This article shows how to download videos on the YouTube platform locally to be able to watch them offline on a computer, smartphone or tablet. If you have subscribed to the YouTube Premium service, you will have the possibility to download the contents directly through the YouTube website or app to be able to watch them at any time. If not, you need to use an online conversion service, such as OnlineVideoConverter, to turn YouTube videos into regular video files which you can then download to your device.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use the YouTube Premium Service on Android and iOS Devices
Step 1. Launch the YouTube app on your smartphone or tablet
If you have subscribed to the Premium service (formerly known as YouTube Red), you have the possibility to directly download the contents of the Google streaming platform to be able to view them online on your devices. Start the YouTube app by tapping the corresponding icon characterized by a red square inside which a white triangle is visible. It is located within one of the Home pages (on iPhone and iPad) or in the "Applications" panel (on Android).
If you want to subscribe to the YouTube Premium service, tap your profile picture in the upper right corner of the screen, choose the item Switch to YouTube Premium and follow the instructions that appear to complete the activation.
Step 2. Select the video you want to watch offline
Normally, the playback of the chosen content will start automatically.
Step 3. Press the button to download
It features a green circular icon with a downward pointing arrow and a horizontal line inside. It should be visible below the selected video.
Step 4. Choose the video quality you want
Your options may vary depending on the video you select.
If you want your download settings to be remembered for future use, select the "Remember my settings" checkbox
Step 5. Press the OK button
The download of the selected video will start automatically and will be done using the resolution settings you have configured. Once the download is complete, a blue and white check mark icon will appear under the video name.
If you are using an iOS device, the download of the selected content will start automatically after the streaming is finished
Step 6. Access the YouTube library to view the list of videos ready for offline playback
When the device is not connected to the internet, watching one of the videos in question is very simple. Tap the option Bookshelf located in the lower right corner of the YouTube app, then select the video you want to play.
Method 2 of 4: Using OnlineVideoConverter on Computer
Step 1. Go to the page of the video you want to download
Click the name of the YouTube video you want to watch offline on your computer.
Step 2. Copy the URL of the YouTube content you have chosen
Select the entire video address and press the key combination Ctrl + C (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (on Mac) to copy it to the system clipboard.
Step 3. Go to the Online Video Converter website
It is a web service that can convert YouTube videos into downloadable files on your computer.
Step 4. Click on the "Paste link here" text field with the right mouse button
It is displayed in the top center of the page. A context menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click on Paste
The URL you copied in the previous step will be pasted into the selected text field.
Step 6. Choose the video format to use for conversion using the "Format" menu
It's located below the field where you pasted the URL. Select the video format you want from the "Video formats" column of the drop-down menu that appeared. Most modern multimedia players support all formats present.
Step 7. Click on the Start button
It is orange in color and located under the "Video Format" menu. An animated sequence will appear with the message "We are preparing your conversion". When the conversion process is complete, the "Download" button will appear.
If an error message appears, it is most likely due to the fact that you are using a plugin or extension that interferes with the functioning of the website (for example an ad-blocker or other privacy protection tool). In this case, temporarily disable any add-ons of this type, refresh the page and try the conversion again
Step 8. Click the Download button
It is blue in color and is displayed in the top center of the page. The "Save As" dialog box of the operating system will be displayed.
Step 9. Click the Save button to download the video
The file generated by the YouTube video conversion will be saved on your computer. Once the download is complete, you can watch the video at any time by double-clicking with the mouse on the corresponding file name.
Method 3 of 4: Using OnlineVideoConverter on iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Download the Documents app created by Readle Inc
from the device's App Store. It is a free program that allows you to download files from the web (for example the YouTube video you converted) and watch them easily on both iPhone and iPad. Although the conversion process will be done using the OnlineVideoConverter website and the Safari app, you will need to use the Documents app to complete the file download to your device and view it. To install the Documents application follow these instructions:
-
Login to App Store by touching the icon
Iphoneappstoreicon ;
- Select the tab Search for located in the lower right corner of the screen;
- Type in the keyword documents and press the "Search" button;
- Scroll down the list of results to be able to locate and select the app Documents manufactured by Readle Inc. (it is characterized by a gray "D" icon with yellow and green upper left);
- Push the button Get;
- Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to install the application. At the end of the installation procedure you can close the App Store window.
Step 2. Launch the YouTube app on your iPhone or iPad
It is characterized by a white icon showing a red rectangle with a triangle inside. It is normally displayed on one of the Home screen pages.
Step 3. Open the page of the video you want to download to your device
Touch the name of the video in question to view the corresponding page. Normally, content playback will start automatically.
