How you save a YouTube Short depends on what you need. For a copy of your own upload, use YouTube Studio or Google Takeout. To watch someone else’s video offline, use YouTube’s download feature where it is available. An offline download is not permission to edit or republish the video.
Can you download YouTube Shorts?
Yes, in three official ways. Each one gives you something different:
| Method | Who can use it | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Studio download | The channel that uploaded the Short | An MP4 file in 720p or 360p |
| YouTube Premium download | Premium members where Premium is available | Offline playback inside YouTube, up to 29 days |
| Save to a playlist | Anyone signed in | A link you can find again, no file |
YouTube does not offer a button that saves another creator’s Short to your phone’s gallery. Sites and apps that promise this work outside YouTube’s download options.
Choose the right kind of copy
- Your own video file: start with the original on your phone or computer, then use YouTube’s export tools if you need a backup.
- Offline viewing: use the supported download option and play it through YouTube.
- A file for a new project: ask the creator for a source file and permission that covers your intended use.
A saved link or playlist is enough if you only want to find a Short again. That avoids filling your device with files and keeps the route back to the original creator.
Download your own Short from Studio
- Sign in to YouTube Studio with the channel that uploaded it.
- Open Content and find the Short.
- Open its menu and choose Download, if that option is available.
YouTube’s download instructions describe MP4 exports at 720p or 360p depending on the video size. Do not assume this is your original full-quality master. Keep the source recording and editing project separately if you plan to make another version.
When the Studio download is missing
The Studio help page lists the cases where you cannot download your own video:
- the video was removed from YouTube,
- it has a copyright or Community Guidelines strike,
- it uses a preapproved audio track,
- you already downloaded it five times that day. The option comes back after a day.
You also cannot download other users’ videos from Studio. If you trimmed or blurred a Short in the editor, you can download the edited version and upload it again.
Back up multiple uploads with Google Takeout
For a larger archive, use Google Takeout. Choose the relevant YouTube data, select an export and delivery method, and follow the download instructions when the archive is ready. If a channel is missing, check whether you need to switch to its Brand Account.
Open a sample of the exported files before relying on the backup. Store a second copy somewhere separate from the device used for editing. Exporting data does not delete the uploads from Google.
Watch offline on a phone or computer
Where supported, YouTube Premium provides offline viewing on mobile and supported desktop browsers. Open the video and use Download when offered, then find it in YouTube’s Downloads area while signed in with the same account. Availability depends on the video, location and account.
This is managed offline access, not an MP4 export to your gallery. YouTube requires periodic internet checks, and a video can become unavailable. If you cannot see a download option, check the official help rather than assuming that changing the URL will enable it.
Download steps with YouTube Premium
- Sign in with your Premium account.
- Open the video and select Download below the player, or in the menu of the app.
- Find it later under Downloads: in the left menu on youtube.com or in the You tab of the app.
Downloads work in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera on a computer. Downloaded videos play offline for up to 29 days. In some countries the limit is 48 hours without a connection. To change the file size, open Settings, Downloads, Download quality. Higher quality uses more storage and takes longer.
Save a Short without downloading it
- Open the Short in the YouTube app.
- Tap the three dot menu.
- Choose Save to playlist and pick Watch later or a playlist of your own.
The Short stays linked to the creator, takes no space on your phone and stays in your library until you remove it or the creator deletes it.
Check permission before reusing another creator’s Short
YouTube’s terms limit downloading and other uses to what the service authorizes, the required written permissions, or applicable law. A downloader’s ability to produce a file does not settle those permissions.
The copyright guidance also distinguishes permission, licenses and legal exceptions. Giving credit alone does not grant reuse rights. Educational use, a screen recording or a Creative Commons label should not be treated as automatic approval for every use, especially when music or other third-party material is involved.
If you want to include a clip in a new project, keep a record of the permission and its limits. Sharing the original link is a simpler option when you only want someone else to watch it.
For your own next upload, see how to improve YouTube Shorts engagement. If you are planning income from original Shorts, read the separate monetization guide. To give a new Short a first push, see our YouTube Shorts views packages.
Common questions
Can you download YouTube Shorts to your phone?
Yes. With YouTube Premium you can download a Short for offline viewing in the app. For your own Shorts, YouTube Studio gives you an MP4 file.
Can you download YouTube Shorts with Premium?
Yes, where Premium is available. Downloads play inside YouTube for up to 29 days, or 48 hours in some countries, before you need to reconnect.
Where are downloaded Shorts saved?
In the Downloads section of YouTube: the You tab in the app or the left menu on youtube.com. They do not appear in your phone’s gallery.
Why is there no download button?
You may not be signed in to Premium, Premium may not be available in your country, or the video may not allow downloads.
How many times can I download my own Short?
Up to five times per day for each video in YouTube Studio. The option returns the next day.
Sources
Reviewed October 28, 2026.