9 Easy Fixes for YouTube Not Downloading Videos

YouTube is a popular platform for watching and sharing videos, but sometimes you may encounter issues with downloading videos or with youtube premium not working in general. Whether you are using an Android device, iPhone, or computer, there are several simple fixes you can try to resolve this problem. In this article, we will explore nine easy solutions to help you get back to downloading your favorite YouTube videos.

1. Check Your Premium Membership Status

If you have a YouTube Premium subscription, one of the most common reasons why you might not be able to download videos is if your subscription has expired or if you are using the wrong account. To fix this, head over to the purchases section in the YouTube app and check your subscription status. If your subscription has expired, you will need to renew it to regain access to downloading videos.

2. Make Sure YouTube Premium Is Available in Your Region

YouTube Premium is not available in all countries. If you can't download YouTube videos despite having an active Premium subscription, you may be in an unsupported country or region. Visit Google's support page to view a list of countries where YouTube Premium is available. If you have traveled to a region where YouTube Premium is not supported, you will not be able to download YouTube videos or access other Premium benefits.

3. Sign Out and Sign Back In

Temporary issues with your YouTube account can sometimes prevent you from downloading videos for offline use. Signing out of YouTube and signing back in usually resolves these issues. Simply click the profile icon in the top right corner of the YouTube app on your desktop or follow the specific steps for signing out on Android or iPhone devices. After signing back in, try to download videos again.

4. Turn Off Download Over Wi-Fi Only Option (Mobile)

YouTube downloads may become stuck on ‘Waiting' if you have set the app to download videos only over Wi-Fi. To fix this, open the YouTube app, go to Settings, tap on Background & downloads, and turn off the toggle next to Download over Wi-Fi only.

5. Enable Background Data for YouTube (Android)

If the YouTube app does not have the necessary permission to use data in the background, it may fail to download videos for offline playback. To enable background data for YouTube on Android, long press on the YouTube app icon, tap the info icon, and then go to Mobile data. Turn on the toggles next to Allow background data usage and Allow data usage while Data saver is on.

6. Free up Storage Space (Mobile)

If your phone's storage is nearly full, it may prevent YouTube from downloading videos. To free up storage space, check the storage status of your Android or iPhone and delete unnecessary files or transfer them to the cloud.

7. Check if YouTube Is Down

Sometimes YouTube may experience server outages, which can affect the ability to download videos. You can check YouTube's server status on a website like Downdetector to see if others are experiencing similar issues. If the servers are down, simply wait for some time and then try again.

8. Clear App Cache (Android)

Outdated or corrupted cache data associated with the YouTube app can cause download issues. To fix this on Android, long-press on the YouTube app icon, tap the info icon, go to Storage, and tap the Clear cache option. If your Chrome YouTube is slow, try clearing Chrome's cache data.

9. Update the App (Mobile)

Using an outdated version of the YouTube app can also lead to download issues. Head over to the App Store or Play Store to update the YouTube app and check if that solves the problem.

From Online to Offline

YouTube download issues should not prevent you from enjoying your favorite videos offline. By following these nine easy fixes, you can resolve the problem and start downloading YouTube videos on your phone or computer as usual.