How to Save a Youtube Video to Camera Roll

hey, friend! Want to save your favorite YouTube videos straight to your phone’s camera roll to watch anytime, like on a road trip or in a spot with no Wi-Fi? It’s super cool to have those videos ready, but YouTube has strict rules about downloading, so we’ll stick to safe, legal methods. This guide help you in How to Save a Youtube Video to Camera Roll.

Why Save YouTube Videos?

Saving YouTube videos to your camera roll is great for these reasons:

• Watch videos without Wi-Fi or data, perfect for travel or remote areas.
• Skip annoying ads for a smooth experience.
• Share clips easily with friends via apps like WhatsApp or iMessage.
• Use videos for fun projects, like making short edits or social media reels.
• Access videos quickly from your phone’s gallery without opening apps.

Important: YouTube’s Terms of Service don’t allow downloading videos without permission, except through YouTube Premium. Downloading the wrong way can break rules or bring malware from risky apps or websites. Always use legal methods or get the creator’s permission to stay safe and respect content creators.

Method 1: Use YouTube Premium (Legal and Easy)

YouTube Premium is the simplest, legal way to save videos. It costs $13.99/month in the US (as of June 23, 2025), but you get a 30-day free trial. Videos download to the YouTube app, not your camera roll, so you’ll use a screen recording trick to transfer them. Here’s how for iPhone and Android:

For iPhone

• Sign Up for YouTube Premium: Open the YouTube app. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Get YouTube Premium. Follow the prompts to sign up, entering a credit card for the free trial. Confirm your subscription in the App Store.
• Find Your Video: Search for the video you want in the YouTube app. Tap to open it.
• Download the Video: Look for the Download button below the video player. Tap it. Choose a quality (e.g., 720p for good clarity, 1080p for sharper). Wait for the download to finish—check progress in Library > Downloads. Downloads are stored in the app and playable offline.
• Screen Record to Camera Roll: iPhone blocks direct transfer of Premium downloads to your camera roll. Go to Settings > Control Center. Add Screen Recording by tapping the + button next to it. Play the downloaded video in the YouTube app, full-screen. Swipe down to open Control Center. Tap the Record button (circle with a dot). Wait for the 3-second countdown. Record the video. Stop by tapping the red bar at the top and selecting Stop. The recording saves to your Photos app (camera roll).
• Edit if Needed: Open Photos. Tap the video. Tap Edit in the top right. Drag the sliders to trim off extra parts, like the YouTube app’s menus or loading screens. Tap Done to save.

For Android

• Get YouTube Premium: Open the YouTube app. Tap your profile in the top right. Choose Get YouTube Premium. Sign up with your payment details through Google Play. Confirm the subscription.
• Download the Video: Find your video in the app. Tap Download below the video. Select a quality (e.g., 480p to save space, 1080p for high quality). Check Library > Downloads to see the saved video.
• Screen Record to Gallery: Android doesn’t allow direct transfer to the gallery. Go to Settings > System > Screen Record, or swipe down for Quick Settings and find Screen Recorder (location varies by phone, e.g., Samsung vs. Pixel). Play the video in the YouTube app, full-screen. Start recording. Stop when done via Quick Settings or a notification. The video saves to your Gallery or Photos app, usually in a “Screen Recordings” folder.
• Trim the Video: Open Gallery or Photos. Find the video. Tap Edit or the pencil icon. Trim unwanted parts, like the app interface. Tap Save or Save as Copy.

Tip: Play videos full-screen during recording and turn off notifications (enable Do Not Disturb) to keep recordings clean. YouTube Premium is legal, ad-free, and supports creators, but screen recording is needed to get videos to your camera roll.

Method 2: Use a Third-Party App (iPhone)

For iPhone users, the free app Documents by Readdle can download videos to your camera roll using a trusted website. It’s a bit more work but straightforward. Use only safe sites to avoid malware. Here’s how:

• Install Documents by Readdle: Open the App Store. Search for Documents by Readdle. Tap Get to download. Open the app after it installs.
• Copy the Video Link: In the YouTube app, find your video. Tap Share below the video. Tap Copy Link.
• Open the Browser: In Documents, tap the compass icon in the bottom right to open the built-in browser.
• Visit a Downloader Site: Go to a trusted site like y2mate.is. Paste the YouTube link in the search bar. Tap Start or the red arrow button.
• Choose Quality: Select MP4 format for compatibility. Pick a quality, like 720p (good balance) or 1080p (sharper but bigger file). Tap the green Download button, then Download .mp4.
• Save the File: A prompt asks you to name the file. Keep the default name or type a new one. Choose the Downloads folder in Documents. Tap Done to start downloading. A progress bar shows the status.
• Move to Camera Roll: Open Documents. Tap Downloads to find your video. Tap the three dots below the video. Select Share > Save to Photos. Allow Photos access when prompted. The video is now in your camera roll, viewable in the Photos app.

