Buzz
If you're planning a trip to a destination where internet access is unavailable, you might want to save some of your favorite videos for offline viewing. The latest version of the YouTube app supports offline viewing, but this feature is not yet available in many regions, including the United States. If you can't access the offline feature in the YouTube app, there are still a few ways to download videos to your device for offline playback.
Steps
YouTube App
Subscribe to YouTube Music Key. This is a mandatory requirement to download music videos from YouTube for offline viewing. These are the only video formats you can save for offline use with this method. If you want to save YouTube videos in other formats, use one of the following methods.
- You can get YouTube Music Key by subscribing to Google Play Music All Access, which costs $10 per month.
Update your app. Offline viewing is only available in the most recent versions of the YouTube app. Not all regions have access to the offline viewing feature, as it has not been widely rolled out yet. If this method doesn't work, try the following method specific to your operating system.
Connect to a mobile network. To save a video, you first need an internet connection. Once the video is saved for offline viewing, you can disconnect and watch it offline. If Wi-Fi is unavailable, you can use mobile data if your device supports it.
Launch the YouTube app. Open YouTube by tapping its icon. It is a red rectangle with rounded corners and a Play symbol in the center.
Search for the music video you want to save. YouTube has a search function accessible by tapping the search button in the top-right corner of the app's home screen. Enter the video's name in the search bar and select the appropriate suggestion that appears below.
- You can also use the sidebar, accessed by swiping from the left edge of the home screen, to browse through your subscribed channels if you prefer. Tap 'My subscriptions' in the sidebar to view recently uploaded videos from channels you follow. You can also use 'History' in the sidebar to revisit videos you've recently watched.
- Only music videos can be saved using this method.
Select a video to open it. The search results will display titles and thumbnails. Tap on the video you wish to save.
Tap the 'Download' button and select the quality. In the bottom-right corner of the video window, you'll see a downward-pointing arrow icon. Tap it to choose the video quality. Higher quality will take longer to download.
- If this button is missing, YouTube does not support offline viewing in your region. You'll need to use one of the alternative methods mentioned above.
Download the video. After selecting the quality, tap 'OK' in the bottom-right corner of the quality selection pop-up. You can also check the 'Remember my settings' box to have YouTube download videos in the same quality in the future. Another pop-up will appear, informing you that the video is downloading and will be accessible via the 'Offline' button in the sidebar. Tap 'Dismiss' on the pop-up.
- To watch the video, wait until the download completes. A notification will show the download progress, which can also be found in the 'Offline' menu within the YouTube app.
Play the video offline. When you're out and without an internet connection, open the YouTube app and access the left sidebar by swiping from the left edge of the phone on the app's home screen. Tap the 'Offline' button in the sidebar, then select the video you saved. The video will play directly from your phone's storage.
iPhone, iPad
Open the App Store. Most regions do not have access to YouTube's offline viewing feature. This means you'll need to use a third-party app to download videos.
Search for an app to download videos. These apps are technically not authorized by YouTube and are often removed from app stores. New apps frequently replace them, so the ones listed here may not last long. Most video downloader apps function similarly, so the download process is also alike. Search for 'video downloader' and read reviews about them. As of October 6, 2015, the most popular app for downloading YouTube videos was 'Video Pro Movie Downloader.'
Launch the app after installation. When you open Video Pro Movie Downloader, you'll be greeted with a browser displaying the mobile version of YouTube.
Find the video you want to download. Search YouTube for the video you wish to download for later viewing. Tap the video to open its page on the mobile version of YouTube.
Tap 'Download' to start downloading the video. Once initiated, you'll be prompted to download the video. Tap 'Download' to begin saving the video file to your device.
Tap 'Done' to return to the app's main screen. After starting the download, tap 'Done' in the top-left corner to return to the main screen of Video Pro Movie Downloader.
Tap 'Files' to view your downloaded videos. If the video hasn't finished downloading, it will appear in the 'Downloads' tab.
Tap the video and then press 'Save' to move it to your Camera Roll. This will allow you to easily access the video from the Photos or Videos app.
Watch your saved videos offline. Once the video is saved, you can view it from your Camera Roll anytime, even without an internet connection.
Android
Visit YouTube's website using your browser. If you want to save videos for later viewing on Android, the easiest way is to use websites that allow YouTube video downloads. To use this method, you'll need the URL of the video you want to download.
Find the video you want to download. Search YouTube for the video you wish to save. Tap it to load the YouTube video page.
the video's URL (address). Press and hold the address in your browser's URL bar. Select '' from the menu that appears. The copy button may look like two overlapping rectangles.
Go to a website that allows YouTube video downloads. Many sites enable you to download YouTube videos. One of the most popular and reliable sites is KeepVid.com. The process is similar across most video downloader sites.
Tap the URL field. On KeepVid, it's located at the top of the page. You may need to zoom in, as the site is desktop-only.
Press and hold the white field, then select 'Paste.' This will paste the copied URL into the box.
Tap 'Download' to the right of the URL field. Avoid the large Download button nearby, as it is an advertisement.
Tap 'Download MP4' to select your desired quality. Some versions may only include audio or video, but you'll typically find an MP4 version with 480p or higher quality. Clicking the Download link will start saving the video to your device immediately.
Watch the downloaded videos. You can find the videos in the Downloads folder, accessible by opening the App Drawer and selecting 'Downloads.' Your Android device should play the video files without issues, but if they don't work, try using the free VLC Player app to play them.
Related Articles
- Create Videos on YouTube
- Upload Videos to YouTube
- Download YouTube Videos
