• About
    • About German Pearls
    • Reviews and Testimonials
    • Legal Stuff
    • Blogging Resources
  • Contact
  • Services
    • Website Design
    • Website Maintenance
      • HTTP to HTTPS Migration
    • Microsoft Access Support
  • Tech Tips
  • Gadgets
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

German Pearls

Tech Tips for Non-Tech Types

  • iPhoneiphone, ipad, ios
  • Appsios, android, windows
  • Windows & Officemicrosoft products
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Powerpoint
    • Windows 8 and 8.1
    • Windows 10
  • Misc Tech Tipsgoogle, internet, etc
    • Google
  • Practical Usesget stuff done!
  • Tech Gadgetsreviews and recommendations
You are here: Home / iPhone and iPad / How to Watch YouTube Videos Offline on Your iPhone

How to Watch YouTube Videos Offline on Your iPhone


Have you ever wanted to watch YouTube videos offline on your iPhone or iPad?  My parents were looking to do this recently. They were teaching a class and wanted to show a short YouTube video during the class but wouldn’t have WiFi.  My dad and I worked out a pretty neat method for downloading YouTube videos and playing them offline on his iPad. I thought others may find this useful so here’s a quick tutorial on how to do it.

As a side note, there are many ways you can watch YouTube videos without an internet connection. This is just one solution.

How to watch YouTube videos offline on your iPad or iPhone
Note: This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Watch YouTube Videos Offline on Your iPad or iPhone

Before we get into the details of how to watch YouTube videos offline let’s talk a bit about the legal and ethical issues surrounding the topic. First, is it legal? Google’s terms of service says “you shall not copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, or otherwise exploit any Content”.

We do not recommend downloading YouTube videos for reproduction or to share with large audiences. Should you choose to download a video for personal use, here’s how you could download YouTube videos for watching without internet. We’ll leave the legal / ethical question for you to answer for yourself.

Step 1: Download the YouTube Video

The first step in this process is to download the YouTube video onto your computer. If you haven’t done this before an easy way to do it is to use a software called Real Downloader. I detail the steps to setup Real Downloader on your computer in the article how to download YouTube videos. Here are the basic steps to download the video and save it on your computer:

  1. Download and install Real Downloader on your computer
  2. Go to YouTube in your internet browser
  3. Go to the YouTube video you want to watch offline
  4. Download the YouTube video using Real

How to Watch YouTube Videos Offline on your iPad or iPhone - Step 1 Download YouTube Videos

Now the YouTube video is saved on your computer.

Step 2: Save your Downloaded YouTube Video onto an iXpand Drive

SanDisk makes the coolest little gadget called iXpand Flash drive. It’s similar to a USB flash drive that you may use to store files or move them from computer to computer. The difference with the iXpand is that it has two connection types: a regular USB connector which you can use in a computer and a connector that fits right into the charging port of your iPhone. So, you can use this as extra storage for your iPhone. Or, you can use it to take items (music, photos, videos) off or put items onto your iPhone. It’s a great little gadget, especially if you find yourself constantly running out of space on your iPhone.

Friends don't let friends buy 16GB iPhones! -FortuneClick To Tweet

So, my dad and I decided to load his downloaded YouTube video onto his iXpand drive. And, as it turns out, the iXpand app has a media playing feature that lets you play the video right from the drive! So, there’s no need to save the video onto your iPad or iPhone and take up valuable space you may not have.

If that all sounds confusing, it’s not. Let’s walk through the next steps in our process of watching YouTube videos offline on your iPad or iPhone.

  1. Plug your iXpand drive into the USB port on your computer.
  2. Press the windows key + E to open Windows explorer or open a file manager on a Mac. (Check out more cool windows shortcuts.)
  3. Find the folder where your downloaded YouTube video is stored on your computer.
    • This depends on how you set up Real Downloader. If you left the default settings your video is stored in your folder:  This PC\Videos\RealTimes\RealDownloader
  4. Now, look in the left side of windows explorer and find your iXpand drive. It will most likely be named E. Click on the arrow next to the iXpand drive to see what folders are  in it.
  5. Drag your downloaded YouTube video into the video folder of your iXpand drive.
  6. Once your video has finished copying, right click on the E drive and select eject drive (read more about how to safely remove hardware).

