Downloading from YouTube Music in 2026: The Official Offline Guide

You can download music on YouTube Music in just three clicks on Android, iOS, and desktop, provided you have a YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscription. The app allows up to 100, 000 downloaded tracks per device and up to five simultaneous devices per account, according toGoogle’s official help center. YouTube Music claimed over 100 million paying subscribers in 2024 (Music Premium + YouTube Premium combined), according to the official YouTube blog.

But beyond the "Download" button, many users are stumped by the real questions: how can you keep music offline without using up your mobile data allowance? What happens to the files when you cancel your subscription? Can you listen to music with the screen off without a Premium subscription? This guide follows the official step-by-step method, outlines the limits set by Google, and explains how to split the cost among multiple users—all without ever using pirated MP3 converters.

Key points to remember

• According toGoogle Help, downloading content for offline listening on YouTube Music requires an active Premium subscription (Music Premium or YouTube Premium).
• Each device can store up to 100,000 downloaded tracks, distributed across a maximum of 5 devices per account.
• YouTube Music and Premium surpassed 100 million paying subscribers in 2024 (YouTube blog).
• Downloaded tracks are reactivated every 30 days via an internet connection; otherwise, they become inaccessible again.
• Share YouTube Premium Family (up to 5 members) through the Spliiit marketplace to split the monthly bill.

Do you need a Premium subscription to download from YouTube Music?

Yes, offline downloads are strictly limited to paid subscribers of YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium, according tothe official YouTube Music help center. Free accounts do not have an active "Download" button or offline mode. As of April 2026, prices in France start at €11.99/month for Music Premium and €12.99/month for YouTube Premium.

YouTube Music introduced a "Smart Downloads" feature for the free tier in 2020, but Google removed it in 2023 in most regions. Today, without a subscription, the app requires a constant internet connection, displays ads, and even prohibits listening with the screen off on mobile devices. It is precisely this restriction that drives the majority of Premium subscriptions (YouTube blog, 2024).

Note: A YouTube Premium subscription automatically includes YouTube Music Premium, plus ad-free viewing on all YouTube videos. It often offers the best value for money, especially with a Family plan. For a complete overview, check out our 2026 music streaming comparison.

UNIQUE INSIGHT. Many users search for “download YouTube Music for free” without realizing that this feature simply doesn’t exist in the official app. Third-party sites that promise to convert a YouTube URL into an MP3 file violate the terms of service and often expose users to malware. The only legal option is a subscription, which can be shared with others.

How do I download songs from YouTube Music on Android?

On Android, you can download a song, album, or playlist by tapping the "down arrow" icon displayed below each item once your Premium subscription is active. The YouTube Music app has been preinstalled on most Android phones since 2021, replacing Google Play Music (Google Help).

The official five-step procedure:

1. Open the YouTube Music app and sign in to your Premium account.
2. Search for a song, album, or playlist, then tap it.
3. Tap the Download icon (downward arrow) located below the album cover or next to the title.
4. Wait until the download is complete: a green checkmark will appear in place of the icon once the file has been saved locally.
5. Tap "Offline Library" in the top-right corner to filter results to show only titles available without an internet connection.

Files are encrypted and stored in internal memory or on the SD card, depending on the user's preference, which can be set in Settings > Downloads and Storage. Audio quality: up to 256 kbps AAC in Standard Premium, adjustable between Normal, High, and Always High.

To avoid using your mobile data plan, select " Download via Wi-Fi only " in the same settings. You can also enable Smart Download: YouTube Music will automatically download up to 500 recommended tracks over Wi-Fi overnight.

How do I download songs from YouTube Music on an iPhone (iOS)?

On iPhone and iPad, the process is the same as on Android, with the YouTube Music app available for free on the App Store since 2018. The only difference specific to iOS is the storage option: on iPhone, everything is stored on internal memory—there’s no SD card—so you’ll need to keep an eye on available storage space.

Steps on iOS:

1. Download YouTube Music from the App Store if you haven't already.
2. Sign in with a Google account linked to an active Premium subscription.
3. Open a song, album, or playlist and tap the Download icon.
4. Check the progress under the Library > Downloads tab.
5. Switch to airplane mode to verify that you are actually offline before a trip.

iOS does not support external storage. For high-quality tracks (256 kbps), expect to use about 115 MB per hour of music. For a long trip, make sure you have at least 2 to 3 GB of free space.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. During a TGV trip from Paris to Lyon with no network connection, we tested offline playback of a 120-song playlist pre-downloaded to an iPhone via YouTube Music Premium: zero interruptions, the same quality as streaming, and barely any battery drain. The classic pitfall: forgetting to turn off “Wi-Fi Download Only” before leaving home when the files haven’t been synced yet.

Can I download it to a computer (Windows, Mac)?

No, YouTube Music does not offer offline downloads on desktop browsers; it only supports temporary caching. According to the official help pages, neither the music.youtube.com website nor the installable web app (PWA) includes any local export feature. This is a major difference from Spotify Desktop, which has allowed downloads on computers since 2011.

Two legal options are still available on a computer:

• Stream with a Premium subscription: no ads, background playback, and audio quality up to 256 kbps AAC.
• Install the YouTube Music PWA via Chrome or Edge (using the "Install app" icon in the address bar), which improves usability but does not enable offline mode.

