Where do downloaded videos go on iPhone and Android?
Where the file lands in each browser, how to get it into Photos or your gallery, and what to do when it doesn't show up.
2 min read · Updated
Here to download? Go straight to the tool.YouTube Shorts downloaderOpen the YouTube Shorts downloaderDownloading a video on a phone takes a few seconds. Finding it afterwards is where people get stuck, because phones save downloads somewhere other than the photo gallery. Here's where to look, by phone and browser.
iPhone and iPad with Safari
Getting the link onto the phone in the first place is its own small puzzle — copying a video link covers each app's Share button.
Safari saves downloads to the Files app, in a Downloads folder — in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone, depending on your Safari download setting. While a download runs, a downloads arrow appears in Safari's address bar; tap it to see the file.
- Open the Files app and go to Downloads.
- Tap the video to open it.
- Tap Share, then Save Video. It's now in Photos.
To change where Safari saves, look for Downloads under Safari in the Settings app (under Apps on newer versions of iOS).
iPhone with Chrome
Chrome on iPhone asks what to do with a download. Saving to Files puts it in the Files app — usually under On My iPhone in a Chrome folder. From there, open it, tap Share and choose Save Video, exactly as with Safari.
Android with Chrome
Chrome saves to your phone's Downloads folder. Tap the notification when it finishes, or open Chrome's menu and choose Downloads. The Files app shows the same folder.
Google Photos and most gallery apps list videos in the Downloads folder automatically — in Google Photos, look under Library in the Download folder.
Samsung phones
Samsung Internet also saves to Downloads. Open My Files and tap Downloads to find it; Samsung's Gallery app shows it in a Download album.
The video doesn't appear in the gallery
Three things to check:
- The download may not have finished. Look in the browser's downloads list for a progress bar or a failed entry.
- The gallery hasn't noticed it yet. Open the video once from your Files app — that usually makes it appear within seconds.
- It's a format the gallery doesn't show. WebM files are sometimes skipped; download the MP4 option instead (why formats differ).
Playlist downloads
A YouTube playlist download saves each video as its own file, one after another, numbered in playlist order. If your browser asks whether the site may download multiple files, choose Allow.
Saving space and mobile data
Every option shows its file size before you download. On a phone, 720p or 1080p is plenty; audio only is a fraction of the size for talks and podcasts. To send a video on, see how to send large video files. For Shorts and Reels, the vertical file is already sized for your screen — the Shorts downloader and Instagram downloader keep that frame intact.