Watch YouTube Videos Offline on your iPad or iPhone Using iXpand Flash Drive

Step 3: Watch YouTube Video Offline!

Now that your video is saved on your iXpand, let’s walk through how to view it on your iPhone or iPad.

  1. Plug the other end of your iXpand into the charging port on your iPhone.
  2. If your iPad or iPhone asks if you trust this device, click trust or agree.
  3. If you haven’t done it yet, you’ll want to download the iXpand app.
    • If this is the first time you’ve plugged it in, it may walk you through a quick tutorial. If it asks about backing up, skip that for now.
  4. In the iXpand app click view files.
  5. On the next screen make sure iXpand is highlighted on the top and click on the videos folder.
  6. You should see the video you downloaded from YouTube. Click on it to play it!

Watch YouTube Videos without WiFi

Conclusion

That’t it! Now you can watch a YouTube videos offline on your iPhone. You can watch the video as often as you want – without WiFi or using cellular data! It’s as simple as downloading the YouTube video onto your computer, saving it on your iXpand flash drive and playing it directly in the iXpand flash drive app on your iPhone or iPad! There are so many cool uses for these little drives – perhaps we’ll devote an entire article to all the cool things you can do with them. Make sure you subscribe to your email list so you don’t miss it!

Note: If you don’t have and iXpand drive and are considering getting one just a heads up that they come in a few different sizes. They currently have a 32GB, 64GB and 128GB version. If you want to use them to store a lot of videos, you’ll probably want to get a larger sized ones as videos can be big.

Pin257
Share
Tweet4
261 Shares
«
»

January 30, 2017

Related

Trackbacks

  1. The Workflow App: Build Efficiency into your iPhone - German Pearls says:
    April 3, 2017 at 8:02 am

    […] Download YouTube videos (see also: How to Watch YouTube Videos Offline) […]

Amy @ German Pearls Hi, I'm Amy, an Engineer and tech-geek who loves helping others with tech problems. With German Pearls I hope to be able to help more people enjoy the benefits of the latest and greatest computers and gadgets. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Like Us on Facebook

German Pearls - Tech Tips

Subscribe for Tech Tips and News

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Web Design

GP Small Business Web Design in Saratoga Springs, NY

Popular Posts

Norton Core Review: The Router of the Future is Here
How to Lower your Monthly Spectrum Cable Bill
How Do I Open a Winmail DAT File?
Stop Facebook Videos from Automatically Playing (or Turn off Sound)
How to See an iPhone Message Timestamp
Learn How to Organize Bookmarks in Chrome

Also Featured On

lifehack mode media German Pearls was featured on the Money Saving Mom retired by 40

TECH SERVICES

German Pearls Tech Services | Website Design | Website Maintenance | Excel Spreadsheet Development | Tech Support Services near Saratoga Springs, NY

Recent Posts

  • Norton Core Review: The Router of the Future is Here
  • How to Lower your Monthly Spectrum Cable Bill
  • How Do I Open a Winmail DAT File?
  • Stop Facebook Videos from Automatically Playing (or Turn off Sound)
  • How to See an iPhone Message Timestamp

Services

  • Microsoft Access Support
  • Microsoft Excel Support
  • Website Design
  • Website Maintenance & Support

Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(based on 4 reviews)

Browse Articles

  • iPhone and iPad
  • Microsoft Windows and Office
    • Windows 10
    • Microsoft Excel
    • Microsoft Powerpoint
  • Apps
  • Misc Tech Tips
  • Tech Gadgets and Products
  • Practical Uses

Like us on Facebook

German Pearls - Tech Tips

Search

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Flourish Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in