Skip to main content
    Step 1 of 5
    Entertainment & Media
    Beginner
    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Download YouTube Videos for Offline Viewing

    YouTube Premium lets you download videos and playlists to watch without an internet connection — great for airplane trips, commutes.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Entertainment & Media
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    youtube
    offline
    download
    youtube premium
    no internet
    travel

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Confirm You Have YouTube Premium
    2. 2.Download a Single Video
    3. 3.Download an Entire Playlist
    4. 4.Find and Watch Your Downloads
    5. 5.Manage Storage
    1

    Confirm You Have YouTube Premium

    ~15s
    Open YouTube. Tap your profile photo (top right). If you see "YouTube Premium" in the menu, you are a subscriber. If not, you can sign up at youtube.com/premium — a free month trial is usually available for new subscribers.
    2

    Download a Single Video

    ~24s
    Find a video you want to download. Below the video (on the video page), tap the Download button. It looks like an arrow pointing down with a line under it. Choose your quality: Low (smallest file), Medium, or High (largest file, best picture). Tap your choice and the download starts.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Use "Medium" quality for most videos. It balances file size and picture quality well. Use "Low" if your phone storage is running low.

    3

    Download an Entire Playlist

    ~16s
    Open the playlist page on YouTube. Tap the Download button (down arrow) near the top of the playlist, next to the shuffle and play buttons. All videos in the playlist download at your chosen quality. This is efficient for downloading a whole season of a show at once.
    4

    Find and Watch Your Downloads

    ~15s
    Tap the Library icon at the bottom of the YouTube app. Tap "Downloads." All your downloaded videos appear here. Tap any video to play it. No internet required — they play from your phone's storage.
    5

    Manage Storage

    ~24s
    Downloaded videos take up phone storage. To check and manage: go to LibraryDownloadsSettings (gear icon). You can see how much storage is used and delete individual downloads you have finished watching. To delete a download: find the video, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) → "Delete download."

    Warning

    Downloads expire after 30 days and must be renewed if your device has not connected to the internet in that time. YouTube checks your subscription status periodically.

    You Did It!

    You've finished reading: How to Download YouTube Videos for Offline Viewing

    How well did this guide stick with you?

    Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

    YouTube Premium is a paid subscription ($13.99/month) that removes ads, lets videos play in the background while your phone screen is off, and — most usefully for travelers — lets you download videos to watch offline.

    Downloaded videos are stored on your phone and can be watched without any internet connection for up to 30 days. This is perfect for long flights, road trips, camping, or anywhere with unreliable Wi-Fi.

    You can download individual videos, entire playlists, or automatically download your subscriptions. Storage quality settings let you choose between lower quality (smaller files, more videos fit) and higher quality (clearer picture, uses more storage).

    If you do not have YouTube Premium, you can still access some limited offline functionality through YouTube's mobile app in certain regions, but full offline downloads require a Premium subscription.

    For Premium subscribers, downloads work on up to 3 devices at once. Your downloaded content stays available as long as you remain a subscriber. If your subscription lapses, downloads become unavailable but are not deleted — renew the subscription and they are accessible again.

    Rate this guide

    How helpful was this guide?

    youtube
    offline
    download
    youtube premium
    no internet
    travel

    Official Resources

    Netflix Help CenterSpotify SupportHow-To Geek — Streaming

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

    ← Previous

    How to Use YouTube's Watch Later List

    Next →

    How to Manage Trusted Devices on Your Apple ID

    Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

    A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

    Book a Verified Tech How It Works

    Learn more from official sources

    Related Guides

    How to Set Up Spotify and Find Music

    Create a Spotify account, search for your favorite artists, and build playlists — free or premium.

    2 min read

    How to Listen to Podcasts on Your Phone

    Find and listen to podcasts on your phone — free shows on every topic from news and history to comedy and true crime.

    2 min read

    How to Get Free Audiobooks from Your Library (Libby App)

    Borrow audiobooks and ebooks from your local library for free using the Libby app — no late fees.

    2 min read