Watch YouTube videos offline by downloading them locally using iOS shortcuts.
Followers of YouTube know it well, watching a video when the connection to the Internet is uncertain quickly turns out to be very boring: low quality of the stream, unexpected cuts and other loading problems transform what should have been a moment of relaxation, into a moment of relaxation. ‘intense frustration.
To avoid having to endure this kind of situation, especially when you travel, it is quite possible to download a YouTube video to watch it comfortably, offline.
1. Download Shortcut
First step, download Shortcuts on your iPhone or iPad. This app allows you to create automation scripts to perform tedious or repetitive tasks with your iPhone or iPad. Updated Fire Workflow, Shortcuts remains compatible with scripts generated by Apple’s old automation application.
Download Shortcuts for iPhone / iPad (Free)
2. Get the shortcut
To help users find new uses with its Shortcuts application, Apple offers a gallery of ready-to-use shortcuts (it was already the case with Workflow). Among these, there is one that when executed allows you to download an audio or video file from YouTube.
From your iPhone or iPad web browser, go to the shortcut page Download YouTube Video & Audio. Tap Get shortcut, then tap Open in Shortcuts to bring the shortcut back to the Shortcuts app.
3. Save the shortcut
The shortcut imported into the Shortcuts application opens in the editor. Press the OK button to save and save it to your Shortcuts Library, then close the app.
4. Download content
Open the YouTube app and start a video. Tap the Share button, and tap More to view more options.
In the iOS share sheet that appears, find the Shortcuts option and tap on it. The Shortcuts application launches.
Tap the Download YouTube Video & Audio shortcut. If an alert window appears, confirm it by pressing Run shortcut.
Wait while the script runs until a pop-up appears, and select the file format you want to save.
The resulting file is displayed in a preview window. Tap the share button at the bottom left, then select Save Video.
The file is then saved directly to the camera roll of the iPhone or iPad.