How to Download a YouTube Video on iPhone
The YouTube app cannot save videos to Photos, and App Store downloaders are limited. The browser route is the one that works: copy the link, resolve it, then save the file through iOS.
Copy the link
- 1Open the video in YouTube.
- 2Tap Share, then Copy link.
- 3For Shorts, use the same Share → Copy link action.
Resolve it in Safari
Open downloadtray.com in Safari, paste the link and press Download. The result card shows the title, channel and available MP4.
Do not use the YouTube in-app browser for the download step; it blocks file saves. Safari or Chrome is the reliable choice.
Save to Photos
Tap Save to device. If the share sheet appears, choose Save Video. If the file goes to Files, open Files → Downloads, tap the MP4, then Share → Save Video.
- 1Tap Save to device.
- 2Choose Save Video, or open the file in Files.
- 3Confirm it is in Photos → Recents.
What does not work
Private, age-restricted and region-locked videos are refused. DownloadTray tells you which case it is instead of returning a different file.
The resolver returns one standard stream, so expect 360p rather than 4K. That is a limit of the source, not of your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download YouTube videos in the YouTube app?
No. The app only offers offline viewing inside YouTube, not a file you can keep. Use Safari and the browser flow.
Why does the video fail?
The most common causes are private, age-restricted, live or region-locked videos. The error message names the reason.
Does it work for Shorts?
Yes. Shorts links resolve the same way and keep their vertical aspect ratio.