You can download purchased or rented YouTube Movies for offline viewing only in the YouTube mobile app. Free-with-ads titles are not downloadable. Rentals typically expire in 48 hours after playback starts (or 30 days after rent).
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Unlike other streaming services, YouTube combines OTT content with common video sharing. It may not be the biggest streaming site, but it can be regarded as the largest video site. YouTube applies different playback and offline rules to Movies & TV titles, and the available quality can vary by title and device. In practice, the safest approach is to follow YouTube’s official options for offline viewing and only use any extra “management” tools within YouTube’s terms and applicable copyright rules.
In this article, I’ll walk through the official way to watch YouTube Movies offline on mobile, plus a more general desktop-friendly approach for organizing and managing videos you’re legitimately entitled to access (availability and retention still depend on YouTube’s rules).
Can You Download YouTube Movies?
Yes, you can. But note that the official limitations affect you if you can use the official download function. If you don't know why you can't download the just-purchased YouTube movies & shows like Nobody or Small Things Like These, check if these limitations are blocking the way.
- The download feature is only available for iOS 11 and Android 16.23 or higher
- Download devices up to a quota of five for purchased/rented YouTube movies
- Free-with-ads YouTube movies are undownloadable
- Rented movies and TV show episodes can only be downloaded on one device at a time.
- UHD quality is not available for download
- Not supporting batch download of multiple episodes
- Rented YouTube movies expire in 48 hours after starting to play or in 30 days total.
- Offline downloads are tied to your account and device quota. UHD downloads aren’t available in the official app, and only one device can keep a rental at a time.
How to Download YouTube Movies?
1. Download YouTube Movies via the YouTube App
The official way to download YouTube movies is to use the YouTube app. The download function is not just open to YouTube Premium subscribers. As long as you paid for or rented the movies you’re interested in on YouTube, they can be downloaded on a mobile device and watched offline.
To download rented or paid YouTube movies to your phone, you can follow these steps:
Download and install the YouTube app on your mobile device. Log in to it and make sure you have already purchased or rented the movie you want.
Move to "Your movies & TV." Press the movie you prefer. Then you can see a download button below the movie cover image.
Hit the download button to start downloading. Wait for a while, and then you can view the YouTube movies you rented or purchased offline.
- Only the trailer shows: make sure the title is purchased/rented under the same account.
- “Wi-Fi only” blocks downloads: turn it off under Background & Downloads.
- Device quota reached: delete downloads from an old device before trying again.
- Only 480p is available: movie downloads in the app don’t support UHD.
- Rental expired: start within 30 days and finish within 48 hours after playback.
Now you know how to download YouTube movies officially, for the rented and purchased ones. Then what if you want to download YouTube videos in higher quality?
2. Download YouTube Movies in 1080p via StreamFab
If you prefer watching on a desktop, you’ll usually be relying on YouTube’s own availability and rules. Some desktop tools focus on helping you manage supported videos more conveniently on your computer, but what you can save and how long you can keep it still depends on your entitlement and YouTube’s terms
StreamFab YouTube Downloader Ultimate is a desktop app for Windows and Mac that lets you save YouTube videos you’re legitimately allowed to access, so nothing shady here. You can pick MP4 or MKV—handy if your phone is a fossil. Of course, what you can grab, how clear it looks, and how long you keep it still depends on YouTube’s rules and what your account lets you do.
- Download YouTube movies and shows in up to 1080p with AAC 2.0 stereo audio
- Rip common YouTube videos up to 8k with HDR
- Support downloading 360° YouTube videos
- Save supported videos as common MP4 or MKV formats for easier playback across your personal devices, while keeping usage within YouTube’s terms and applicable copyright rules.
- Provide a more convenient offline viewing workflow where supported, and always follow YouTube’s rules on ads, playback, and content usage.
- Batch download YouTube movies in the queue with minimal effort
- A clean built-in browser for simple and effective operations
If you choose to use a desktop tool, start by confirming you’re legitimately entitled to access the title in your region/account. From there, follow the in-app prompts for personal offline viewing and library management, and keep everything within YouTube’s terms and applicable copyright rules.
Sign in with the account you use to access the content, and select the title you’re legitimately entitled to watch.
The app may take a moment to load the available options for the selected title, depending on your network conditions.
You may see settings related to video quality, audio, and subtitles. What’s available can vary by title and is ultimately limited by the options provided for your account/device.
Official App vs StreamFab: Feature Comparison
| Criteria | YouTube App (Official) | StreamFab |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Content | Purchased/Rented only | Movies & common videos |
| Max Quality | Up to 480p (movies) | Movies up to 1080p; videos up to 8K HDR |
| File Type | App-managed offline files | MP4/MKV (device-compatible formats) |
| Device & Expiration | Subject to YouTube’s device rules and rental window | Availability still depends on your entitlement and YouTube’s rules |
| Batch Download | Not supported | Supported (queue) |
| Complexity | Very easy | Easy (built-in browser) |
| Compliance Notes | Personal offline use only | Personal offline use only |
* Availability of 1080p/8K depends on the source quality.
FAQs
No. Premium helps with ad-free viewing and downloads for commonly user-uploaded videos, but not paid Movies & TV rentals/purchases.
Check if you’re on the mobile app, signed into the purchasing account, and the title is still within the rental or ownership period. Free-with-ads movies are not downloadable.
No. Offline availability for Movies & TV is governed by YouTube’s rules (including rental windows and device/account limits). Desktop tools may help with organizing supported videos in common formats for personal playback, but they don’t change YouTube’s entitlement rules—always follow the platform terms and applicable copyright laws.
The available quality depends on the source. The official app limits movies, while StreamFab supports up to 1080p for movies and 8K for common videos when the source allows.
Nope. For rental or purchase of required YouTube movies, they are only downloadable on your phone after you have finished the payment. Except for the free movies on YouTube.
However, StreamFab YouTube Movies Downloader offers a trial so you can evaluate the workflow with a limited number of titles. What’s available will still depend on what your account is legitimately entitled to access and YouTube’s offline rules, and it should be used for personal, non-commercial viewing only.
Download quality and offline options for Movies & TV can vary by title and device in the YouTube app. If you’re watching on desktop, some tools focus on convenience—like organizing supported titles and picking the best available playback settings—while still staying within YouTube’s terms and your account entitlements.
Wrap-up
If you want to watch movies from YouTube in high quality without annoying buffering, downloading them can really help. I’d only use these tricks for myself, and I wouldn’t try making money off someone else’s work, so it seems only fair to the folks who made the videos in the first place. Honestly, I hope these steps make it easier for you to grab YouTube movies or TV episodes and enjoy them in a satisfying quality.
Use any offline viewing or video management features for personal, non-commercial purposes only, and only for content you’re legitimately entitled to access. Do not download titles that are not authorized for offline use, do not attempt to deal with any platform technical measures, and do not share or redistribute any saved files. Always follow YouTube’s terms and applicable copyright laws.
