If you've ever used YouTube Music's download feature, you might have wondered: when you download music from YouTube, where does it actually go? It's a common question, especially for those who want to enjoy their favorite tracks offline but can't seem to find them in their phone's storage. While the app makes listening easy, it doesn't clearly show where those downloads are stored—or why they don't appear like regular music files.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how YouTube Music handles downloads, where to find them, and why they aren't as straightforward as they seem.
Part 1. How to Download Music from YouTube Music
Before we move on to the YouTube Music download location, let's quickly recap how to download music from YouTube Music in case your download didn't go through. This feature is available only for YouTube Premium users, so you'll need an active subscription to save songs for offline listening.
1.1 On Mobile (Android/iOS)
Mobile users have two distinct ways to manage their offline library: letting the app handle downloads automatically or selecting tracks manually.
Way 1: Smart Downloads (Automatic)
This feature uses machine learning to automatically download up to 500 songs based on your listening history so you always have fresh music available offline.
Step 1 Open the YouTube Music app and tap your profile picture.
Step 2 Go to Downloads > Settings (gear icon).
Step 3 Toggle on Smart downloads.
Way 2: Manual Downloads
If you want specific albums or playlists to stay on your device regardless of your listening habits, use the manual method.
Step 1 Find the song, album, or playlist you want to download.
Step 2 Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the title for individual songs. Select Download from the options.
Step 3 For the entire playlists or albums, you can tap the download arrow icon on the page for one-tap offline saving.
1.2 On Desktop (Web player)
YouTube Music now supports official downloads on desktop through its web player and Progressive Web App (PWA). This feature currently works for individual songs and podcast episodes and requires a YouTube Premium membership.
Step 1 Open the YouTube Music web player in a browser.
Step 2 Navigate to a specific song or podcast episode.
Step 3 Click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the title.
Step 4 Select Download to save it for offline listening.
Part 2. Where Does YouTube Music Download To?
But even though it looks like you've downloaded music, the files you get aren't typical audio files like MP3s. Instead, YouTube Music stores them as encrypted cache files within the app. That means you can't play them outside of the YouTube Music app, move them to another device, or open them in another player. If you try to access the files directly, you'll likely see an unsupported file type error.
The system is designed to protect the music and keep it locked within YouTube's ecosystem. So, if you've ever wondered why you can't find your downloaded music in your file manager or transfer it freely, this is the reason.
2.1 Where Does YouTube Music Download to on Android?
But if you simply want to locate the songs downloaded to your device, there is a workaround on Android. By following the steps below, you can find the encrypted cache files stored on your device. These files are not in an open format and cannot be played outside the YouTube Music app, but locating them can help you manage storage and understand how downloads occupy space on your device.
Way 1. Locate YouTube Downloads in Phone's Internal Memory
On most Android phones, YouTube Music downloads are saved in your device's internal system folders. The exact location may vary slightly depending on your Android version, but it is usually found here: Android > data > com.google.android.apps.youtube.music > files > music
Follow these steps to locate the files. Note that on non-rooted devices, this folder may appear empty or contain unreadable encrypted data.
Step 1 Open the File Manager app on your phone.
Step 2 Go to Internal Storage.
Step 3 Tap the Android folder.
Step 4 Select data.
Step 5 If you see an "Access Restricted" message, tap Confirm/OK, then choose Use this folder to grant permission.
Step 6 Scroll down and find com.google.android.apps.youtube.music.
Step 7 Open files > music.
Keep in mind that the downloaded files are encrypted and cannot be played outside the YouTube Music app.
Way 2. Locate YouTube Downloads in SD Card
If your phone supports expandable storage, you can save space on internal memory by storing downloads on your SD card. To enable this:
Step 1 Open YouTube Music and tap your profile picture.
Step 2 Go to Settings > Downloads & storage.
Step 3 Toggle on Use SD card.
Once enabled, downloads will be stored on the SD card in this directory: [SD_Card_ID]/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.youtube.music/files/
2.2 Where Does YouTube Music Download to on iPhone?
Unlike Android, YouTube Music downloads on iPhone are stored only within the YouTube Music app. Apple's iOS restricts direct access to app file systems, so offline songs do not appear as open files in your storage or File app. To manage or access your downloads, use these built-in methods:
Way 1. Find All YouTube Downloads in YTM App Settings
Step 1 Open the YouTube Music app on your phone.
Step 2 At the top of your screen, tap your profile picture.
Step 3 Tap Downloads. Here you can find all your YouTube Music downloads.
Way 2. Find YouTube Songs/Playlists/Albums Downloads
Step 1 Open the YouTube Music app on your phone.
Step 2 Tap Library.
