YouTube downloads are stored inside the YouTube app, not as video files you can open elsewhere. On a phone you'll find them in the You tab under the Downloaded filter or Downloads playlist, and on a computer with Premium they sit under Downloads in the left menu of youtube.com. They won't appear in your gallery, Photos app or file manager.
That's the whole reason people go looking. YouTube's downloads are offline copies the app manages for you, so you can only play them in YouTube while signed in to the account that saved them. Here's where to find them on each device, how to move them to an SD card, and what makes them disappear.
Where to find your downloads
| Device | Where downloads appear | Who can download |
|---|---|---|
| Android phone or tablet | You tab, then the Downloaded filter or Downloads playlist | Premium members, or anyone in countries where free downloads are offered |
| iPhone or iPad | You tab, then the Downloaded filter or Downloads playlist | Premium members, or anyone in countries where free downloads are offered |
| Computer | youtube.com, Downloads in the left menu | Premium members on Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Opera |
| YouTube Music app | Library tab, using the Downloads option | Music Premium members (podcasts for everyone) |
If you're on iPhone specifically, my iPhone downloads guide walks through the screens.
Why your downloads aren't in your files or gallery
YouTube Help says videos added to your downloads can be played while signed in with the same account. That's the clue: they're tied to your account and the app, so you can't share them as files, edit them, or open them in another player. If you sign out, or sign in with a different account, they won't play.
The one exception is your own work: YouTube's SD card article lists a video that you uploaded among the videos you can download.
How to save YouTube downloads to an SD card
If your Android phone or tablet takes an SD card, you can send new downloads there instead of internal storage:
- Insert the SD card.
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings, then Background & downloads.
- Turn on Use SD card.
There's a catch YouTube is upfront about: there's currently no way to move videos you've already downloaded between internal storage and the SD card. You have to delete them, turn on Use SD card, and download them again. YouTube Music has its own SD card setting for music downloads.
How long downloads stay available
- With Premium: downloaded videos play offline for up to 29 days. After that, reconnect so the app can check the video is still available.
- Free downloads, in countries that offer them: usually 48 hours, then you need to reconnect every 48 hours. In some countries non-music content lasts up to 29 days.
- YouTube Music: reconnect at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads.
If a video stops being available for offline play, YouTube removes it from your device at the next sync. That's why downloads can vanish even though you never deleted them.
Recommended downloads don't use space until you tap them
Below your downloaded videos, the Downloads page also shows a list of recommended videos, and sometimes a pop-up with new suggestions. YouTube Help says these aren't saved to your device and don't use any storage unless you tap Download. If you tap Download while offline, the video downloads the next time you're on a network approved for downloads. To stop the suggestions, go to Settings, then Background & Downloads, and turn off Recommend Downloads.
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How to delete downloads and free up space
- Tap your profile picture, then Settings.
- Tap Background & downloads.
- Tap Delete all downloads, then Delete to confirm.
On a computer, open Downloads in the left menu of youtube.com, click More next to a video and choose Remove from downloads, or use Download Settings and Delete all downloads to clear the lot. On a phone, to remove a single video, tap Downloaded under it and choose Delete. In the same settings you can turn on Download over Wi-Fi only and set a default Download quality. Higher quality takes more space, and YouTube Help says you can't download more videos once your device is nearly full. Automatic downloads can fill space too, which is covered in how Smart Downloads work.
My verdict
Stop searching your file manager: YouTube downloads only ever live inside the YouTube app, under the You tab on a phone and the Downloads menu on a computer. If storage is tight on Android, turn on Use SD card before you download, because you can't move videos there later. And reconnect before the 29-day or 48-hour limit, or your downloads quietly disappear. Planning a trip? does YouTube work in airplane mode covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Where do YouTube downloads go on Android?
Inside the YouTube app. Open the You tab and tap the Downloaded filter or the Downloads playlist. They don't appear in your gallery or file manager.
Where are YouTube downloads stored on a computer?
On youtube.com, signed in with YouTube Premium, click Downloads in the left menu. Downloads on a computer work in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera.
Can I move YouTube downloads to an SD card?
Not ones you've already downloaded. Turn on Use SD card under Settings, Background and downloads, then delete and download the videos again.
Why did my YouTube downloads disappear?
Premium downloads need you to reconnect at least every 29 days, and free downloads usually every 48 hours. Videos no longer available offline are removed at the next sync.
