Downloading music from YouTube to your iPhone is simple if you have a YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium subscription. With an active membership, you can download songs directly in the app and listen offline.
However, if you don't have a Premium subscription, the process isn't as straightforward. That's where this guide comes in. We'll walk you through both the official method and alternative ways to download music from YouTube to your iPhone, not just for offline access within the app but also as real MP3 files you can use freely. Let's dive in!
Part 1. How to Download Music from YouTube to iPhone #Premium Users
YouTube Music Premium allows you to download songs for offline listening directly in the app. You can download individual tracks, full albums, playlists, and even podcasts, as long as your subscription is active.
How to Download YouTube Music to iPhone with Premium:
Step 1 If you're not already subscribed, visit the YouTube Premium page and choose a plan. Offline listening is included in the membership.
Step 2 Open the YouTube Music app and sign in with the Google account linked to your Premium subscription.
Step 3 Search for the song, album, playlist, or podcast episode you want to download for offline listening.
Step 4 Tap More (vertical 3 dots icon).
Step 5 Tap Download. For albums or playlists, you can also tap the Download arrow at the top of the page.
Download Tips:
- Adjust Download Quality: Go to Settings > Downloads & storage. Tap Audio quality and choose from Low, Normal, or High (256kbps).
- Turn On Smart Downloads: Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Navigate to Settings > Downloads & storage and toggle on Smart downloads. The app will automatically download up to 500 songs based on your listening history.
How to Find YouTube Music Downloads within YTM App:
Step 1 Tap the Library tab.
Step 2 Tap the Playlists/Songs/Albums tab.
Step 3 Tap Downloaded. Here, you'll find a list of all the music you've downloaded.
The Pros and Cons of This Download Method:
- Pros
- Integrated within the YouTube app installed on iPhone.
- The download process is straightforward.
- YouTube Music Premium offers ad-free experience and allows background listening even for YouTube Music downloads.
- Cons
- Requires a YouTube Premium subscription for $13.99/month.
- The offline downloads are limited to YouTube's platform.
- The downloaded content is encrypted with DRM.
Part 2. How to Download Music from YouTube to iPhone as MP3 #All Users
If you need more flexibility than YouTube Premium provides, downloading music as MP3 files is a smarter choice. Unlike in-app downloads, MP3 files are permanent audio files that you can store forever and play on any device or app.
To achieve this, use ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. This tool lets you download and convert YouTube Music tracks into popular audio formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B. You can select the download quality that suits you best, and it retains all the metadata, including title, cover art, and album information. Once converted, the files can be transferred to your iPhone.
Batch download music from YouTube Music and 10 other streaming platforms. Save files as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B with original sound quality and conversion speeds up to 30x.
Why Choose MP3 Downloads Instead of Premium?
| Feature | YouTube Music Premium (Official) | ViWizard Downloader (Alternative) |
|---|---|---|
| File Format | Encrypted / DRM-protected | MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A, M4B, AIFF |
| Offline Access | Only via the YouTube Music app | Any media player or app |
| Expiration | Expires after 30 days offline | Permanent (never expires) |
| Account Required | Paid subscription required | Free or paid account supported |
| Transferability | Cannot move files to other devices | Easily transfer to iPhone, MP3 players, etc. |
| Best For | Quick, in-app listening | Permanent collections & custom use |
How to Download YouTube Music to iPhone as MP3 Files
Step 1 Set the Output Format
Launch ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. Click the Menu icon and open Preferences, then go to the Conversion tab. Choose MP3 as the output format for iPhone compatibility. You can also adjust the audio quality if needed. Select an output folder and click OK to save your settings.
Step 2 Sign In to YouTube Music
On the main screen, click the YouTube Music icon to open the built-in web player. Sign in to your YouTube Music account to access your library, including your playlists, albums, and saved tracks.
Step 3 Select Music for Download
Browse your library and choose the songs, playlists, or albums you want to download to your iPhone. Click the Add button to load them into the conversion list. You can add multiple tracks at once for batch downloading.
Step 4 Convert and Save as Local Files
Click the Convert button to start the process. Once finished, click the folder icon to locate your DRM-free audio files on your computer. These files are now ready to be synced to your iPhone.
Step 5 Convert and Save as Local Files
Once you've successfully downloaded YouTube Music using ViWizard YouTube Music Converter, you're ready to transfer it to your iPhone music library through iTunes or Finder.
For Windows Users (Using iTunes):
If you are on Windows, iTunes for Windows remains the primary tool for syncing your local library.
Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your Windows PC.
Click File > Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library.
Select the converted MP3 files and import them into your music library.
Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your PC. Click the device icon in iTunes when it appears.
Go to the Music tab. Check Sync Music, then choose selected songs, albums, or playlists.
Click Apply to start syncing.
For Mac Users (Using Finder):
If you're using macOS Catalina or later, iTunes is replaced by Finder.
Open the Apple Music app.
Drag your converted files into the Songs section of your library.
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
Open Finder and select your iPhone under Locations.
Click the Music tab in the main window.
Check Sync music onto [iPhone Name] and select the songs you just added.
Click Apply at the bottom.
Step 6 Play the Converted YouTube Music on Your iPhone
Open the native Apple Music app on your iPhone.
Go to the Your Library tab.
Tap Downloaded.
You'll see all your converted YouTube Music tracks in Recently Downloaded and in the Songs section.
Seamlessly transfer your YouTube Music collection to Apple Music with our user-friendly guide. Enjoy your favorite tunes on all your Apple devices effortlessly.
Part 3. How to Download Music from YouTube to iPhone Using an Online Converter
If you don't want to make any costs or install any third-party software, there are many online YouTube Music converters for you to choose from. We tested and reviewed 17 online YouTube Music Converters. Here, we'll use OnlyMP3 as an example to show you how it works, since all these converters follow a similar process.
Open the YouTube or YouTube Music app, find the song you want, tap Share, and select Copy Link.
Open Safari on your iPhone and go to OnlyMP3 official website.
Paste the link into the search bar and click on Convert button.
Once the conversion completed, you can see the format, quality and size of the output file.
Click on Download to save it to your computer local folder.
How to Play Online Downloads
Since files downloaded via Safari go to the Files app rather than the Music app, you have two options for playback:
- Play via Files App: Simply tap the file in the Downloads folder to play it using the built-in iOS media player.
- Use a Third-Party Player: Download a player like VLC for Mobile from the App Store. You can move your MP3 files into VLC to create custom playlists that run in the background.
Part 4. FAQs about Downloading YouTube Music to iPhone
Can I download music from YouTube Music to my iPhone?
How can I download music from YouTube Music to my iPhone?
Is there a way to download YouTube Music without a subscription?
Are there any alternatives to download music from YouTube to iPhone?
Can I listen to YouTube Music on my iPhone without the app?
Conclusion
In this post, we introduced 3 workable ways to download music from YouTube to iPhone, including the official method, using ViWizard dedicated YouTube Music Converter and online converter OnlyMP3. However, whether you are a YouTube Premium or not, you can use ViWizard YouTube Music Converter to download any tracks/playlists/albums from YouTube Music. Don't hesitate to have a try!
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Matt Smith, a digital entertainment industry enthusiast at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing insightful commentary and solutions for music and media-related topics, including industry trends, analysis, and recommendations.
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