How To Download YouTube Video for Free

On Android and iOS, open a video and tap Download (or the download arrow). Pick a quality, and the file stays inside the YouTube app for offline playback. Availability depends on the video, your region, and whether you have YouTube Premium. Downloads typically expire after about 30 days unless the device reconnects to the internet.

YouTube Premium removes ads and unlocks offline downloads on more titles in supported countries. Pricing varies by region (about $14/month in the US at the time of writing). Files still live inside the YouTube app, not your gallery, and they expire if you cancel Premium or go too long without reconnecting.

If you uploaded the video, open YouTube Studio > Content, click the three-dot menu on the row, and choose Download. You get an MP4 of your own file. This is the straightforward way to back up or re-edit content you published.

Some creators license videos under Creative Commons. In YouTube search, open Filters > Features > Creative Commons, then confirm the specific license on the video page before saving or reusing it. Attribution and remix rules depend on the license type (CC BY, CC BY-SA, and so on).

yt-dlp is the actively maintained successor to youtube-dl. Install from GitHub releases or pip, then run it from a terminal to save a URL to disk. It is legitimate open-source software, but using it on standard YouTube videos still conflicts with YouTube's Terms of Service unless you have download rights. Stick to your own uploads, public-domain material, or videos whose license explicitly allows saving. Expect frequent updates because YouTube changes often.