YouTube Premium Remains Only Legal Way to Download Videos, but Limits Apply
YouTube does not permit video downloads except via Premium, which offers in-app-only downloads that expire after 29 days and cannot be edited or transferred, Engadget reports.
To download a video with YouTube Premium, users click the three dots next to the Like, Dislike, and Share buttons and select the download option. The download then appears in the Downloads section of the user's YouTube account, accessible from the left menu on desktop and in the Library section on mobile. YouTube Premium Lite also supports downloads, but it does not allow downloading Shorts or music content.
Engadget notes several significant limitations. Downloaded videos are not saved as files on the device, so they cannot be edited, shared, or transmitted to other devices. Downloads are not automatically synchronized across devices, even when using the same account, and a previously tested sync feature never launched. Offline access expires after 29 days, requiring the device to reconnect to the internet to refresh the timer. If the subscription lapses, all downloads are lost.
The report also notes that alternative third-party YouTube downloaders, which typically require pasting a video link to receive a downloadable file, are often filled with adware and spyware. They also violate Google's platform rules. YouTube's Terms of Service, under Permissions and Restrictions, prohibit downloading videos or using screen recording without permission from the rights holder, YouTube, or applicable law legal frameworks, and Google has removed most donation-funded sites without spyware, leaving questionable options that are not recommended.