You can download YouTube videos three ways: YouTube Premium's built-in offline mode (legal, paid), the YouTube app's free download feature in select regions, or third-party converters (varies legally by country). Each method has trade-offs across quality, legality, and convenience.
Here's the working method for every device, what's legal where you live, and the quality + format options to know before you click "download."
Method 1 — YouTube Premium (the legal way)
YouTube Premium ($13.99/mo US) includes native offline downloads on mobile + desktop. Downloads stay valid as long as you remain subscribed and the device syncs at least once every 30 days.
- Open the video on the YouTube app or web.
- Tap the "Download" button below the player.
- Pick quality: 144p, 360p, 720p, 1080p.
- Download stores in the "Downloads" tab.
Premium downloads are encrypted — playable only inside the YouTube app. They can't be transferred to other devices, edited, or shared. Quality cap: 1080p on most accounts. Family Premium = 5 accounts at $22.99/mo.
Method 2 — YouTube app free offline (limited regions)
In some countries (India, Indonesia, parts of Latin America), YouTube offers free offline downloads with ad-supported viewing. Downloads expire after 48 hours unless re-synced.
- Available in: India, Indonesia, Philippines, Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Kenya, others (varies)
- NOT available in: US, UK, most EU, Canada, Australia
- Quality cap: usually 480p
- Auto-deletes if you don't open the app for 48 hours
Method 3 — Third-party YouTube downloaders
Tool homepages dominate the top of Google for this query — Y2Mate, Y2Down, ClipConverter, savefrom.net. They convert YouTube URLs to MP4/MP3 files. Important caveats first:
- Against YouTube's Terms of Service. Downloading without explicit permission breaches Section 5(B). Your YouTube account can be suspended if detected.
- Copyright law varies by country. Many countries allow personal-use offline copies; commercial use is illegal almost everywhere.
- Quality varies. Free tools cap at 720p; 1080p+ usually behind a paywall.
- Malware risk. Many tool sites bundle adware. Stick to well-known names; never install browser extensions from unknown sources.
Quality and format options
| Format | Resolution | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 (H.264) | 144p-4K | Universal compatibility |
| WebM (VP9) | 360p-8K | Smaller files, modern browsers |
| MP3 | 64-320 kbps | Audio only |
| M4A | 128-256 kbps | Apple ecosystem audio |
For most use cases, MP4 at 720p or 1080p is the sweet spot — universal playback, reasonable file size.
Downloading on mobile
- iOS: YouTube Premium is the only reliable in-app option. Apple's App Store removes third-party downloaders.
- Android: YouTube Premium + Google Play apps like TubeMate or YT Studio (sideload required for some).
Always download over Wi-Fi to avoid burning mobile data. A 10-minute 1080p video = roughly 100-200 MB.
Downloading on PC / Mac
- Browser-based: Paste URL into a converter site, pick format, click download. No software install.
- Desktop apps: 4K Video Downloader, JDownloader, yt-dlp (command-line, advanced).
- Browser extensions: Most are unreliable and risk-laden — YouTube blocks them periodically.
If you're the creator
YouTube Studio lets creators download their own uploads at any time, full quality, no third-party tools. Studio → Content → click video → three-dot menu → Download. This is the safest source for any video you own.
FAQ
Is downloading YouTube videos legal?
Depends on country + use case. Personal offline use through YouTube Premium = legal everywhere. Third-party downloaders = against YouTube's ToS regardless of country. Commercial use of downloaded content = copyright infringement almost everywhere.
What's the best quality for downloading?
720p MP4 for most use cases. 1080p if you'll play on a big screen. 4K only if you have storage + bandwidth to spare.
Is YouTube Premium worth it?
If you watch 5+ hours a week and value offline + ad-free + YouTube Music, yes. If you watch occasionally, no.
Can I download YouTube without software?
YouTube Premium = browser/app, no extra software. Third-party converter sites = paste URL, click download, no install. Software downloaders = more reliable but require install.
Can I download YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Same methods work — paste the Shorts URL into your downloader of choice, pick quality, download.
Next steps
For one-off downloads, try YouTube Premium's 1-month free trial. For your own content, use YouTube Studio's download button. For multi-platform scheduling of YouTube + other channels, see saving YouTube videos guide, downloading YouTube audio, and 1080p YouTube downloads. To schedule YouTube posts alongside Instagram + TikTok, use the So-me Studio calendar.
