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ipad 2 - downloading purchased movies from the cloud - how to download SD version

S

starkmj

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 18, 2007
101
27
So, it's great that some of the movies I've purchased on iTunes, can now be downloaded directly to my iPad 2 via the "purchased" tab on the iTunes app.

Unfortunately, I don't see a way to choose the SD version instead of the HD version.

My ipad is only 16GB, and I usually choose SD movies and TV shows so I have more room available for other things like other movies, apps, etc.

Does anyone see a way to download the SD version of any particular purchased movie?

I don't see anything in preferences, etc where I can select SD as my favored format when downloading directly to the iPad.

Thanks guys.
 
Has anyone figured out a solution to this problem? I'm having the same issue.
 
After I buy an HD movie on the iPad, I decline the download, go back to the iTunes Store, and purchase the SD version. It tells me I already own this movie, would I like to redownload it? I say yes, the SD version downloads to my iPad. I later go to my MBA and download both versions to my external drive.
 
I'm guessing you are in iOS 7. Being able to choose the quality each time you downloaded something from yr history or 'show all' was a feature in 5&6 that disappeared.

Go to www.apple.com/feedback and ask them to put it back in. Either the old popup or an overall setting we can put on each device.

If a lot of folks ask for it hopefully they will do it
 
Last edited:
You have to go to the purchased screen in iTunes on your computer and then at the bottom, check the box that says something about SD versions. Download any movie now and it will download in SD on the computer. You then have to tell iTunes to prefer SD copies when syncing. This will sync only SD versions if the shows and movies.

You can't download SD copies on the iPad but you can sync them by doing what I said above. All HD purchases already include SD copies just for this purpose but you have to choose to download the SD copy.
 
JackieInCo said:
Retread my post. When you buy an HD movie, the HD version downloads without giving you a choice. It doesn't ask if you want the SD copy.
Click to expand...

You can stop the download. Then go back and buy the SD version. You won't be charged. It will tell you you've already bought that movie, and ask you whether you want to download it again. Voila! SD movie downloads.
 
Looks like the iPad also prefers to download the 1080P version even though I download the 720 version on my computer. This is when downloading HD movies from the cloud on the iPad.
 
JackieInCo said:
Looks like the iPad also prefers to download the 1080P version even though I download the 720 version on my computer. This is when downloading HD movies from the cloud on the iPad.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is correct. But the buying the SD version trick should still work if you bought the movie from iTunes. Buying a movie you've already bought from iTunes will not result in a double charge, but it will let you download the SD version.
 
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