Save YouTube Videos to Camera Roll
Download YouTube videos directly to your phone's photo gallery for easy access, sharing, and offline viewing.
iPhone: Save to Camera Roll
Method 1: Documents by Readdle
- Install "Documents by Readdle" from App Store (free)
- Open Documents app → Browser tab
- Visit an online YouTube downloader
- Paste YouTube URL and download video
- Tap downloaded file → Share → Save Video
- Video now in Photos app
Method 2: Shortcuts App
- Open Shortcuts app (built-in iOS)
- Search for "YouTube Download" shortcuts
- Add trusted shortcut to library
- Share YouTube video → Run Shortcut
- Select quality → Save to Photos
Tip: Videos saved to Camera Roll count toward iCloud storage if Photo Library sync is enabled.
Android: Save to Gallery
Method 1: TubeMate
- Install TubeMate APK
- Search or paste YouTube URL
- Tap download button
- Select quality and save location
- Videos auto-save to Gallery/Videos folder
Method 2: NewPipe
- Install NewPipe from F-Droid or GitHub
- Search for video
- Tap Download icon
- Choose "Gallery" as save location
- Video appears in Google Photos
Method 3: VidMate
- Simple interface
- One-tap save to gallery
- Supports multiple formats
- Fast downloads
File Management Tips
iPhone:
- Videos save to "Recents" album in Photos
- Create dedicated "YouTube" album for organization
- Videos take up device storage (not iCloud)
- Can AirDrop to Mac or iPad
Android:
- Videos appear in Gallery or Google Photos
- Stored in DCIM or Movies folder
- Easy to move to SD card
- Share via any app
Storage Considerations
| Quality | 10-min Video | 1-hour Video |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ~500 MB | ~3 GB |
| 720p | ~250 MB | ~1.5 GB |
| 480p | ~150 MB | ~900 MB |
Sharing from Camera Roll
Once videos are in your photo gallery:
- WhatsApp: Direct share from Photos
- Instagram: Upload to stories or feed
- TikTok: Use as video source
- Email: Attach from gallery
- Cloud Storage: Upload to Google Drive, Dropbox
Troubleshooting
Video Won't Save to Photos:
- Check app permissions (Photos access)
- Ensure sufficient storage space
- Try different download app
- Restart phone and try again
Video Not Appearing in Gallery:
- Wait a few seconds for media scan
- Check Downloads folder manually
- Force refresh gallery app
- Move file manually to DCIM folder
Best Practices
- Regularly clean up old downloads
- Use lower quality for storage savings
- Create separate albums for organization
- Back up important videos to cloud
- Check storage before downloading long videos