How to Save a Video on YouTube (Watch Later and Playlists)

When someone asks how to save a video on YouTube, they usually mean one of two things: keeping it so they can find it again, or getting a copy on their device. Those are different jobs. Saving inside YouTube is simple and built in, and it's what this guide covers. I'll show you Watch later and playlists on a computer and a phone, where the saved items end up, and how it differs from downloading. If you create videos, there's a section for you at the end.

Saving a video on YouTube versus downloading it

Saving on YouTube means adding the video to a playlist inside your account, such as Watch later. The video stays on YouTube and you watch it there. You don't get a file. YouTube's help centre describes saving to a playlist in exactly those terms. Offline downloading is a separate feature with its own help pages, and I haven't covered it here. I'd steer clear of third-party tools that promise to pull video files out of YouTube. They're a security risk and they go against what the platform allows.

Save a video on YouTube to Watch later on a computer

1. Sign in and open the video's watch page.
2. Click More, then Save.
3. Choose Watch later, or another playlist you've already created.
4. Look for the confirmation message at the bottom of the screen showing which playlist received the video.

YouTube's help also gives a shortcut. When you're browsing, hover over a video's thumbnail and click the Watch later icon. For a Short, click More, choose Save to playlist, then Watch later.

Save a video on YouTube using the app on Android and iPhone

The help centre's steps for Android and iPhone follow the same pattern:

1. Open the video.
2. Tap More, then Save. The video goes to the playlist you saved to last, or to Watch later if you haven't saved to one yet.
3. Tap Change on the confirmation message if you want a different playlist, such as Watch later.

While you're browsing instead of watching, tap More next to the video title and choose Save to Watch later. For a Short, tap More, then Save to playlist, then Watch later.

Save a video on YouTube to a brand-new playlist

Watch later is fine for a quick reminder, but a named playlist is far better for anything you'll want again, like research for a project. On the watch page, choose More, Save, then create a new playlist, name it, pick a privacy setting and create it. A private playlist can only be viewed by you, according to YouTube's help. My longer walkthrough is in how to make a playlist on YouTube.

Where saved YouTube videos live

The You tab is the home for everything you've saved. YouTube's help centre says the videos you save to Watch later appear there, and playlists you've created, whether public, private or unlisted, appear under Playlists. On a phone, tap your profile picture to open it.

What you did	Where to find it
Saved to Watch later	You tab, then Watch later
Saved to your own playlist	You tab, then Playlists
Pressed like	Liked videos
Watched it	History

Liked videos are separate. If a video you pressed like on is what you're hunting for, see finding your liked videos on YouTube.

Remove a saved video from Watch later

1. Open the You tab (click You on a computer, or tap your profile picture in the app).
2. Open Watch later.
3. Use the More menu beside the video you want to remove.
4. Choose Remove from Watch later.

Save a whole playlist on YouTube, not just a video

You can keep someone else's playlist too. In the Android app, YouTube's help says to open the channel's Playlists tab, tap More next to the playlist details and tap Save. If you're watching a video from a playlist, tap More, then Save. Saved and created playlists then show up on the You tab.

Keeping saved YouTube videos tidy

Watch later has a way of becoming a graveyard. Videos go in with good intentions and stay for months. A short routine helps: once a week, open the You tab, scan Watch later, remove anything you no longer need and move the keepers into a named playlist. YouTube's help says you can reorder a playlist by dragging a video up or down, so you can put the most useful ones first.

If you use YouTube for work, name playlists after the job, such as a client name or a topic, instead of leaving everything in one list. Future you will be grateful.

Why a YouTube video won't save

• Made for kids: YouTube's help says videos marked as made for kids can't be added to playlists or saved to Watch later.
• You're signed out: saving needs an account. Sign in first.
• You're in the wrong account: your saves live with the account you used.

Save a video on YouTube as a creator or business owner

If you make videos, you can send people to a shareable playlist instead of one video. For a series, that keeps viewers watching your content. I've written up sharing a YouTube playlist, including the visibility choices. Treat Watch later as private to the viewer, though. You can't see what people save.

Frequently asked questions

How do I save a video on YouTube to watch later?

Open the video, tap or click More, choose Save, then pick Watch later. A message at the bottom of the screen confirms where it went.

Where do saved videos go on YouTube?

YouTube's help says Watch later videos appear on the You tab, and playlists you've created appear under Playlists.

Is saving a video the same as downloading it?

No. Saving adds it to a playlist inside your account. You watch it on YouTube. Downloading is a separate feature covered in YouTube's help centre.

Why can't I save a video to a playlist?

YouTube's help says videos marked as made for kids can't be added to playlists or saved to Watch later. Also check you're signed in.

Can other people see my Watch later list?

Your playlists have a privacy setting. Private means only you can view it, according to YouTube's help.