To take your music with you on a laptop without Wi-Fi, the official solution is still to download it to your phone and then listen to it via Bluetooth or a headphone jack. If you're looking to legally download songs from YouTube, check out our guide on converting YouTube music, which outlines the legal framework.

What are Google's download limits?

Google has set several official limits on YouTube Music offline downloads, as detailed in the terms of service: a maximum of 100,000 tracks per device, a maximum of 5 devices per account, and a requirement to refresh the offline library every 30 days via an internet connection.

Here is a summary of the official limits as of April 2026:

• Limit|Value|Practical consequence
• Songs per device|100,000|Enough for a complete music library
• Simultaneous devices|5|Smartphone, tablet, second phone, etc.
• Mandatory renewal|Every 30 days|Open the app online once a month
• Highest quality (download)|256 kbps AAC|Equivalent to Spotify Premium, lower quality than Apple Music Lossless
• Total allowed storage|Limited by device storage|≈ 115 MB per hour in High quality

If the 30-day renewal period is not met, the tracks will be grayed out and inaccessible until your next login. This is an anti-piracy measure: you cannot cancel your subscription and then keep the music offline indefinitely. If you switch phones, you’ll need to redownload everything onto your new device.

Good to know: Canceling your subscription immediately revokes access to downloaded content, even if it’s already on your device. To learn how to cancel your subscription properly, see our guide on canceling YouTube Premium.

How do I manage downloaded files and free up space?

Downloads are managed via the Library > Downloads tab, where the app displays the amount of storage used, the number of files, and allows for bulk deletion. On a new 128 GB iPhone, the YouTube Music offline library rarely exceeds 10 to 15 GB for an active user, according to estimates by Digital Trends in 2024.

Three useful steps to declutter your bookshelf:

• Delete an album or playlist: Long-press the item > Delete download.
• Adjust the quality: switching to Normal (128 kbps) reduces the file size by about 50%, which is useful if you're running out of storage space.
• Enable auto-delete: In Settings > Downloads, set a maximum storage limit (e.g., 5 GB). The app will automatically delete the least-played tracks.

To organize your library in a similar way, check out our guide to creating a YouTube Music playlist, which explains how curation works and covers collaborative playlists.

UNIQUE INSIGHT. YouTube Music lets you download music videos (not just audio), a feature not available on Spotify or Apple Music. For some music lovers, this little-known feature alone justifies the extra cost of YouTube Premium over the standard Music Premium plan. Video downloads take up about four times as much storage space but can still be played in airplane mode.

How can I pay less for YouTube Music Premium in 2026?

YouTube Premium Family allows up to 5 additional members (for a total of 6 accounts) at the same address for €23.99/month in France, according to the pricing table at youtube.com/premium/family. Divided among 6 people, that works out to less than €4 per member—well below the Individual plan’s price of €12.99/month. This is the number one way to save money, and it’s fully compliant with the music terms of service.

Four legal ways to lower your bill:

• YouTube Premium for Students: €7.99/month, annual SheerID verification, for up to 4 consecutive years.
• A free 1-month trial (sometimes 3 months during promotional campaigns) is available to new subscribers at youtube.com/premium.
• Shared Family Plan: €23.99 divided among 6 adult members living at the same registered Google address.
• Shared subscriptions among friends or roommates via the Spliiit marketplace, which connects account managers and co-subscribers on YouTube Premium.

For more tips on pricing, check out our guide to affordable YouTube Premium, which lists five legal methods for 2026, or explore podcast alternatives with Apple Music Podcasts.

FAQ: Downloading on YouTube Music

Can you download music from YouTube Music for free?

No. Since 2023, the free version of YouTube Music no longer offers a download feature. According toGoogle’s help center, only subscribers to YouTube Music Premium (€11.99/month) or YouTube Premium (€12.99/month) have access to the download button and offline listening.

How many tracks can be downloaded per device?

Up to 100,000 tracks per device, spread across a maximum of 5 devices per account, according to Google's official guidelines. In practice, the main limiting factor is the phone's storage space: a library of 5,000 tracks in High Quality takes up about 10 GB.

Do downloaded tracks remain after cancellation?

No. As soon as your Premium subscription ends, your downloaded files become inaccessible, even if they still take up storage space. YouTube Music requires monthly renewal (every 30 days) via an internet connection to keep your library available for offline use.

Can you download YouTube Music on a computer?

No official offline mode: the web version and the PWA only support online streaming. Unlike Spotify or Apple Music, YouTube Music will limit downloads to Android and iOS mobile apps in 2026.

Does the download feature work for music videos?

Yes, but only with a YouTube Premium subscription (not Music Premium alone). You can download the music video associated with a track, which is accessible from the Library tab. It takes up about four times as much storage space as an equivalent audio file.

Conclusion: Download from YouTube Music Without Breaking the Bank

Downloading to YouTube Music is simple once you accept the basic rule: an active Premium subscription and the patience to wait for Wi-Fi syncing. The official method covers 99% of your needs, without ever having to use a shady third-party converter. That leaves the question of cost: at €12.99 for a single user, the bill adds up quickly, especially when the whole family wants their library offline.

To split the bill legally, the 6-member Family Plan or a supervised sharing arrangement among family members brings the cost of YouTube Premium down to less than €4 per person per month. Check out the Spliiit marketplace to join an existing YouTube Premium plan, or check out our music guide to compare all streaming alternatives in 2026.