YouTube error · Occasional
YouTube Premium offline download not working — fix the save-for-offline
You're a Premium subscriber and the download icon should be available for offline saves. But the download button is missing, greyed out, or downloads start and immediately fail. The official offline-download flow that Premium gives you isn't working.
Why this happens
- Premium subscription not recognized on this device — see /fix/youtube-premium-not-recognized.
- Storage too low — Premium needs ~1 GB minimum free space.
- Specific video has download disabled by the uploader.
- Region restriction — Premium offline isn't available in some countries.
- Account on YouTube Music plan only (doesn't include video offline).
How to fix it
- 1
Verify Premium is recognized
youtube.com/paid_memberships — confirm Premium is active for the account you're using. Multi-account confusion is the #1 cause.
- 2
Free up device storage
Need at least 500 MB - 1 GB free. The download will fail silently if storage is tight.
- 3
Check if the video allows download
Some videos have download disabled at the uploader's discretion. The download icon won't appear at all.
- 4
Confirm your plan tier
YouTube Music plan = music offline only. YouTube Premium = video offline included. Plans page shows what you have.
- 5
Use a downloader if Premium offline doesn't cover your case
For content where Premium offline fails (regional restrictions, download-disabled videos, format flexibility), browser-based downloaders like VidPickr work independently of Premium.