How To Download YouTube Links on iOS

You can download YouTube links on iOS by using YouTube Premium, saving your own uploads, screen recording, or careful third-party tools.

Want to keep a YouTube video on your iPhone for a flight, a commute, or a spot with patchy signal? Learning how to download YouTube links on iOS helps you watch the clips you care about without chasing Wi-Fi every time.

Quick check: YouTube still runs on ad views and streaming rules, so you cannot just grab any clip and keep it forever. Some methods sit inside YouTube’s own tools, others sit in a grey area, and a few are flat-out banned by the platform. This guide walks you through options that work on iPhone and iPad, what they are good for, and where the limits sit so you can stay on the safe side.

Is It Possible To Download YouTube Links On iOS Safely?

Before you hit any download button, it helps to know what YouTube actually allows. According to YouTube’s own offline viewing help page, downloads are allowed when YouTube itself offers a Download button, mainly through YouTube Premium and in certain regions.

YouTube’s terms say that you must not download content unless the service shows a clear download link for that video. In plain language, that means third-party download sites and apps usually sit outside the rules for regular videos.

So the short version is this: downloading YouTube links on iOS is fine when you either use official offline downloads, save videos you uploaded yourself, use Creative Commons clips with permission, or capture content for personal reference without sharing it around. Once you start pulling random music videos or shows into your Camera Roll, you step into risky territory for copyright and for your Google account.

Method 1: Use YouTube Premium Offline Downloads On iOS

If you just want to watch your favourite channels without streaming every time, YouTube Premium is the cleanest answer. It keeps everything inside the YouTube app, follows the rules, and works well on recent iPhones and iPads.

Turn On Offline Downloads With YouTube Premium

Confirm your subscription — Open the YouTube app on iOS, tap your profile picture, and check that YouTube Premium appears under your name.
Pick the video you want — Open the YouTube link inside the app, or paste the URL into the search bar and tap the result.
Tap Download under the player — On the video page, tap Download (the downward arrow icon) under the clip.
Choose a quality level — Select 360p, 720p, or higher if offered; higher resolutions use more storage on your iPhone.
Wait for the download badge — The icon turns dark when the video is stored for offline viewing.
Watch from Library > Downloads — Go to Library, then tap Downloads to see videos you saved.

These offline downloads stay inside the YouTube app. They do not appear in Photos, do not sync to Files, and cannot be moved into iMovie or other editors. You also need to reconnect to the internet from time to time so the app can confirm that downloads are still allowed for each video.

When YouTube Premium Downloads Make The Most Sense

Daily viewing on the go — Perfect when you watch the same creators all the time and want playlists ready on the train or plane.
Data-capped mobile plans — Download on home Wi-Fi at night and watch offline the next day without burning through data.
No interest in editing — Ideal if you just want to watch YouTube videos, not remix them or move them into other apps.

Method 2: Download Your Own YouTube Videos To iOS

If you run a channel, downloading your own videos is allowed. YouTube even gives you tools to grab your uploads through YouTube Studio or Google Takeout on desktop. On iOS the process is slightly different, but the same rule applies: your own uploads are fine to save.

Grab Your Uploads Through The YouTube App

Open YouTube Studio — Install the YouTube Studio app on iOS and sign in with the channel account.
Head to your Content list — Tap Content at the bottom to see your uploads.
Open the video menu — Tap the three dots next to a video and look for an option to download or save.
Use YouTube Premium if needed — If a direct file download is not offered, use the standard Premium offline download flow for that specific upload.

On desktop, YouTube lets you download MP4 versions of your uploads through Studio. Many creators then move those files into cloud storage such as iCloud Drive or Google Drive and pull them down on iOS through the Files app.

Bring Creator Downloads Onto Your iPhone Or iPad

Sync via cloud storage — Save the downloaded MP4 into a cloud folder on your computer, then open that folder in the Files app on iOS.
Save to On My iPhone — In Files, tap the share icon and choose a folder under On My iPhone so the clip sits locally.
Open in a player or editor — From Files, you can send the video into VLC, iMovie, CapCut, or any other video app that supports the format.

This route takes a little more effort, yet it gives you real files you can edit, archive, and share as the video owner while still respecting YouTube rules.

Method 3: Download YouTube Links On iOS With Shortcuts And Web Tools

This is the method many people search for when they type “how to download YouTube links on iOS” into a browser. It usually means using an iOS Shortcut or a website that accepts a YouTube link and returns an MP4 or audio file. You need to tread carefully here.

Why Third-Party Downloaders Are Risky

Many guides mention online downloaders or apps that claim to fetch videos straight from a YouTube link. YouTube’s own rules state that downloads should only happen when the service itself shows a download option, so these tools conflict with the terms for normal videos. Tech sites also warn that some “free” downloaders bundle trackers or even malware, and TechRadar repeatedly stresses that third-party YouTube downloaders sit outside YouTube’s rules for most content.

