The fastest way to download YouTube videos to your phone
You cannot download videos directly through the YouTube app on Android or iPhone — YouTube's terms of service block this. Your options are a third-party app, a web-based downloader you access through your phone's browser, or YouTube Premium, which includes an offline download feature built into the official app.
The method that works best depends on what phone you have, how many videos you want to download, and whether you want to pay. Third-party apps are free but require you to trust a company that is not YouTube. Web-based downloaders work on any phone but can be slow and unreliable. YouTube Premium costs money but gives you the official feature with no ads and works across all your devices.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium ($13.99 per month) lets you download videos directly in the YouTube app and watch them offline on any device where you are signed in.
- Third-party apps like TubeMate (Android) or Documents by Readdle (iPhone) download videos for free but are not made by YouTube and may stop working if YouTube changes how it works.
- Web-based downloaders like y2mate.com work on any phone through your browser but often have ads and can be unreliable.
- Downloaded videos stay on your phone until you delete them, and you can usually choose the video quality before downloading to save space.
- Downloading copyrighted music videos or movies without permission violates YouTube's terms and may be illegal depending on where you live.
Using YouTube Premium to download videos officially
YouTube Premium is the only method YouTube itself supports. When you subscribe, a download button appears in the YouTube app next to the share and add-to-playlist buttons. Tap it, choose your video quality (higher quality uses more phone storage), and the video downloads to your phone. You can watch it anytime without an internet connection, and it stays downloaded until you delete it or your Premium subscription ends.
Premium costs $13.99 per month on most phones, though the price varies by country. You get ad-free viewing on all YouTube videos, background play (audio keeps playing when you close the app), and access to YouTube Music. The downloaded videos sync across all devices where you are signed into your Google account, so a video you download on your phone is also available on a tablet or computer.
Downloaded videos expire after 30 days if you do not have an internet connection to verify your subscription. This means if you download a video and then lose internet for a month, the video will not play until you reconnect and YouTube confirms your Premium is still active. This is YouTube's way of preventing people from downloading videos and then canceling their subscription.
Downloading with third-party apps on Android
Third-party apps like TubeMate, Snaptube, and VidMate let you download YouTube videos without paying for Premium. These apps are not made by YouTube and do not appear in the Google Play Store — you download them directly from the app maker's website. Open the app, paste a YouTube video link, choose your quality, and tap download. The video saves to your phone's storage.
The main risk is that these apps may stop working without warning. YouTube actively blocks third-party downloaders, and when YouTube changes how its website works, these apps break until the developer updates them. Some apps also contain ads or ask for permissions you may not want to give. Before installing, check recent reviews to see if the app is currently working and read what permissions it requests.
To install a third-party app on Android, you need to allow your phone to install apps from unknown sources. Go to Settings, then Security or Apps, and turn on "Unknown Sources" or "Install Unknown Apps." This is safe as long as you download from the official app maker's website, not from random links. After you install the app, you can turn this setting back off.
Using web-based downloaders on any phone
Web-based downloaders like y2mate.com, savefrom.net, and keepvid.com work through your phone's browser without installing an app. Copy the YouTube video link, go to the downloader website, paste the link, and click download. The video downloads to your phone's default download folder. These work on iPhone and Android equally well.
The downside is that web downloaders are often slow, frequently have pop-up ads, and can be unreliable — some stop working for weeks at a time when YouTube blocks them. Many also ask you to watch an ad or complete a survey before letting you download. If you only download a few videos occasionally, a web downloader is worth trying. If you download regularly, a third-party app or YouTube Premium will frustrate you less.
When you use a web downloader, your browser may warn you that the site is not secure or that it detected malware. This happens because these sites operate in a legal gray area and often get flagged by security software. Proceed at your own risk — use an ad blocker in your browser if you have one, and do not click any pop-ups asking you to install software or update your phone.
Choosing video quality and managing storage
When you download a video, you usually get to choose the quality before the download starts. Higher quality (1080p or 720p) looks better but takes up much more storage space. A 10-minute video at 1080p can use 100 to 200 megabytes. The same video at 360p might use only 20 to 40 megabytes. If your phone has limited storage, download at lower quality or delete videos after you watch them.
Check how much free storage your phone has before downloading many videos. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. On Android, go to Settings, then Storage or About Phone. If you are running low on space, delete old videos, clear your browser cache, or move photos to cloud storage before downloading. Downloaded videos are large files and will fill up your phone quickly if you download dozens of them.
Understanding copyright and what you can legally download
Downloading a video from YouTube is only legal if you have the right to download it. Videos you made yourself, videos uploaded by creators who allow downloads, and some educational or public domain videos are fine to download. Music videos, movies, and copyrighted content uploaded without permission are not yours to download, even if YouTube hosts them.
YouTube's terms of service say you cannot download any video unless YouTube gives you the official download button — which only happens with YouTube Premium or if the creator turned on downloads for their video. Downloading copyrighted music or movies using a third-party app or web downloader violates YouTube's terms. Depending on where you live, it may also violate copyright law, and you could face legal action from the copyright holder.
If you want to download a creator's video and are not sure if it is allowed, the safest approach is to ask them directly or check if they have a download link on their website. Many creators appreciate when people ask permission and may give you a higher-quality version than YouTube offers.
Troubleshooting downloads that fail or won't play
If a download fails halfway through, your internet connection probably dropped. Try again on a stronger connection — move closer to your Wi-Fi router or wait until you have a stable signal. If the same video keeps failing, the downloader may be broken. Try a different downloader or wait a few days for the app developer to fix it.
If a video downloaded but will not play, the file may be corrupted or in a format your phone does not support. Try deleting it and downloading again. If you downloaded using a third-party app, try opening the video with a different video player app — some players handle more formats than others. On Android, try VLC Media Player, which plays almost any video format. On iPhone, downloaded videos usually play in the Files app or Photos app.
If you downloaded with YouTube Premium and the video will not play, make sure you are signed into the same Google account you used to download it. Premium videos need to verify your subscription regularly, so reconnect to the internet and open the YouTube app to let it check. If that does not work, delete the video and download it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download YouTube videos on iPhone?
YouTube Premium works on iPhone and lets you download through the official app. Third-party apps are harder to find on iPhone because Apple does not allow them in the App Store. Web-based downloaders work on iPhone through Safari or any browser, though they are less reliable than apps.
How long do downloaded videos stay on my phone?
Videos you download with a third-party app or web downloader stay on your phone until you delete them. YouTube Premium videos expire after 30 days without an internet connection to verify your subscription is still active. Once you reconnect, they become playable again.
Will downloading videos get me in trouble with YouTube?
YouTube Premium downloads are allowed. Third-party app and web downloader downloads violate YouTube's terms of service, though YouTube rarely takes action against individual users. Downloading copyrighted music or movies without permission could expose you to legal action from the copyright holder, depending on your location.
Can I download videos to watch offline without paying?
Yes, using a third-party app or web downloader. These are free but less reliable than YouTube Premium and may stop working when YouTube updates its system. They also violate YouTube's terms, so use them at your own risk.
What happens if the app I use to download stops working?
Third-party downloaders break regularly when YouTube changes how it works. When that happens, you cannot download new videos until the app developer updates it, which may take days or weeks. Videos you already downloaded will still play on your phone. If you need reliable downloads, YouTube Premium is more stable.