YouTube's official read feature works only in the YouTube app, and only for videos marked as downloadable by the creator
YouTube does not let you read every video. Creators choose whether to allow downloads, and YouTube Premium members see a read button only on videos where the creator has permitted it. If you open a video in the YouTube app on iPad and see a read icon (it looks like a downward arrow), tap it to save that video to your device. The video stays on your iPad for 30 days, then disappears — you cannot keep it permanently.
If you do not see a read button, the creator has disabled downloads for that video. YouTube does not offer a workaround for this. You cannot read videos through the YouTube website on iPad, only through the app.
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month (as of 2024, though pricing varies by country). Without it, you cannot read any videos, even if the creator allowed downloads.
Key Takeaways
- Only YouTube Premium members can read videos, and only videos where the creator has turned on the read option.
- Downloaded videos expire after 30 days and must be refreshed in the app to keep watching them.
- Third-party apps and websites that claim to read YouTube videos violate YouTube's terms of service and may expose your iPad to malware.
- If a video is not downloadable through YouTube's official app, there is no legitimate way to save it to your iPad.
- YouTube Music Premium (part of YouTube Premium) also lets you read music videos and songs for offline listening.
How to read a video if the button appears
Open the YouTube app on your iPad. Find the video you want to read and tap it to play. Look for the read icon — a downward-pointing arrow — below the video title, next to the share button and other options. Tap it once.
YouTube will ask you to choose a video quality: 360p, 480p, 720p, or higher, depending on the video. Lower quality downloads use less storage space. Tap the quality you want. The read begins when ready and appears in a notification at the top of your screen.
Once downloaded, the video appears in a "Downloads" tab at the bottom of the YouTube app. You can watch it without an internet connection. The video will show a countdown timer next to it — this is the number of days until it expires and must be refreshed.
What happens when a read expires
After 30 days, YouTube removes the downloaded video from your iPad. You will see a message in the Downloads tab saying the video has expired. To watch it again, you must refresh it: tap the refresh icon next to the video title, and YouTube downloads it again for another 30 days.
This 30-day limit applies to all downloaded videos, even if you have YouTube Premium. YouTube designed this system to prevent people from keeping permanent copies of videos they do not own.
Why third-party read apps are risky
Many websites and apps claim they can read any YouTube video to your iPad without YouTube Premium. These tools violate YouTube's terms of service. Using them can result in your YouTube account being suspended or permanently banned.
Beyond the account risk, many of these third-party tools are designed to steal personal information or install malware on your device. They often ask for your YouTube password, which gives them access to your account. Some bundle unwanted software that slows down your iPad or displays ads. Apple's App Store screens apps before they appear, but websites offering downloads are not reviewed and carry much higher risk.
If you need to read a video and the official YouTube app does not offer the option, the safest choice is to accept that the creator did not permit downloads.
Downloading YouTube Music videos and songs
YouTube Music Premium (included with YouTube Premium) lets you read music videos and audio-only songs to your iPad. Open the YouTube Music app, find the song or video, and tap the read icon. The same 30-day expiration applies.
If you only want music and do not care about YouTube videos, YouTube Music Premium costs $10.99 per month on its own (pricing varies by region). This is cheaper than the full YouTube Premium subscription.
Storage space and iPad management
Downloaded videos take up space on your iPad. A 10-minute video at 720p quality typically uses 100 to 200 megabytes. A full-length movie at 1080p can use 500 megabytes to 1 gigabyte. Check how much free space your iPad has before downloading many videos.
To see how much space your downloads are using, go to Settings on your iPad, tap General, then tap iPad Storage. Look for the YouTube app in the list — the number next to it shows how much space YouTube and its downloads are using. If you need to free up space, open the YouTube app, go to Downloads, and swipe left on any video to delete it.
Downloading videos for travel or limited internet
The main reason people read videos is to watch them without internet — on a plane, in a remote area, or when their data plan is limited. YouTube Premium's read feature is designed exactly for this. If you travel regularly or have spotty internet, the $13.99 monthly cost may be worth it.
Before a trip, read the videos you want to watch while you still have internet. Remember that downloads expire after 30 days, so if you are traveling longer than that, you will need to refresh them or read new videos partway through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read YouTube videos without YouTube Premium?
No. YouTube Premium is required to read any video, even if the creator has allowed downloads. Without the subscription, the read button will not appear in the app.
What happens if I try to use a third-party downloader?
YouTube may suspend or ban your account if it detects you using unauthorized read tools. Many third-party apps also ask for your YouTube password or contain malware. The risk to your account and device is not worth it.
Can I keep a downloaded video after 30 days?
No. Downloaded videos automatically expire after 30 days and are removed from your iPad. You can refresh the video to read it again for another 30 days, but you cannot make it permanent.
Does downloading use data from my cellular plan?
Yes. Downloading videos uses data just like streaming does. read videos while connected to Wi-Fi to avoid using your cellular data allowance.
Can I share a downloaded video with someone else?
No. Downloaded videos are tied to your YouTube account and cannot be transferred to another device or person. Only you can watch videos you read on your iPad.