To download music from YouTube to smartphone for offline listening, the only supported method is a YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscription, which enables downloads directly within the YouTube Music app. This official approach works on both iPhone/iPad and Android devices, though the specific steps differ slightly between platforms.
The official way to download music from YouTube to smartphone
A YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscription is the only method documented by official YouTube support for downloading music to a smartphone. Third-party apps, websites, and screen recording tools are not recommended or supported by YouTube. The following steps are taken directly from the official YouTube Music help pages for each platform.
How to download on iPhone and iPad
To download music on an iPhone or iPad, you must be signed into the YouTube Music app with a Premium account. Follow these steps from the official help page:
- Open the YouTube Music app.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Downloads & storage.
- Toggle on Smart downloads to enable the offline mixtape.
- To download specific content, go to a playlist, album, or episode detail page and tap Download from More, or tap the download arrow on the detail page.
This process lets you save songs, albums, playlists, and podcast episodes for offline playback. The Offline Mixtape is a key feature for iOS users who want a curated set of music automatically refreshed based on listening habits.
How to download on Android
On Android, the download flow is similar but uses the app's menu structure.
- Open the YouTube Music app.
- Tap Menu.
- Tap Download for supported items.
- For playlists or albums, open the item and tap Menu then Download, or tap the download arrow on the album or playlist details page.
Android users also have access to Smart Downloads, which automatically downloads music based on previous listening history. This feature is useful if you want your offline library to stay fresh without manually selecting each song.
What you should know about offline listening limits
The Offline Mixtape is refreshed every 24 hours. The Offline Mixtape can be set between 0 and 100 tracks. The 100-track cap information comes from a Google Help community FAQ, not the main help article. No carrier or region restrictions for the offline-download feature are documented in the official support pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can music be downloaded directly from the regular YouTube app?
No. The regular YouTube app supports offline downloads for movies and TV shows, but not for general music downloads as a music-saving feature. Music downloads are only available through the YouTube Music app with a Premium subscription.
Is a subscription required to download music from YouTube to a smartphone?
Yes. A YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium membership is required to download music for offline listening in the YouTube Music app. There is no free method documented by official YouTube support.
How do I find my downloaded music after saving it?
In the YouTube Music app, go to the Downloads section to access all saved songs, albums, playlists, and podcast episodes. Downloaded content is stored within the app and can be played without an internet connection.
Can I download music from YouTube using third-party apps or websites?
These methods are not supported and may violate YouTube's terms of service.
Does screen recording work as a way to save music from YouTube?
It is not an approved download method and may result in lower audio quality.
For the wider topic, see YouTube mobile tips.
