You can download purchased YouTube movies to your phone or tablet for offline viewing using the official YouTube app on iOS and Android devices, and this feature does not require a YouTube Premium subscription. This guide explains exactly how to download purchased YouTube movies and what to do if the download option is missing or not working.
How to download purchased YouTube movies on your phone or tablet
The ability to download purchased movies is built into the YouTube app for iOS (running iOS 11 or higher) and Android (running Android 16.23 or higher). You do not need a YouTube Premium subscription to use this feature. Once downloaded, you can watch the movie at any time without an internet connection. This is especially useful for flights, commutes, or areas with poor connectivity. If you are looking for instructions on how to download on tubi, note that Tubi uses a different system; for YouTube purchases, the process is handled entirely within the YouTube app.
Step 1: Open the YouTube app and go to your library
First, sign in to the YouTube app on your iOS or Android device using the same Google Account you used to purchase the movie. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner of the app. From the menu that appears, tap Your movies & TV. This section lists all the movies and TV episodes you have purchased or rented.
Step 2: Select your movie and tap download
Scroll through your library or use the search bar to find the purchased movie you want to save. Tap the movie to open its details page. Look for the Download icon (usually a downward arrow or cloud with an arrow). Tap it, and you will be prompted to choose a video quality. Select the quality that best fits your device’s storage and your preference for picture clarity. The download will begin immediately. If you are learning how to download movies on YouTube to watch offline, this is the core step: the download icon only appears for content you have purchased or rented.
Step 3: Find and play your downloaded movie
Once the download is complete, a Downloaded icon will appear below the video player on the movie’s details page. To watch the movie offline, you can also go to your library, tap Your movies & TV, and look for the downloaded indicator next to the title. Tap the movie to play it. No internet connection is needed. The download remains available on your device for up to 29 days before it needs to reconnect to the internet to verify availability.
Troubleshooting YouTube movie download problems
If the download option is missing or fails, several common issues may be at play. First, check the device limit: purchased movies can be downloaded on up to five devices. If you have reached this limit, you will need to remove a download from another device before adding a new one. Rented movies are stricter, they can only be downloaded on one device at a time. If you want to download a rental on a second device, you must first remove it from the first device.
Another frequent conflict occurs if you also use the Google Play Movies & TV app. You cannot download the same movie or TV show episode on both the YouTube app and the Google Play Movies & TV app on the same device simultaneously. You must remove it from one app before downloading it on the other.
By default, YouTube only downloads over Wi-Fi to save mobile data. If you want to download using your cellular connection, you need to change download settings from Wi-Fi to mobile data. To do this, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then tap Background & Downloads, and turn off Download over Wi-Fi only. After enabling this, you can download purchased movies using mobile data.
Finally, remember that the 29-day offline expiry applies: after 29 days, the device must reconnect to the internet to check that the content is still available. If you see a message that the download has expired, simply reconnect to the internet, open the YouTube app, and the download will refresh automatically.