Step 3 At the top of your screen, tap the category filter which music content type you've downloaded, such as Songs, Albums, or Playlists. Here you can find the specific type of your YouTube Music downloads.
2.3 Where Does YouTube Music Download to on PC?
When you download music from the YouTube Music web player or Progressive Web App (PWA) on a PC, the files are not saved as regular MP3s on your hard drive. Instead, downloads are stored in encrypted cache data inside your browser or PWA environment. This allows offline playback within YouTube Music but prevents access to open audio files.
To find and manage downloads on your computer:
Step 1 Open the YouTube Music web player or PWA.
Step 2 Go to Downloads in the sidebar or settings.
Step 3 You'll see the downloads and the option to clear offline downloads to free up space.
Part 3. How to Download YouTube Music Locally to Your Device
Now you know that YouTube Music downloads are not real music files you can use outside the app. If you want proper files like MP3 or other playable formats that you can store, move, and play on any device, there is a solution. The reliable option is ViWizard YouTube Music Converter.
ViWizard YouTube Music Converter works with YouTube Music and lets both Premium and free users download songs, albums, playlists, and podcast episodes directly to your device, including computers and mobile devices. It can convert music from YouTube to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B formats while keeping full ID3 tags and original quality. After downloading, you can transfer the files to any device and play them on any media player.
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.
How to Download YouTube Music as Local Files
Step 1 Set the Output Format for YouTube Music Downloads
Download, install, and launch ViWizard YouTube Music Converter. Click Menu > Preferences > Conversion and choose your output format. You can also adjust the bitrate and sample rate for higher quality. Select a folder on your PC or Mac to store the output files, then click OK to save the settings.
Step 2 Sign in to the Built-in YouTube Music Web Player
Click the YouTube Music icon within the ViWizard interface to open the built-in web player. Sign in to your account to access your library and playlists.
Step 3 Select and Add Music
Browse for the songs, albums, or playlists you want to download. Click the + (Add) button. A list of tracks will appear. Check the specific tracks or all tracks, then click Add to List.
Step 4 Convert to Local Files
Open the conversion list and click Convert. When the process finishes, click the folder icon to locate the downloaded files on your computer's hard drive.
Step 5 Transfer YouTube Music to Your Phone (iPhone & Android)
After downloading and saving your YouTube Music tracks on your computer, you can transfer them to your phone for offline listening. The steps differ slightly for iPhone and Android.
From Windows/Mac to Android:
Connect your Android phone to your computer using a USB cable.
On your phone, swipe down the notification panel and select USB for File Transfer (MTP).
On your computer, open your phone's storage.
Drag and drop the converted music files into the Music folder on your Android device.
From Windows to iPhone (Using iTunes):
Open iTunes and drag your music files into the library.
Connect your iPhone to the PC.
Click the device icon, go to the Music tab, and check Sync Music.
Click Apply to sync the files.
From Mac to iPhone (Using Finder):
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.
Open Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
Go to the Music tab and check Sync music onto [iPhone Name].
Select the tracks you converted and click Apply.
Part 4. Bonus Tips for Managing Your YouTube Music Downloads
To ensure the best offline listening experience while keeping your device running smoothly, follow these tips for managing your YouTube Music library.
1. Adjust Download Audio Quality
By default, YouTube Music may download files at a lower quality to save data. If you have enough storage space, you can improve sound quality:
Open the YouTube Music app on mobile.
Go to Settings > Downloads & storage > Audio quality.
Choose High (256kbps) for better sound quality or Low to save space.
2. Set Downloads to Wi-Fi Only
To avoid accidental data charges, restrict downloads to Wi-Fi:
In the YouTube Music app for mobile.
Go to Settings > Downloads & storage.
Toggle on Download over Wi-Fi only.
3. Monitor and Free Up Storage Space
If your phone is running low on storage, you can clear all the downloads in the settings of the YTM app. Instead of deleting songs one by one, do this:
Open the YouTube Music app on your phone.
Go to Settings > Downloads & storage > Clear downloads to remove all offline content at once.
4. Keep Your Offline Music Active
Downloads require an active YouTube Premium membership. If your subscription expires and you later renew it, you may need to download music again.
Even if your membership is active, make sure you log in to the YouTube Music app at least once every 30 days. This keeps your downloads accessible and playable.
If you prefer a permanent backup of your music collection, a tool like ViWizard YouTube Music Converter can create local files that do not depend on a subscription.
Conclusion
Now armed with this guide, you're in control of your YouTube Music experience. Whether you're jamming offline or using ViWizard YouTube Music Converter, you've got the upper hand. Embrace the world of downloads and enjoy your tunes on your terms. Your favorite songs are no longer bound by connectivity – they're with you, whenever and wherever. Happy listening!
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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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