That does not mean every downloader is malware, but it does mean you should limit this method to content you fully control or that carries a clear Creative Commons or public-domain license.

Basic Shortcut Flow Many iOS Users Follow

Quick check: The steps below describe a pattern that exists on iOS; use it only with content that is allowed to be downloaded.

Install a trusted Shortcut — Some creators share Shortcuts that take a YouTube link from the share sheet and pass it to a download script.
Copy or share the YouTube link — In the YouTube app, tap Share, then choose the Shortcut if it appears, or copy the URL.
Run the Shortcut — The Shortcut sends the link to a web service, which prepares the video or audio file.
Save into Files — When iOS offers the file, tap Save to Files and pick a folder under iCloud Drive or On My iPhone.
Open the download from Files — Tap the file in Files to play it or share it into another app.

These workflows break if the website behind the Shortcut goes offline, changes its interface, or turns shady. They also add privacy risks, because every link you send reveals part of your viewing habits to a third party.

Method 4: Record YouTube Videos On iOS With Screen Recording

Screen recording sidesteps the usual “download from a link” idea by capturing whatever plays on your display. On iPhone and iPad, screen recording is built into iOS and works on the YouTube app, Safari, or any other player. Apple outlines the exact taps in its own guide on how to take a screen recording on iPhone.

Turn On Screen Recording In Control Center

Open Settings — Go to Settings > Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
Add Screen Recording — In the “More Controls” list, tap the plus icon next to Screen Recording.
Check Control Center — Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen and look for the recording button (a solid circle inside a ring).

Record A YouTube Video On iOS

Open the video — Start the YouTube link you want to keep, either in the app or in Safari, and pause it at the beginning.
Start screen recording — Swipe down to open Control Center, then tap the recording button; you get a short countdown.
Play the video — Once the countdown finishes, return to YouTube and press play so the clip runs in full screen.
Stop the recording — When the video ends, tap the red status bar or the recording icon again and confirm to stop.
Trim in Photos — Open the Photos app, find the recording, tap Edit, and trim the start and end if you need.

Screen recordings land straight in Photos, which makes them easy to edit, AirDrop, or move into editing apps. The trade-off is quality: you are re-capturing a stream rather than saving the original file, so text can look softer than a direct download.

Method 5: Choose The Best Way To Download YouTube Links On iOS

By this point you have four clear paths: official offline downloads through YouTube Premium, creator-friendly downloads of your own uploads, Shortcut-plus-web workflows, and plain screen recording. Each method comes with its own strengths and limits.

Quick Comparison Of iOS YouTube Download Options

Method	Best Use Case	Main Limits
YouTube Premium downloads	Offline viewing inside the YouTube app	Videos stay in the app; need periodic internet checks
Download your own uploads	Creators backing up or editing their content	Extra steps with Studio and cloud storage on desktop
Shortcuts plus web tools	Copies of content you own or have permission to save	Terms of Service conflicts and privacy risks for other videos
Screen recording	Quick clips for reference, notes, or tutorials	Lower quality than direct downloads; real-time recording only

Tips To Stay Safe When Downloading YouTube Links On iOS

You already know how to download YouTube links on iOS in several ways. A few habits help you avoid trouble with copyright, malware, or random storage issues on your iPhone.

Respect Copyright And Creator Rights

Favour official downloads — Use YouTube Premium when you just want offline viewing; it helps creators and stays within the rules.
Limit third-party use — Keep downloaders and Shortcuts for your own videos, content with written permission, or clips clearly offered for reuse.
Avoid sharing ripped files — Passing download links or raw video files around online causes trouble faster than private offline viewing.

Protect Your iPhone And Your Google Account

Skip shady download sites — Pop-ups, fake buttons, and aggressive ads are a red flag that the site might be doing more than saving a video.
Watch app permissions — If a downloader app asks for contacts, location, or unrelated access, delete it and look for a safer approach.
Keep iOS updated — New iOS releases often patch security holes that rogue sites and apps try to use.

Manage Storage And Playback Smoothly

Check storage before big downloads — Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage so you do not fill the device with a handful of long videos.
Group videos in the Files app — Put saved clips into labeled folders (Courses, Music, Tutorials) so you can find them without hunting.
Use a capable player — Apps like VLC or Infuse handle many formats and give you finer playback control than the default player.

Putting It All Together For iOS YouTube Downloads

If you only remember one thing about how to download YouTube links on iOS, let it be this: decide what you want to do with the video first, then pick the method that stays as close as possible to YouTube’s own tools. For pure offline viewing, Premium downloads inside the app are simple and rule-friendly. For creators, grabbing your own uploads and syncing them through Files gives you real control over your content. Shortcuts and web tools add flexibility when you have clear rights, and screen recording fills the gaps for quick reference clips.

Pick the method that matches your goal, stay respectful of creator work, and your iPhone will feel like a reliable pocket viewer for the YouTube videos that matter to you.