The direct way: YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is the official method to download videos to your iPhone. When you pay for YouTube Premium (currently $13.99 per month, though this varies by country), you get a download button on every video. Tap it, choose your quality, and the video saves to your phone for offline viewing.
The download stays on your phone for up to 30 days. After that, YouTube removes it automatically — you cannot keep it permanently. The video also disappears if you cancel your subscription. This is how YouTube protects creators' rights while letting you watch offline.
To download through YouTube Premium: open the YouTube app, find a video, tap the three dots below the title, and select "Download". Choose your preferred quality (higher quality uses more storage). The video appears in your library under "Downloads".
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium is the only official way to download videos directly in the YouTube app, and downloads expire after 30 days or if you cancel your subscription.
- Third-party apps and websites that claim to download YouTube videos violate YouTube's terms of service and may expose your phone to malware or data theft.
- Screen recording is legal for personal use but produces large files, drains your battery quickly, and captures everything on your screen including notifications.
- If you need a video permanently, contact the creator directly — many will share their original file or grant permission for offline use.
- YouTube Music Premium includes the same download feature for music videos and songs, so one subscription covers both.
Why third-party download apps do not work safely
You will find many apps and websites claiming to download YouTube videos to your iPhone. Most of them violate YouTube's terms of service, which explicitly forbids downloading videos without permission. YouTube actively blocks these tools, so they stop working frequently.
More importantly, many of these apps are not safe. Some contain malware that steals your passwords or personal data. Others collect information about your browsing and sell it to advertisers. Apple's App Store reviews apps before they appear, but websites and sideloaded apps bypass that protection entirely.
If an app seems too good to be true — offering unlimited downloads for free when YouTube charges for the feature — it almost certainly is. The safest approach is to use YouTube's official download feature through Premium, or to use the alternatives described below.
Screen recording as a workaround
You can record your iPhone screen while a YouTube video plays, which creates a video file you can keep. Open Control Center (swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones, or up from the bottom on older models), press and hold the screen recording button, and tap "Start Recording". Then play the video in YouTube. When finished, return to Control Center and tap the red recording indicator to stop.
This method is legal for personal use, but it has real drawbacks. The file size is much larger than a proper download — a 10-minute video can easily be 500 MB or more. Screen recording also drains your battery quickly and captures everything on your screen, including notifications, status bar, and any accidental taps. You cannot skip the ads that play before the video.
Screen recording works best for short clips or when you need a video just once. For regular offline viewing, YouTube Premium is more practical because the files are smaller and the process is faster.
Asking the creator for permission
If you want to download a video permanently and keep it after 30 days, contact the creator directly. Many creators are willing to share their original video file or give permission for offline use, especially if you explain why you need it. Some creators post their videos on their own websites or through other platforms where download is permitted.
This approach takes time and does not always work, but it respects the creator's rights and often results in a higher-quality file than YouTube provides. Look for a contact email in the video description or on the creator's channel page.
Downloading music videos through YouTube Music Premium
If you want to download music videos specifically, YouTube Music Premium includes the same download feature as YouTube Premium. The subscription costs $10.99 per month and covers both music and music videos. Downloads work the same way — they expire after 30 days or when your subscription ends.
YouTube Music Premium also removes ads from regular YouTube videos, so you get some of the YouTube Premium benefits. However, it does not include the full YouTube Premium feature set, which also removes ads from all videos and allows background play.
Storage and offline viewing on your iPhone
Downloaded videos appear in the YouTube app under the "Downloads" tab. You can see how much storage each video uses and delete individual downloads if you need space. Downloaded videos do not appear in your iPhone's Photos app or Files app — they stay within YouTube.
If your iPhone storage is nearly full, downloaded videos may not save properly. Check your storage by opening Settings, tapping General, then About. If you have less than 1 GB free, delete some apps or photos before downloading videos.
Downloaded videos play even when you have no internet connection. This is useful on flights, in areas with poor signal, or when you want to watch without using your data plan. However, YouTube still checks your subscription status periodically, so Premium must remain active for downloads to play.
What happens if you cancel YouTube Premium
All your downloaded videos disappear immediately when your subscription ends. YouTube removes them from your phone automatically, even if you have not opened the app. You cannot convert them to permanent files or transfer them elsewhere.
If you pause your subscription and restart it later, your old downloads are gone. You would need to download them again. This is why YouTube Premium is best for videos you watch regularly rather than videos you want to archive forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download YouTube videos to my iPhone without paying for Premium?
Not officially. Third-party apps and websites that claim to do this violate YouTube's terms and often contain malware. Screen recording is the only free workaround, but it produces large files and captures your entire screen including notifications.
Do downloaded videos take up a lot of storage on my iPhone?
It depends on the quality and length. A 10-minute video at standard quality uses roughly 100 to 200 MB. High-quality downloads use 300 to 500 MB for the same length. You can choose your quality when you download, so select lower quality if storage is tight.
Can I share a downloaded video with someone else?
No. Downloaded videos are tied to your YouTube Premium account and cannot be shared, transferred, or sent to another phone. Only you can watch them on your device.
What if the video I want to download is private or restricted?
You can only download videos that are publicly available or that you have permission to watch. Private videos and age-restricted content cannot be downloaded through YouTube Premium.
How long do downloaded videos stay on my phone?
YouTube removes them after 30 days automatically. You can also delete them manually at any time by opening the Downloads tab and swiping left on the video. If your Premium subscription ends, all downloads disappear immediately.