Method 3: Use a Website (Android)

Android users can use a website like a site to download videos to their gallery without extra apps. It’s fast but requires caution to avoid unsafe websites. Here’s the process:

• Copy the Video Link: Open the YouTube app. Find your video. Tap Share below it. Tap Copy Link.
• Open Chrome: Launch Google Chrome on your Android phone. Other browsers like Firefox work too, but Chrome is common.
• Go to a Download Site: Visit a site like y2mate.is in Chrome. Paste the video link in the search bar. Tap Start.
• Pick Quality: Choose MP4 format. Select a quality, like 720p or 1080p. Click the green Download button.
• Download the Video: Tap Download .mp4. Chrome may ask for storage permission—tap Allow. The video saves to your Downloads folder, viewable in the Files app.
• Move to Gallery: Open the Files app (or My Files on Samsung). Go to Downloads. Find the video. Tap it, then Share > Save to Photos. The video is now in your camera roll, usually in the gallery or Photos app.

Method 4: Use a Screen Recording (Free for Both)

If you don’t want to pay for a Premium or use third-party tools, screen recording is a free way to save videos. It creates large files, and quality depends on your screen resolution, but it’s simple. Here’s how:

For iPhone

• Set Up Screen Recording: Go to Settings > Control Center. Tap the + next to Screen Recording to add it to your control center.
• Record the Video: Open the YouTube app. Play the video. Swipe down to open Control Center. Tap the Record button (circle with a dot). Wait for the countdown 3-second. Record the video. Stop recording by tapping the red bar at the top and selecting Stop.
• Download the Video: Find the Video. The recording saves you in Photos app to your camera.
• Edit the Videos: Open the Photos. Tap the video. Trim extra parts you like, with the YouTube app’s interface, with edit the tool.

For Android

• Find the Screen Recorder: Swipe down to Quick Settings to open. Find the Screen Recorder for Look. Or go to Settings > System > Screen Record a. To go on on Samsung, it’s under Features Advanced.
• Record the Video: Play video the YouTube video in app, the full-screen. Start recorder the from screen recording. Keep the video full-screen. Stop and Save: Stop recording via Quick Settings or via a notification. The video saves to your Gallery or Photos.
• Edit a Video: Open Gallery or Photos. Find the video. Tap Edit or the pencil icon. Trim unwanted parts, like the app’s menus. Tap Save or Save as Copy.

Tip: Use full-screen mode and enable Do Not Disturb to avoid notifications in recordings. Adjust screen brightness for better video quality.

Legal and Safety Tips

Here’s how to stay legal and safe:

• Follow YouTube’s Rules: Downloading without permission violates YouTube’s terms. Only use Premium or get creator approval.
• Avoid Risky Apps: Apps like YouTube++ can have malware. Stick to trusted tools like Documents by Readdle or Y2Mate.
• Support Creators: Downloads skip ads, which creators rely on. Premium supports them, or ask for permission.
• Manage Storage: Videos take up space. Delete old files or use apps like CleanMy®Phone (iPhone). Back up to iCloud or Google Photos.
• Check Copyright: Some videos are protected. Respect restrictions to avoid issues.

Bottom Line

Saving a YouTube video to your camera roll is easy with the right steps! YouTube Premium is the safest, legal option—download in the app and screen record to your camera roll. For free methods, use Documents by Readdle on iPhone or Y2Mate on Android with trusted sites, or try screen recording on either phone. Always respect YouTube’s rules and creators’ rights to avoid trouble. Now you’re set to enjoy your videos offline anytime! Got a specific phone or video? Tell me, and I’ll tweak the tips. Happy watching! 🌟

FAQs

Here are answers to common questions about saving YouTube videos:

• Is it free to save YouTube videos?
  Yes, screen recording or using sites like Y2Mate is free, but they may break YouTube’s rules without permission. YouTube Premium ($13.99/month after a 30-day trial) costs money but is legal. Free methods risk malware from unsafe sites, so use trusted tools and check creator permissions.
• Can I save videos without YouTube Premium?
  Yes, use Documents by Readdle (iPhone), Y2Mate (Android), or screen recording. These may violate YouTube’s terms unless you have creator approval. Premium is the only legal way without permission, supporting creators and keeping your device safe.
• Why can’t I move Premium downloads to my camera roll?
  YouTube locks downloads in the app to protect creators’ content from unauthorized sharing. Screen recording lets you capture the video and save it to your camera roll, but it’s an extra step to comply with YouTube’s security.
• Are downloader sites safe?
  Sites like y2mate.is are safer but can have ads or malware risks if you click wrong links. Avoid pop-ups or app downloads. Use Chrome with ad-blockers and scan your phone with antivirus apps like Malwarebytes for safety.
• How much storage do videos take?
  A 5-minute 720p video uses 50–100 MB; 1080p takes 100–200 MB. Screen recordings can hit 300 MB. Check storage in Settings (Storage on Android, iPhone Storage on iOS). Free space by deleting files or backing up to iCloud/Google Photos.
• Can I get in trouble for downloading videos?
  Yes, downloading without permission or Premium breaks YouTube’s terms, risking account bans or legal issues for copyrighted content. Use Premium, get creator permission, or stick to Creative Commons videos to stay safe.
• Why is my screen recording blurry?
  Quality depends on your screen resolution. Set the YouTube video to 720p or 1080p, boost screen brightness, and check Display settings for high resolution. Trim recordings to reduce file size and improve clarity.