- What you need before you download a playlist
- Set these two options first
- The auto-download catch
- How to find your downloaded playlist
- How long a downloaded playlist plays offline
- How to delete a downloaded playlist
- Can you download a YouTube playlist as files or MP3s?
- Playlist downloads at a glance
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
You can download a whole YouTube playlist only with YouTube Premium, and only inside the YouTube app for offline watching. The videos are stored encrypted on your device and play only in the app, so you won't get video files, MP3s or a copy in your phone's gallery.
That catches a lot of people out, and so does the next part: once you've downloaded a whole playlist, new videos added to it may download automatically. Here's what a playlist download does, where it ends up and how to stop it eating your storage.
What you need before you download a playlist
- YouTube Premium. Premium members can download videos and playlists in the YouTube app. Songs are downloaded in the YouTube Music app instead.
- To be signed in. Downloads only play under the same account that downloaded them.
- Free storage. If your device is almost out of storage, you can't download more videos.
- Videos that allow it. Some videos aren't available for offline playback, and for those the Download option is missing.
If you can't see Download on a playlist or on a video in it, one of those four is usually the reason. For single videos on a phone, I cover the steps in how to download YouTube videos on iPhone.
Set these two options first
A playlist can mean a lot of videos at once, so check Settings > Background & downloads before you start:
- Download over Wi-Fi only stops downloads using your mobile data.
- Download quality sets the quality. Higher quality uses more data and more space.
If your connection drops partway through, the playlist download picks up again automatically when you reconnect.
The auto-download catch
Downloading a playlist isn't a one-off. YouTube says that if you've downloaded a whole playlist, videos may download automatically. A video added to that playlist may download on its own if you watched a video from the playlist, or downloaded the playlist, in the last 30 days. Videos you downloaded one at a time shouldn't auto-download.
On a playlist that a creator keeps adding to, that's how storage quietly fills up. Premium also has Smart Downloads, which adds recommended videos to your Downloads automatically, so if your storage is vanishing, check both. I explain that feature in YouTube Smart Downloads.
How to find your downloaded playlist
- Open the YouTube app and tap the You tab.
- At the top of Library, tap the Downloaded filter.
- Open the Downloads playlist.
Because the videos are encrypted and only play in the YouTube app, they won't show up in your gallery or file manager. I go into where they sit in where YouTube downloads are stored. Commenting and liking still need a connection.
How long a downloaded playlist plays offline
In some regions, non-music content plays offline for up to 29 days before your device needs to reconnect. In the select countries where YouTube offers its non-Premium offline feature, downloads play for up to 48 hours before you need to go back online.
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How to delete a downloaded playlist
- One video: tap Downloaded below the video, or open the Downloads playlist and choose Delete from downloads.
- Everything: go to Settings > Background & downloads > Delete all downloads and confirm the prompt that asks "Delete all downloaded videos and playlists?"
Can you download a YouTube playlist as files or MP3s?
Not from YouTube. YouTube says it isn't possible to download audio, music or MP3 files from the YouTube app. The only videos you can download to a computer as files are ones you uploaded yourself. Third-party playlist download sites aren't an official YouTube route, so I'm not pointing you to any of them.
Playlist downloads at a glance
| You want | Official route |
|---|---|
| Watch a playlist offline on a phone | Premium member, YouTube app, download the playlist, find it under You > Downloads |
| A file you can keep | Not available from the app; only your own uploads can be downloaded as files |
| Audio or MP3 of a playlist | Not possible from the YouTube app |
| New videos added later | May auto-download if you watched or downloaded the playlist in the last 30 days |
| Free up space | Delete from downloads, or Settings > Background & downloads > Delete all downloads |
My verdict
If you want a playlist for a flight or a commute, Premium does the job: download it in the app, find it under You, and turn on Download over Wi-Fi only so it doesn't burn through your data. If you want files or MP3s to keep, YouTube doesn't offer that for other people's videos, and I wouldn't trust a random download site with it either. Keep an eye on playlists that keep growing, because new additions may download on their own.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download a YouTube playlist without Premium?
Downloading videos and playlists is a YouTube Premium feature in the YouTube app. Some select countries also have a non-Premium offline feature, where downloads play for up to 48 hours before you reconnect.
Can I download a YouTube playlist as MP3?
No. YouTube says it isn't possible to download audio, music or MP3 files from the YouTube app.
Where do downloaded YouTube playlists go?
They stay inside the YouTube app. Tap the You tab, then the Downloaded filter at the top of Library, then the Downloads playlist. They're encrypted, so they won't appear in your gallery.
Why did new videos download on their own?
If you downloaded a whole playlist, videos added to it later may download automatically when you've watched a video from that playlist or downloaded it in the last 30 days.
