# Add "prefer downloaded content” for MacOS // mod: Plex Desktop apps

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-prefer-downloaded-content-for-macos-mod-plex-desktop-apps/875131>\
**Category:** Feature Suggestions\
**Tags:** player-mac, player-windows, player-linux\
**Created:** [April 16, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-prefer-downloaded-content-for-macos-mod-plex-desktop-apps/875131 "2024-04-16T01:30:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ozsmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/85e7bf/32.png) [@ozsmac](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ozsmac)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-prefer-downloaded-content-for-macos-mod-plex-desktop-apps/875131/1 "2024-04-16T01:30:15Z")

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As a _Plex user_  
I would love _Plex Media Player on MacOS to prefer any local/downloaded content when playing media from library_  
So that I can _avoid hefty mobile broadband bills when I’m travelling and want to watch content_

This feature exists on iOS and other platforms, hoping that it can make its way to MacOS Player (I’m assuming this might also be an issue for all desktop player versions?).

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/0/5/e/05e8544e1efc468f7aaa21255958393ae66b4a71.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 5:57am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-prefer-downloaded-content-for-macos-mod-plex-desktop-apps/875131/2 "2024-04-16T05:57:18Z")

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An app running on iOS can know what kind of Internet connection is used, simply because it is the device itself that makes this Internet connection.

But if you create a WiFi hotspot with your phone, and then connect your computer to it, the computer cannot know that it operates over a mobile network. All it knows is that it uses a WiFi connection.

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**Author:** ![ozsmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/85e7bf/32.png) [@ozsmac](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ozsmac)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 5:11am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-prefer-downloaded-content-for-macos-mod-plex-desktop-apps/875131/3 "2024-04-22T05:11:35Z")

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Thanks @OttoKerner for the reply, in this case I’m not looking to confirm anything about the connectivity, just a simple “if the media file has been downloaded, always play the local version rather than streaming”.

This is a feature on iOS already.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/0/5/e/05e8544e1efc468f7aaa21255958393ae66b4a71.jpeg)

Just hoping it can be added to the MacOS version also.

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**Author:** ![char3184](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5e9695/32.png) [@char3184](https://forums.plex.tv/u/char3184)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 5:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/add-prefer-downloaded-content-for-macos-mod-plex-desktop-apps/875131/4 "2024-07-04T05:41:06Z")

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Please can the windows client be made to play downloaded media by default when available?

On the android app, if I try play something that has already been downloaded it is smart enough to play the local file, but the windows player instead tries to stream from the server.

I often download as my connection to the server isn’t good enough to stream at original quality. I stay connected to the server and hope that other downloads can continue in the background.