Step 4. Press the Share button
It features a gray curved arrow below the video.
Step 5. Choose the Copy link option
It is indicated by a gray circular icon with two overlapping squares inside. The URL of the movie will be copied to the system clipboard.
Step 6. Launch the Documents app
Tap the white icon with a gray "D" inside. It should be visible on one of the pages that make up the Home of the device.
If this is your first time using the Documents app, scroll through the pages of the initial tutorial until the main program screen appears
Step 7. Tap the blue compass icon
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen. Your device's default internet browser will appear within the Documents app.
Step 8. Log into the OnlineVideoConverter website
Paste the URL you copied earlier into the text field displayed at the top of the screen, then press the key Go to view the corresponding web page.
Step 9. Press and hold your finger on the "Paste link here" text field
Two options will be displayed.
Step 10. Choose the Paste item
In this way the URL of the YouTube video to be converted will be copied in the indicated field.
By default, the video will be converted to an MP4 file which can be played without any problem on iPhone and iPad. If you need to use a different file format, go to the "Format" menu
Step 11. Press the Start button
It is orange in color. The chosen YouTube video will be converted into the indicated file format which can then be downloaded to the device. Once the conversion is complete, you will be automatically redirected to the download page.
Step 12. Press the Download button
It is the first blue button located below the video preview. The dialog box to save the file to the device will be displayed.
By default the file will be saved in the "Downloads" folder of the Documents app. Do not change this setting or you will not be able to play the video file later
Step 13. Press the Done button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The selected video file will be downloaded to the internal memory of the iOS device.
- When the download is complete, a small red badge with a number inside will appear on the "Downloads" icon (it is characterized by a downward pointing arrow resting on a horizontal line and located at the bottom of the screen).
- At this point, you may need to enable the Documents app to receive notifications. Push the button Allow if you want to receive notifications when each download is complete (and also those related to all the other functions of the Documents app). If not, press the button Do not allow to not receive any notification from the program.
Step 14. Tap the Downloads icon
It features a downward pointing arrow with a small red badge (showing a number) located at the bottom of the screen. You'll see a list of all the files you've downloaded using the Documents app, including the video in question.
Step 15. Tap the icon of the video you want to view
It will start playing using the default media player of the iPhone or iPad.
To watch a video later, launch the app Documents, access the tab Downloads and tap the icon of the file you want to play.
Method 4 of 4: Using OnlineVideoConverter on Android
Step 1. Launch the YouTube app on your Android device
It features a red rectangular icon with a white right-facing triangle inside. It is usually displayed on one of the pages of the Home screen or within the "Applications" panel.
Step 2. Open the page of the video you want to download to your device
Touch the name of the video in question to view the corresponding page. Normally the playback of the chosen content will start automatically.
Step 3. Press the Share button
It features a gray curved arrow below the video.
Step 4. Choose the Copy link option
It is indicated by a gray circular icon with two overlapping squares inside. The URL of the movie will be copied to the system clipboard.
Step 5. Launch your device's internet browser
You can choose to use Chrome, the Internet (from Samsung), or any other browser you prefer.
Step 6. Log in to the OnlineVideoConverter website
Paste the URL you copied earlier into the text field displayed at the top of the screen, then press the key Enter of the virtual keyboard to display the corresponding web page.
Step 7. Press and hold your finger on the "Paste link here" text field
Some options will appear.
Step 8. Choose the Paste item
The URL you just copied will be pasted into the selected text field.
By default, the video will be converted to an MP4 file that can be played smoothly on all Android devices. If you need to use a different file format, go to the "Format" menu
Step 9. Press the Start button
It is orange in color. The chosen YouTube video will be converted into the indicated file format which can then be downloaded to the device. Once the conversion is complete, you will be automatically redirected to the download page.
If any pop-up window appears containing advertisements or notification messages, please close it to proceed
Step 10. Press the Download button
It is the first blue button located below the video preview.
Step 11. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to be able to save the file on the device
The steps to follow at this point vary depending on the Android device you are using, but the "Download File" screen will normally appear, giving you the option to choose where to save the file on your smartphone or tablet. Select the "Download" folder (if not already selected) and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.
You may need to authorize your browser app to access device storage before the "Download File" pop-up window appears on the screen
Step 12. Watch an offline video
When it comes time to watch one of the videos you downloaded on your device, follow these instructions: access the folder Download on your Android smartphone or tablet (normally accessible directly from the "Applications" panel), then tap the icon of the video you want to watch.
