While the perfect playlist makes for a great companion during an intense gym session, long road trip, or weekend getaway, that's not all you need. A reliable internet connection can make or break your music streaming experience.
That's where downloading music comes in. This is a common feature among music streaming apps. However, YouTube Music offers two methods to download music. Find out what they are and how to use them below.
What You Need to Know Before Downloading Songs on YouTube Music
First and foremost, YouTube Music's download and smart download features are only available to YouTube Music Premium subscribers. If you want to have access to it, consider whether YouTube Music Premium is worth the money.
Please note that you can only download music for offline listening on your mobile device. You must connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads.
Struggling to connect? Learn how to fix an unstable Wi-Fi connection.
You can download pretty much anything on YouTube Music, including the following categories:
- Playlists
- Radio stations
- Songs
- Albums
- Podcasts (you can also download these on YouTube Music's free version)
- Live performances
- Music videos—which are one of YouTube Music's best features.
How to Manually Download Songs, Playlists, and More on YouTube Music
You can download your favorite tunes on the YouTube Music app for Android, iPhone, and iPad. Here's how:
- Open the YouTube Music app on your device.
- Select a song, playlist, album, music video, radio station, podcast episode, or live performance.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Download. You can also tap and hold the song or item and choose Download.
And that's it. YouTube Music will download and store the content you chose on your phone. You can turn off your Wi-Fi and give it a try.
How to Use Smart Downloads on YouTube Music
YouTube's Smart Downloads feature automatically downloads up to 500 songs based on your streaming history. This ensures that you always have something to listen to when offline while eliminating any admin on your part.
Follow the instructions below to enable YouTube Music's Smart Downloads on your mobile device.
- Open the YouTube Music app and go to your Profile.
- Tap Downloads and select the Settings icon at the top.
- Toggle on Smart Downloads. YouTube Music will immediately start downloading music, which you can find under Downloads. Here, you can manage your downloads. (To delete a download, tap the three-dot menu next to it and choose the Remove download option.)
How YouTube Music's Smart Downloads Works
The Smart Downloads feature automatically downloads up to 500 songs based on your streaming history. It downloads music every day without your prompting. All that's required on your part is a Wi-Fi connection, storage space, and a sufficient battery on your phone.
Moreover, Smart Downloads don't affect the music you download yourself, so you don't have to worry about losing it.
Stay Entertained Offline With YouTube Music
Music streaming services have a ton of useful features, and downloading music is one of the most convenient. They come in handy when you're in an area with a spotty internet connection, or your Wi-Fi is acting up.
YouTube Music's Smart Downloads feature takes things up a notch by anticipating your needs and downloading music just in case you need to listen to something while offline. With music downloads, you'll never be without music as long as your phone is charged.