How to download YouTube videos on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Downloading YouTube videos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac is easy. We’ll show you how to do it, whether you have a premium subscription or are looking for a free method.

YouTube is an important platform that’s not only home to millions of videos but also a widely used search engine. It houses all kinds of content in abundant quantity, be it documentaries, music, sports, news, vlogs, or creator content. The only issue here is that streaming content on YouTube requires an internet connection.

While an internet connection is easily available when you’re at home, college, or the office, the problem arises when you’re on the go or heading to an area with poor or limited connectivity. A good solution to this is to download and keep our favorite content handy. 

It’s important to note that we do not condone pirating copyrighted material and advise asking the content creator for permission to download the video beforehand if it is not officially available.

How to download YouTube videos using Premium

You can download YouTube videos officially if you have a YouTube Premium subscription. This works on all Apple devices, whether you’re using a Mac, iPad, or an iPhone.

1. Sign into your YouTube account that is subscribed to Premium.
2. Open the YouTube video you’d like to download.
3. If the video is available to download, you’ll have a Download button underneath the video.
4. Select the video quality of your download (maximum 1080p).
5. The video will start downloading.

Remember, while this video gets saved on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it remains encrypted, and you cannot share it with your friends. 

You can access the downloaded video without an internet connection through the YouTube app or website. These videos are saved on your phone for 30 days.

How to download YouTube videos without Premium

YouTube Premium offers not just an ad-free viewing experience, but a ton of features, including the ability to download videos to watch later. However, not everyone has the means to afford the subscription fee required to get Premium access.

If you want to download YouTube videos locally on your device, you’ll need to use third-party services.

How to download YouTube videos on iPhone and iPad

We’ll be using SaveFrom for the purposes of this tutorial, but you should also be able to use websites like Videosolo. Below are the steps for both iPhones and iPads.

1. Open the YouTube app and copy the URL of the video you want to download. Tap the share button to get the URL.
2. Open a web browser and go to SaveFrom.Net.
3. Paste the URL in the Search field.
4. Tap the arrow.
5. Select Download, then Download Linked File.
6. Tap the Downloads icon at the top, and you’re good to go.

How to download YouTube videos on Mac

To download YouTube videos on Mac, we’ll continue using the SaveFrom website. But you can also try alternatives like 4K Video Downloader.

1. Open YouTube on Chrome or any other browser you use.
2. Copy the URL of the video.
3. Go to SurFast Video Downloader.
4. Paste the URL in the search field, then click Download.
5. You’ll see the video you want to download on the screen. Select the quality of the video and press download again.
6. The website may open a second tab, but stay on the first one until the video starts playing on the screen. When that happens, right-click and save the video.

If you don’t want to use any website to download YouTube videos, you can also use Mac’s built-in screen recording tool. Press Command + Shift + 5 to bring up the screen recording options. Note that the saved video won’t be in the original quality.

Best alternative sites to download YouTube videos

While SafeFrom can be a helpful tool to download YouTube videos to your favorite devices, it’s not available for everyone. Currently, the site doesn’t provide its services to those based in the UK due to “strenuous attacks by certain UK copyright holders.”

With that in mind, here are some of the best alternative websites to download YouTube videos to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac:

1. iMyFone TopClipper
2. 4K Video Downloader
3. SnapDownloader
4. 10Downloader
5. Y2Mate
6. JDownloader
7. Softorino YouTube Converter
8. Keepvid
9. CleverGet Video Downloader (formally Leawo Video Downloader)
10. ClipConverter.cc

As with any sites and services dedicated to allowing the download of YouTube videos, some may shut down over time. However, we’ll be sure to regularly ensure all of the sites we recommend are still running and accessible.

Check out our How to record calls on iPhone or Where to find the downloads folder on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad & Android guides to learn more about the ins and outs of your favorite Apple devices. If you’re already an Apple aficionado, you can also take a look at Every upcoming Apple product coming your way.