If your preference is to watch videos from your beloved creators offline on YouTube, downloading them can be an excellent option. The reason is that streaming on YouTube requires an active internet connection; therefore, downloading means you save on data or can access these videos without any internet connection in remote areas. However, not all of them are under YouTube’s terms of service.
In this guide, we will show you how to download YouTube videos via the official YouTube app and third-party websites, as well as essential information regarding copyright issues and legality questions.
Table of Contents
Method 1: Using YouTube’s Built-In Download Feature
The official YouTube app on both Android and iOS devices includes a built-in download option that allows you to save videos directly to your phone. However, the videos are only accessible through YouTube’s Downloads section for offline viewing.
- Open the YouTube app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Find the video you want to save for offline viewing.
- Tap the three-dot menu (•••) next to the video.
- From the list of options, select ‘Download Video’.
- Choose the desired video quality and tap ‘Download’.
- You can access the saved video under the ‘You’ tab in the Downloads section.
Note: By default, the YouTube app limits downloads to a maximum quality of 360p. To download videos in 720p or 1080p, you’ll need a YouTube Premium subscription.
Method 2: Using third-party websites
For those who want to download YouTube videos directly to their phone’s storage, third-party websites offer an alternative solution.
- Open YouTube on your Android or iPhone and locate the video you want to download.
- Tap the ‘Share’ button and copy the video’s URL.
- Launch a browser, like Chrome or Safari, and visit a website such as Savetube.io
- Paste the copied video link in the downloader and tap on ‘Download’.
- Choose the desired video resolution and click ‘Get link’ to start processing the video.
- Once the processing is complete, tap ‘Download’ again to save the file to your phone’s local storage.
Note: Using third-party websites to download YouTube videos violates YouTube’s terms of service. Proceed with caution if you choose this method.
See More: YouTube Downloaders For Windows and Mac
FAQs
Is it legal to download videos from YouTube?
Yes, it’s legal as long as you’re using YouTube’s official download option or subscription service like YouTube Premium. But, downloading videos through third-party applications or websites is against the terms of service set by YouTube, which can also result in a violation of copyright laws.
Are there any third-party apps for downloading videos on YouTube?
Most of the apps provided on the Play Store/App Store do not allow downloading of such materials. But, if you want to download from other platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, among others, then we have applications including Y2Mate and Videograbber.
Can you download YouTube Shorts on your mobile?
Sure! You can. The process remains unchanged, except that you need to go to the Shorts section instead of the video section.
Is it possible to get audio from a video on YouTube?
Yes, several free online tools offer the possibility of converting YouTube videos into MP3 format, allowing one just to keep the sound.
Can you convert any YouTube video to .MP3 format?
Yes, numerous online downloaders allow you to extract the audio from YouTube videos and download it in .MP3 format to your device.
See More: How to Get Transcripts from YouTube Video
Final Thought
If you know the right ways, it is very easy and quick to download YouTube videos on your phone. Using YouTube’s official app is the safest way, although there are also third-party sites that offer more options. Just keep in mind that there are laws against it and respect these laws. If you’re travelling by plane while at the same time watching your favourite movies or saving data on the go, you can do so anytime with these methods.
