YouTube gives users two options to download videos for offline viewing. However, those are not available for all the videos. Only a few videos are available for download with the free version. One will have to buy the YouTube Premium membership to enjoy offline viewing across devices.

Those who are using the free version of YouTube will be able to watch downloaded videos for only up to 48 hours. After that, you will again be required to use your smartphone’s mobile data or Wi-Fi network. If you download non-music content, then it will be visible offline for up to 29 days without requiring an internet connection.

It should be noted that the download feature is currently available in only some countries/regions, which includes India too. You can check the full list of supported regions here. Let’s take a quick look at how you can download YouTube videos on your smartphone.

How to download YouTube videos on a mobile?

You first need to open the video on YouTube and tap on the download button, which is located just below the video. The videos are stored encrypted on the device and can only be watched in the YouTube app. There is another way to download videos in the app.

Step 1: Just open the YouTube app on your smartphone and search for the video that you want to download.

Step 2: YouTube will now show a preview of the video. Now, tap on the three-dotted button, which is visible at the bottom of the video.

Step 3: The drop-down menu will show a Download Video option. Just tap on it, and the video will get downloaded. You will find this in the app’s Library section. > Downloads.

Note: YouTube doesn’t let you download high-quality videos for free, and for this, you will have to buy the company’s premium subscription. This gives two download options, including 720p and 1080p. The free version gives 144p and 360p options.

The download option is also available for those who play YouTube on a browser; however, it is only visible to those who have a YouTube Premium subscription.

How to download YouTube, Facebook, Instagram videos in the phone’s local storage?

Those who want to download videos in their phone’s Gallery app will have to rely on third-party apps. While one will find a number of options online, we downloaded the Snaptube app. This is not visible on Google Play Store and can be downloaded from the official site of the app, Snaptubeapp.com.

It allows you to download videos from platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and more. All you need to do is install the app on your smartphone, and copy-paste the URL of the YouTube video on the search bar of the Snaptube app. You will then see the video with a download button, which can be used to download the video in any resolution. You are all set then.

Note: The videos should not be downloaded without the approval of the creator. This guide is purely for those who want to download educational videos or tutorials. YouTube officially gives the option to keep a downloaded video (non-music) for only 29 days. So, the above-mentioned method will let you store video for a longer period.

One can consider buying YouTube Premium for a better and greater experience. There are certain benefits of this. You will get access to YouTube Music Premium, and you will also be able to watch videos without ads (on tablets, desktop and mobile). As mentioned above, you get a download option as well as a background play option, which is basically Picture-in-Picture mode. The monthly price of the subscription is Rs 139. There is also a 3-month plan, which is priced at Rs 399. The 12-month plan will cost you Rs 1,290.