase to download and watch offline from other legal services or indeed to record off TV via a legal DVR. I stick to the above services and other legal offerings as they generally cause less hassle in the long run and I can sleep better at night.

I have a long commute and have recently started watching shows from 'Desi Net 2' to pass the time. I've been trying to find a way to save shows for offline viewing for a few weeks now and I've finally found a way that is within the rules and doesn't involve any dodgy workarounds.

First, check if 'Desi Net 2' already supports saving downloaded shows for offline viewing through its official app or website client. To check, simply look for episodes/shows to watch for download, which are usually denoted by an icon similar to an arrow (downward) or even a cloud (downward), and click on it. Then choose your desired download quality and click on the ‘Download’ button in the app or website to start the process. For your convenience, you can view the status of downloaded shows, and also offline viewing content, by navigating to the app’s ‘Downloads’ or ‘Offline’ section. Note, that shows downloaded for offline viewing would typically be available for watching within a timeframe (i.e. 30 days), and may require occasional reconnection to the internet to ‘renew’ the offline viewing license for said show(s).

However, if ‘Desi Net 2’ does not offer download features for their shows, it’s best to steer clear of third-party software and browser extensions to download and/or rip shows and movies. These methods are usually riddled with piracy and ways to bypass DRM restrictions, and I try to avoid them at all costs. Sometimes a show is available for download as a desktop application or even on TV apps (for tablets), but in most cases, I find the same shows on platforms that charge for individual episodes, such as Hotstar, Netflix and Zee5. Of course, I’d prefer to use the official way to download and watch my favorite shows offline, but in such cases, contacting the support team is usually sufficient, as some download restrictions are in place due to region locks or account flags. I just prefer to use the official method of downloading and watching offline, in order to avoid any unexpected surprises while binge-watching on the train.

Since my primary goal here is to have the episodes downloaded on my long flight, I have included some very simple to implement steps and lessons I learned while trying to download some episodes. First, you need to open the 'Desi Net 2' app and find the download badge (down arrow in a circle) next to the episodes list. Then you click on the download badge to download the selected episode. Next, you go to the app's Download settings (far right menu item), choose the desired quality, choose to Download over Wi‑Fi only (even if you're on Wi‑Fi now, this ensures that you won't accidentally start a download when you switch to a different network, such as a 3G/4G network). Finally, you choose whether to download subtitles with the downloaded episode.

For those handsets with SD card slots, format your card as required and change your app to store downloaded episodes on the external storage. Occasionally when I download episodes to my handset, they will pause part way through downloading. I find that a complete app cache clear (note: I’m talking about the app cache here, not your login information etc) and restart of the app usually sorts this out. Note that many platforms restrict downloading of episodes to the device and/or application in which they were purchased/downloaded due to the presence of DRM and thus you will find that you are unable to play said episodes on other media players.

When a service doesn't support downloading natively, I don't look for “save as page” type workarounds to download the content. Such workarounds are against the terms of service and I'm sure I'd end up with a messy collection of content by “shopping” for such workarounds. It's better to pay a bit for the content or to DVR the show when it airs on a channel that you have as part of your TV service.