To listen to YouTube Music offline, open a song, album or playlist, tap the three-dot menu and choose Download. Song downloads need YouTube Music Premium, and you must reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days or your downloads stop working. Podcasts can be downloaded on any account.
The 30-day rule is the one that catches people. You download a playlist for a holiday, stay offline for five weeks, and the songs refuse to play. That's not a fault. YouTube says you need to reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads, and once you're back online they should work again.
What you can download
| Content | Who can download it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Songs, albums, playlists, music videos | YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium members | Saved to your phone or tablet |
| Podcast episodes | Any account | Some episodes or shows aren't available as audio-only downloads |
| Whole podcast shows | Nobody | Download episodes one at a time |
That podcast line surprises a lot of people. You don't need Premium to save a podcast episode for a flight. Open the episode, tap the menu and choose Download.
How to download music on YouTube Music
- Open the YouTube Music app, signed in to your Premium account.
- For a playlist or album, tap the three-dot Menu and choose Download, or tap the download arrow on the playlist or album page.
- For a single song or episode, tap the Menu next to it and choose Download.
- Find everything you've saved in your Library under Downloads.
Downloaded playlists keep themselves up to date. YouTube says they're refreshed daily in the background when you're on Wi-Fi, so songs you add to a downloaded playlist will be saved without you doing anything.
Smart Downloads: offline music without lifting a finger
If you'd rather not choose, Smart Downloads saves music for you based on what you've listened to. Turn it on from your profile photo, then Settings, then Downloads & storage. YouTube says it can download up to 200 of your recently played songs. It doesn't work for podcasts yet.
Control storage, quality and data
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Audio and video quality | Lower quality means smaller files, so you fit more on your phone |
| Smart downloads | Saves up to 200 recently played songs automatically |
| Clear downloads | Deletes everything you've downloaded to free up space |
| Connection type | Download only on Wi-Fi, so offline music never eats your data allowance |
There's no fixed song limit. YouTube says the number you can download depends on how much free space your device has and on the length and quality of the files. On Android R or newer with Verizon or AT&T in the US, or KDDI or SoftBank in Japan, you may also see an option to download on Wi-Fi and unrestricted mobile data.
YouTube Music downloads not working?
- You've been offline for more than 30 days. Connect to the internet, open the app and let it check in. Your downloads should play again.
- You're signed in to the wrong account. Downloads belong to the account with Premium. Check your profile photo, and see how to switch accounts on YouTube if you use more than one.
- Your phone is out of space. Clear some storage or lower the download quality.
- You chose Wi-Fi only. Downloads won't start on mobile data until you change the connection setting.
- It's a podcast show, not an episode. Full shows can't be downloaded, so save episodes individually.
- The app needs an update. Update it from your app store and try again.
If you want to organise what you download first, my guide on how to make a playlist on YouTube walks through building one you can save in a single tap.
Offline music vs background play
People often mix these two up, because both come with Premium. Offline means the song is saved on your phone and plays with no connection at all. Background play means music keeps going while you use other apps or lock the screen, but it still streams over your connection unless the song is downloaded. For a flight you want both: download first, then lock your phone and listen.
Downloads also take up real space. YouTube says the number of songs you can keep depends on file length and quality, so a long playlist at high quality takes a lot more room than the same playlist at a lower setting. If your phone is nearly full, drop the audio quality a notch before downloading, and switch music videos to audio only where you can. On a pair of everyday earbuds the lower setting is usually fine, and you'll fit far more on the phone.
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Before you travel: a quick checklist
- Download the playlists you'll want, on Wi-Fi, a day before you leave.
- Open one downloaded song in flight mode to check it plays.
- Make sure you'll be back online within 30 days, even briefly, or plan a quick Wi-Fi stop.
- Download podcast episodes individually, as whole shows can't be saved.
To check what the free tier includes, see whether YouTube Music is free.
My verdict
Offline listening on YouTube Music works well once you know the two rules: songs need Premium, and you must check in online at least every 30 days. Podcasts are the exception you can download on any account. Turn on Wi-Fi-only downloads and Smart Downloads, and you'll rarely be caught without music.
Frequently asked questions
Can you listen to YouTube Music offline for free?
Not for songs. Song downloads need YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium. Podcast episodes can be downloaded on any account.
Why did my YouTube Music downloads stop working?
You need to reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days. Go online, open the app and your downloads should play again.
How many songs can I download on YouTube Music?
There's no fixed number. It depends on your free storage and the length and quality of the files.
Can I download a whole podcast on YouTube Music?
No. Full shows can't be downloaded, but you can download episodes one by one.
