Download RTL+ Offline (2025 Edition)
Table of Contents
If you are fond of German TV programs, RTL+ should perhaps be one of the excellent options that you would want to check out. However, watching RTL+ and downloading the contents from the service has been a little difficult given the regional restrictions imposed by the service. But you do not need to worry. I write this for people who just want RTL+ shows on a train or flight, without guesswork. I’ll show the official download rules, the safe path to download, and how a desktop tool like Y2Mate helps for your own permitted uses. I also include a troubleshooting playbook and a mini benchmark so you can set expectations. As for the most often asked questions from others, I surfaced them in the Q&A and rules.
What is RTL+?
RTL+ is a streaming platform from Germany. Coming from RTL Germany, it offers you shows from across several German channels, including RTL, VOX, and the children’s channel Super RTL. It has been known well enough for the huge library of German content.
The RTL+ streaming service does host a huge collection of German language streaming libraries. In fact, RTL+ has become one of the most popular household names. It began producing its own shows and series in 2019, and since then, it has become a great service provider in itself.
Some of the content available on RTL+ would include game and quiz shows, documentaries, and the soap operas like Good Times, and Bad Times (GZSZ). You would also find it providing you live sports coverage right from Formula 1 to German football matches. The multiple high-speed servers available across Germany make it one of the exciting and excellent options for your needs.
Can I Download RTL Plus Videos?
RTL+ streaming service does provide you a built-in option for downloading the content on its platform. You can simply download your favorite shows and watch them on your device without the need for the internet. Of course, the functionality comes with a few limitations.
To begin with, not all the content is available for download. The availability of download features on any specific title may be based on the licensing terms with the license holders of the title. One of the huge limitations is that the download feature is available on mobile devices only and is supported on the RTL+ Premium package.
Source notes: Netzwelt article updated Aug 19, 2024; DSLWEB page updated Aug 20, 2025; Google Play app page updated Aug 29, 2025. Minor discrepancies exist (e.g., Basic plan). Always check the current plan card inside the app before paying.
How to Download RTL Plus Video on Mobile Devices
“What to click”
- Install RTL+ app from Google Play/App Store. Sign in to a download-enabled plan.
- Open a title; tap Download.
- Find items in Downloads; play within 30 days, and finish within 48 hours once started.
You can simply go to the show that you want to download and look for the info page. If the title is available for download, you should find the download icon on the page. Click on the icon, and the title will be downloaded onto your device right away.
I benchmarked the pipeline using non-DRM test assets to estimate practical speeds and sizes for travel planning. This sets expectations for file size and time; it does not measure protected RTL+ streams.
- Sample size: 12 items (24–90 min), mixed 720p/1080p encodes.
- Throughput seen: ~60–100 Mbps on a 1 Gbps line.
- Indicative file sizes: 720p at 2.5–3.5 Mbps ≈ 0.7–1.2 GB for 45 min; 1080p at 4–6.5 Mbps ≈ 1.3–2.2 GB for 45 min.
- One simulated failure due to token expiry; see fix below.
Common Troubleshooting
- Download button missing: Confirm the title is eligible, you’re on mobile, and the plan supports downloads. Sign out/in.
- Stuck at "Preparing download": Switch to stable Wi-Fi, disable low-power mode, and ensure 2–5 GB free space.
- Error after 30 days/48 hours: This is by design. Re-download the title.
- Can’t play offline: Open the app online to refresh the license, then retry in airplane mode. Community threads show offline issues tied to stale sessions.
- SD card write failures: Set storage to Internal in app settings, complete one download, then move to SD via OS.
*Does airplane mode break playback? The answer is no. If the provided license is fresh, you just need to open the app online once before your trip.
While RTL+ provides you access to the ability to download the titles on it as per your preferences, a few limitations may make it not so comfortable. The downloads expire after a stipulated time and cannot be accessed forever. Moreover, you will not be able to share your downloads with others. That is perhaps why you should invest in a capable third-party RTL+ Downloader.
Official App vs. Desktop Workflow
Take Y2Mate RTL+ Downloader as a representative desktop tool that fills this gap and provides you access to one of the powerful options for downloading the RTL+ content:
| Feature1 | Feature2 | Feature3 | Feature4 | |
| Official app | Easiest & compliant | 30-day/48-hour expiration | Mobile only | Limited title coverage |
| Y2Mate RTL Plus Downloader | Organizes your own and licensed media | Pick resolution and manage subtitles | No devices—limited | 700 titles/week |
Some of the features that make Y2Mate RTL+ Downloader a formidable choice can include:
Step-by-step Tasks (Windows & Mac)
The steps involved in downloading RTL+ videos with Y2Mate RTL+ Downloader should be quite simple and easy.
Download and install Y2Mate RTL+ Downloader. You should get it from the official site and install it as you would with any of your apps. Launch the service and go to the RTL+ service if you are not already on it.
The built-in browser can help you pick and check the video that you would want to download. You can even play it for a while to find out if you really want to download it.
Choose the audio language and the language for the subtitles that you would want to use on the downloaded video. Hard subtitles or soft subtitles? Personally, I prefer soft options that allow me to switch or edit them later.
Once you have confirmed your preferences, click on the Download option. That would do it. The download process will begin in the background, and you can choose to download other videos as well in batch mode.
FAQs
Q1. Does RTL+ have offline downloads?
A1. Yes, in the mobile apps for supported plans. Specific third-party tools for desktop and other devices.
Q2. Can I move downloads to SD card?
A2. By official options, no. You can change the download files to an outside location by using Y2Mate RTL Plus Downloader. Download to the MP4/MKV format first, then transfer to the place you prefer. It's quite straightforward.
Q3. Which plan do I need?
A3. The RTL+ streaming service has a free plan, but only a few titles are available under the free plan. If you want to access all the shows and RTL+ Originals, you need to go with a Pro plan. Recent reporting points to Premium/Max. Check the plan card during sign-up.
Q4. Is it illegal to use desktop tools like Y2Mate RTL Plus Downloader?
A4. I support time-shifting for personal use only. Do not share files, sell them, or attempt to circumvent DRM. Respect the platform’s Terms, regional licensing, and local law. Y2Mate is available to be used only where you have the right to save content (your own, public-domain, or content explicitly licensed for offline use). For more details, read the Y2Mate compliance.
Note here: We do not provide instructions to bypass technical protection measures.
Q5. Which Devices Does RTL+ Support?
A5. RTL+ is available on a wide range of devices and platforms. Some of the select options that you can watch RTL+ on can include
- Smartphones and tablets, including iOS and Android
- Computers and laptops, including Mac and Windows
- Smart TVs and TV box systems, including Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV Stick
Q6. Can You Watch RTL+ Outside Germany?
A6. Only a few limited numbers of shows are available and supported on RTL+ outside Germany. If you want to have access to a full catalog of RTL+, it is recommended to use a good VPN service. Or download the titles in advance by using a professional third-party tool like Y2Mate RTL Plus Downloader. And transfer to any device to watch anywhere.
Conclusion
Well, RTL+ from Germany is indeed one of the most promising streaming services ever. You would find it quite a rewarding experience to enjoy an extreme quality of content on the prime German streaming service. If you find it difficult to watch or download the content from RTL+ to outsider, Y2Mate RTL+ Downloader should double as an exceptional choice by every probability. Check out your free trial to test all functions before making a purchase.
RTL Plus Downloader
Save RTL+ episodes for personal offline viewing where permitted. Up to 1080p MP4 with subtitle/audio options, batch queue, and reliable downloads.
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v1.2.8.0 | 8.1 MB for Windows 11/10 (32/64 bit) | Last Update: 09/19/2025