How to Download Music from YouTube to iCloud (2026 Guide)

By Matt Smith Updated on January 23, 2026

Looking to jam out to your favorite YouTube Music tracks without stressing over internet limits or tricky streaming setups? iCloud Drive is your go-to for storing and accessing your personal music collection.

Even though YouTube doesn't let you save music directly to the cloud, this guide will walk you through how to easily download music from YouTube and use iCloud Drive to sync it on all your devices. Whether you want to free up space on your phone or play tunes straight from the Files app, this guide's got you sorted.

download youtube music to icloud

Read More :  How to Convert YouTube Music to Apple Music

Read More :  How to Turn Off iCloud Music Library on iPhone, Mac, and PC

Part 1. Does iCloud Store Your Music from YouTube?

No, iCloud doesn't directly store or sync music from YouTube. Since YouTube and iCloud are part of rival ecosystems (Google and Apple), they don't have a straightforward "save-to-cloud" feature.

But here's the deal: you can upload your own music files to iCloud. So, if you download a YouTube track in a compatible format like MP3 or M4A, you can toss it into iCloud Drive. After that, your music will be available on all your Apple devices, like your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Part 2. How to Download Music from YouTube to iCloud

If you want to save your favorite YouTube tracks to iCloud, the first step is to download the music in a compatible format. This is where tools like ViWizard YouTube Music Converter can make the process much easier.

With this software, you can download songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, or even your entire YouTube Music library. It supports multiple audio formats, including MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, and M4B, which are compatible with iCloud Drive and most Apple devices. This means you won't run into format issues when uploading or syncing your files.

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ViWizard YouTube Music Converter

Download songs, playlists, albums, and your whole music library from 10 major streaming platforms, including YouTube Music, to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B with original sound quality and full song info and keep your music forever.

Available on:

How to Download YouTube Music for iCloud

Step 1 Choose the Right Audio Format

Launch ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. Click the Menu icon (top-right) and select Preferences, then switch to the Conversion tab. Since you'll be storing these in iCloud Drive for playback on Apple devices, choose MP3 or M4A for maximum compatibility. To maintain high audio fidelity, set the Bit Rate to 320kbps. Click OK to save your settings.

set format

Step 2 Access Your YouTube Music Library

Click the YouTube Music icon in the main interface to open the built-in web player. You can sign in to your account here to instantly access your entire YouTube Music library, ensuring no music is left behind.

open youtube music in viwizard

Step 3 Select Your Tracks or Playlists

Browse through the library and find the music you want to move to your cloud storage. Open any track, album, or playlist and click the Add (+) button. For those building a large library in iCloud Drive, you can select entire playlists at once to save time.

add youtube music songs

Step 4 Convert and Extract Audio Files

Click Convert to begin the process. ViWizard will transform the YouTube streams into standard, unencrypted audio files. These files are now ready to be moved to your iCloud Drive folder.

convert youtube music songs

Part 3. How to Put YouTube Music Audio Files to iCloud

Once you have used ViWizard to convert your YouTube tracks into unencrypted MP3 or M4A files, the final step is to move them into the iCloud ecosystem. Follow the method that matches your current device:

On Mac:

Step 1 Open Finder and locate the folder where ViWizard saved your converted YouTube files.

Step 2 Open a second Finder window or use the sidebar to navigate to iCloud Drive.

Step 3 Create a new folder, like "YouTube Music," to keep your library organized.

Step 4 Drag and drop your audio files into this folder.

Step 5 Wait for the upload to complete. A cloud icon means the file is still uploading.

Step 6 Once finished, your music will automatically sync to your iPhone, iPad, and other Macs using the same Apple ID.

move youtube music files to icloud on mac

On Windows PC:

Step 1 Install and sign in to iCloud for Windows. Ensure the iCloud Drive checkbox is selected.

enable icloud drive in icloud for windows app

Step 2 Open File Explorer and click on iCloud Drive in the left-hand Quick Access menu.

Step 3 Copy your converted YouTube MP3s and paste them into this folder.

Step 4 The iCloud icon in your system tray will show the upload progress.

Step 5 Once complete, you can open the Files app on your iPhone to see your music waiting for you.

put youtube music files to icloud on pc

On Web Browser:

If you are on a public or work computer, you can upload files through any web browser.

Step 1 Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.

icloud sign in with apple id

Step 2 Click on the Drive icon.

Step 3 Click the Upload icon (the cloud with an upward arrow) at the top of the screen.

Step 4 Select your YouTube music files and click Open. They will be uploaded directly to your cloud storage.

upload files to icloud drive

Part 4. How to Play YouTube Music Files from iCloud

Once your YouTube music files are in iCloud Drive, you don't need to add them to the Apple Music app. You can play them directly from the cloud using the methods below.

Option 1. Play Music Using the Files App (iPhone & iPad)

Step 1 Open FilesiCloud Drive → your music folder.

Step 2 Tap a song to play it instantly.

Step 3 Music keeps playing in the background, even when the screen is locked.

Step 4 Swipe on a track and choose Play Next to create a temporary queue.

Option 2. Download Music for Offline Listening

Step 1 Long-press a song or folder in the Files app.

Step 2 Tap Download Now.

Step 3 A solid icon means the file is saved on your device.

download youtube music file to iphone via files app

Option 3. Play Music on Mac or Windows

  • On Mac: Open Finder and go to iCloud Drive. Hit the Spacebar for Quick Look to preview a song instantly, or right-click and choose "Open With" to listen in the Music app without importing it into your library.
  • On Windows: Open your synced iCloud Drive folder in File Explorer and use Windows Media Player or VLC to play the files directly.

Part 5. FAQs About Saving YouTube Music to iCloud

Is iCloud Drive or iCloud Music Library better for YouTube music?

iCloud Drive is ideal for storing high-quality, uncompressed files like FLAC or WAV, and you can access them like a USB drive without a subscription. If you want your YouTube downloads to show up with your streaming songs in the Apple Music app, go for iCloud Music Library, but keep in mind it requires a paid subscription.

Do I need an Apple Music subscription to use iCloud Drive?

No. iCloud Drive is a standalone storage service. You can save, sync, and play your YouTube music files with the free 5GB tier or any iCloud+ plan. An Apple Music subscription is only needed for the "Sync Library" feature to integrate those files into the Music app.

Will my YouTube music files count toward iCloud storage limits?

Yes. Because you are uploading your own physical files to iCloud Drive, they will consume your storage space.

Can I share my YouTube music folder with others?

Yes. One of iCloud Drive's best features is folder sharing. Just long-press your YouTube Music folder in the Files app and choose Share Folder. Invite anyone with an Apple ID to view, play, or add to your collection.

Why can't I see my YouTube downloads in my Apple Music library?

iCloud Drive and Apple Music are two different systems. Use the Files app to manage iCloud Drive files. To add them to your Apple Music library, import the files into the Music app on a Mac or iTunes on a PC, then enable Sync Library.

Is it legal to download music from YouTube to iCloud?

Downloading content from YouTube usually goes against their Terms of Service. That said, it's typically fine to download royalty-free music, your own uploaded videos, or tracks you have permission to use. Always be mindful of copyright laws in your area.

Conclusion

By employing ViWizard's user-friendly interface and advanced features, you've effortlessly transformed YouTube music into a format of your choice. The magic doesn't stop there - iCloud Drive seamlessly extends the reach of your music collection to all your Apple devices, creating a harmonious ecosystem for your listening pleasure.

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