Your favorite YouTube Music playlist is ready, but your internet connection isn't. Whether you're on a flight, commuting through a dead zone, or saving mobile data, offline listening can keep the music going. But how do you download YouTube Music, and do you need Premium?
YouTube Music Premium lets you download songs for offline playback in its mobile app, but those downloads remain within the app. Computer users and those without Premium have different options. In this guide, we'll cover how to listen to YouTube Music offline on your phone or computer, with or without Premium.
Part 1. Can You Listen to YouTube Music Offline?
Yes, you can listen to YouTube Music offline by downloading songs for playback without an internet connection. YouTube Music Premium supports downloads in its mobile app, while desktop downloads may be available to eligible Premium users. The available options depend on your device and account. Here are the main features and limitations to know before downloading music:
Read More : Latest Guidance to Get YouTube Premium for Free Forever
- Manual Downloads: Download songs, albums, and playlists for offline playback on supported devices.
- Smart Downloads: Automatically saves up to 500 songs based on your listening habits.
- Adjustable Audio Quality: Choose Low (48kbps), Normal (128kbps), or High (256kbps).
- Wi-Fi-Only Downloads: Configure your mobile app to download music over Wi-Fi to reduce mobile data usage.
- Automatic Updates: Downloaded playlists refresh in the background when connected to Wi-Fi.
- Offline Restrictions: Premium downloads stay within YouTube Music. You must reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep them active.
- Ad-Free Playback: Enjoy offline listening without interruptions.
- Various Content Support: Songs, playlists, and albums on mobile, and songs in the PWA.
What You Need to Listen to YouTube Music Offline
Before downloading music, make sure you have the following:
A YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscription:
Required for offline music downloads in the official app. Podcast downloads may be available without a paid membership.
The YouTube Music app or YouTube Music:
Offline music downloads are supported on iOS and Android, but not through the desktop website.
Enough storage space:
Downloaded songs take up space on your phone or tablet. The amount depends on the number of tracks and your audio-quality settings.
An internet connection:
You need to download tracks before going offline and reconnect at least once every 30 days to maintain Premium downloads.
Don't have Premium, or prefer to keep music as regular audio files? ViWizard YouTube Music Converter offers an alternative for downloading tracks in formats such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B. You can then play the converted files in compatible music players. The best part is that it does not require a Premium subscription.
Part 2. How to Listen to YouTube Music Offline with Premium
If you have YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium, downloading music for offline listening is simple. On iPhone and Android, you can download individual songs, albums, and playlists directly in the YouTube Music app. You can also enable Smart Downloads to save music automatically.
On a computer, eligible Premium users may have access to offline downloads through the YouTube Music web app, though availability can vary.
2.1 Download YouTube Music for Offline Listening on iOS/Android
Follow these steps to download music to your phone:
01Install the app from the App Store or Google Play Store, then sign in to your Premium account.
02Search for a song, album, or playlist you want to listen to offline.
03Open the song's menu using the three-dot icon and tap Download. For an album or playlist, you can also tap the download arrow on its page.
04Tap your profile picture, select Downloads, and choose the music you want to play.
05Once your music is downloaded, you can play it without Wi-Fi or mobile data.
⭐Tip: To download music automatically, open your profile settings and find Downloads and storage or Background and downloads (the wording may vary by app version). Turn on Smart Downloads. You can also adjust the audio quality and set downloads to use Wi-Fi only.
2.2 Download YouTube Music for Offline Listening on Mac/Windows
YouTube Music is available on Windows and Mac through a web browser, and you can install it as a Progressive Web App (PWA) for quicker access. However, simply installing the PWA doesn't guarantee offline downloads. You need an eligible Premium account and access to YouTube's desktop download feature.
01Visit music.youtube.com in Chrome or Microsoft Edge and sign in to your Premium account.
02Click the install icon in the address bar, if available, and follow the prompts. You can skip this step and continue in your browser.
03Search for the music you want to save.
04Open the three-dot menu for the song, album, or playlist. If Download is available, select it and wait for the download to finish.
05Look for the Downloads section in YouTube Music to access your saved music when you're offline.
Read More : How to Download Music from YouTube to Computer (MP3 & Free Methods)
Part 3. How to Listen to YouTube Music Offline for Free
YouTube Music Premium keeps offline downloads inside its app, which can be limiting if you want to play music on other devices. Is there another way to save YouTube Music for offline playback across all devices? Yes, that is ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. It supports Windows and Mac, letting you download music as regular audio files and transfer to other devices.
It supports six output formats — MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B — with adjustable audio settings and track metadata. Here's how it compares with Premium and how to use it.
YouTube Music Premium vs. ViWizard YouTube Music Converter
| Feature | YouTube Music Premium | ViWizard YouTube Music Converter |
|---|---|---|
| Account Required | Google account + Premium | YouTube Music account |
| Price | $11.99 per month | Paid, with free trial |
| Expiration | Must sync every 30 days or files expire | Permanent |
| Ownership | App-restricted downloads | Regular audio files |
| Supported Devices | Mobile; eligible desktops | Windows and Mac |
| Output Format | App-managed downloads | MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, M4B |
| Max Quality | Up to 256 kbps AAC | Up to 320 kbps; source-dependent |
| Supported Sources | YouTube Music catalog | 11+ streaming services (including YouTube Music) |
| Batch Downloads | Songs, albums, playlists | Multiple tracks at once |
| Offline Playback | Within YouTube Music | Compatible audio players |
Download YouTube Music for Offline Listening with ViWizard
Need YouTube Music for offline listening? ViWizard YouTube Music Converter helps YouTube Music users save songs, playlists, albums, and artists with convenient music conversion. Start converting and enjoy your music beyond the app.
Step 1. Customize the Output Settings
Open ViWizard and click Settings in the bottom-left corner. Go to Conversion and choose your preferred format: MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B. Adjust the bitrate and sample rate if needed, then set your output folder and file organization preferences.
Step 2. Open YouTube Music in ViWizard
Click Music in the left sidebar and select YouTube Music. The built-in web player will open. Sign in to your account, then browse or search for the songs, albums, or playlists you want to save.
Step 3. Add Songs to the Conversion List
Open the song, album, or playlist and click the green + button. ViWizard will analyze the page and display the available tracks. Select the songs you want to download and click Add to List. You can select multiple tracks to process together.
Step 4. Convert and Locate Your Music
Click Converting at the top to review your selected tracks, then click Convert in the bottom-left corner to start. When the conversion finishes, open History in the sidebar and click the folder icon to locate your saved audio files. You can now organize them, transfer them to a compatible device, and listen offline.
⭐A Quick Tip: MP3 is a practical choice if you want files that work with a wide range of devices. If you prefer lossless audio, FLAC or WAV may suit you better, provided the source has the quality you want.
Transfer Downloads to Android and iOS
Now it's time to transfer your downloaded music to your phone for easy offline listening. You can also use a USB cable to move the files to other devices.
For Android:
01Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable and choose File Transfer mode.
02Open your phone's storage, go to the Music folder, and drag your converted MP3 files into it.
03Open any music player app like Musicolet or VLC to listen offline.
For iPhone:
01Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes or Finder.
02Drag your audio files into the Songs library and click Sync.
03Or use a cloud service like iCloud Drive or Dropbox to download the files to your Music app.
Read More : 17 Best Free/Paid YouTube Music Downloaders in 2026
Part 4. FAQs About Listening to YouTube Music Offline
On how many devices can I have YouTube Music offline downloads?
YouTube Music Premium allows offline downloads on up to 10 devices. You can replace authorized devices up to four times per year. If you reach the device limit, you may need to remove an existing device before downloading music on another one.
Will I lose my downloads if I cancel YouTube Music Premium?
Yes. Once your Premium benefits end, you can no longer access your Premium music downloads for offline playback. If you cancel, your benefits generally remain active until the end of your current billing period.
Why is my YouTube Music not working offline?
Common reasons include:
- Your Premium subscription has expired.
- Your songs weren't fully downloaded before you went offline.
- Your device hasn't reconnected to the internet within the required 30-day period.
- Your device is running low on storage, or the app has a technical issue.
Check your subscription, confirm that the songs appear under Downloads, reconnect to the internet, and restart the app if necessary.
How many songs can I download for offline listening?
With YouTube Music Premium, you can download up to 5,000 songs per device for offline playback.
Can I transfer my YouTube Music downloads to a USB drive?
Not directly. Official YouTube Music downloads are stored for playback within the app and can't be copied as ordinary audio files. If you want transferable files, ViWizard YouTube Music Converter offers an alternative for saving tracks in formats such as MP3, FLAC, and WAV, which you can transfer to compatible devices. Use it in accordance with applicable copyright rules and YouTube's terms.
If you're a fan of YouTube Music's vast library and offline mode, understanding where your downloads locate and managing them effectively is a must.
Conclusion
Now you're all set to take your favorite music offline! If the YouTube Music app works for you, just download your playlists ahead of time. And if you'd rather keep songs as regular audio files for other devices, ViWizard is another option to consider. Whichever way you go, get your music ready, put on your headphones, and enjoy the tunes wherever the day takes you.
You May Be Interested
How to Block/Remove Ads on YouTube Music without Premium
Latest Guidance to Get YouTube Premium for Free Forever
How to Fix YouTube Music Shuffle Not Working
YouTube Music to WAV: How to Convert & Download WAV Files Losslessly
How to Play YouTube Music in the Background
How to Download YouTube Music to USB without Premium
From new releases to old favorites, Matt Smith is always on the lookout for good music. He follows the latest in digital entertainment and shares songs and media he thinks are worth checking out.
Leave a Comment (0)