How to save YouTube videos to Xiaomi phone: 2026

Saving YouTube videos to Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi models) is a challenge that millions of users face. Despite the limitations of the platform, there are legal and safe methods for downloading high-quality videos. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods adapted to the features of MIUI firmware and hardware capabilities of Xiaomi devices.

It’s important to understand that YouTube officially prohibits downloading content without author permission, but for personal use (like watching offline), many users are looking for workarounds.We’ll focus on methods that don’t violate Google Play’s rules and require root rights. We also take into account the specifics of Xiaomi – from optimizing file storage to the features of working with the company. MIUI File Manager.

Before you start, check the free space on the device: video in Full HD (1080p) takes ~100-300 MB per minute, and 4K – up to 1 GB. On Xiaomi smartphones with UFS 2.2/3.1 (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the recording of large files is faster than on budget models with eMMC.

1.Official way: YouTube Premium

The most reliable and legal method is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which allows you to download videos directly through the YouTube app, while:

• 📥 Files are saved in encrypted.exo format and are only accessible through the application.
• 🔄 Quality adapts to your Internet connection (maximum — 1080p for most devices).
• ⏳ Videos are automatically deleted after 48 hours if you don’t connect to the internet.
• 📵 The function works without advertising and background playback.

On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+, downloaded videos via YouTube Premium are stored in the folder /Android/data/com.google.android.youtube/files/Offline. They are only accessible through the application itself - MIUI File Manager will not display these files without root rights.

⚠️ Note: If you cancel your subscription, all downloaded videos will become unavailable for viewing, even if they remain in the device’s memory.

The price of YouTube Premium in Russia – from 399 ₽/month (2026) For Xiaomi users with Google Mobile Services (GMS) Subscription is made through Google Play. GMS (Chinese version of the payment system will require an alternative payment method.

2. Download apps from Google Play

Google Play has several apps that allow you to save YouTube videos without root rights, we tested them on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (Android 13, MIUI 14) and selected the most stable ones:

To install, go to Google Play and type in the name of the app. Xiaomi before the first launch you need to:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the downloaded application and allow access to the Warehouse.
3. Enable the option of Installation from unknown sources (if required).

⚠️ Note: Apps like Snaptube may conflict with MIUI Optimized Charging – If downloading is interrupted, turn off battery optimization for this application in the settings.

On Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi K60), video downloads are 20-30% faster than on models with MediaTek (for example, POCO M5).

3. Online services without installing programs

If you don't want to install additional apps, you can use online services, which run in the browser, but have limitations:

• 🌐 SaveFrom.net – Maintains quality up to 1080p, It can be blocked on some Xiaomi models due to the built-in MIUI Browser.
• 🔗 Y2mate.com — allow you to select a format (MP4, WebM) and sound quality, but contains intrusive advertising.
• ⚡ 9xBuddy.app — Optimized for mobile devices, supports 60 FPS.

Instructions for Xiaomi:

1. Open YouTube in your browser (Chrome or MIUI Browser).
2. Copy the link to the video (click Share → Copy the link).
3. Go to one of the services (for example, SaveFrom.net).
4. Insert the link in the input field and select the desired quality.
5. Download the file – it will be saved in the Download folder.

On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, downloaded files are automatically sorted by type: videos go to the Movies folder or Downloads/Video. To change the save location, go to your browser settings and manually specify the path (for example, to an SD memory card).

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If the video is downloading too long, turn on Data Saver mode in the MIUI settings (Settings → Connections and Sharing → Traffic Savings). This will speed up the process by compressing data.

4. Hidden MIUI function: Screen recording

If you can't download video (like streams or protected content), you can record your smartphone screen. Xiaomi has a built-in tool for this:

1. Deploy the notification bar and find the Screen Record icon (if not, add via Edit).
2. Click on the icon and select the options: Resolution: 1080p (recommended for Xiaomi with AMOLED display). Footage per second: 60 FPS (for smoothness). Sound source: Internal sound (to record audio from video).

YouTube

Stop.

Gallery → Screen recordings

Cons of the method:

• ⚠️ The quality will be lower than the original (maximum – screen resolution of your Xiaomi).
• 🔊 There may be problems recording internal sound on some models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro).
• 📏 Video will include interface elements (navigation panels, notifications).

On smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, screen recording supports HDR10+, if the device’s display allows it (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), but this is irrelevant for YouTube, as the platform does not stream HDR content on mobile devices.

5. Alternative methods: Telegram bots and VLC

For Xiaomi users who are looking for non-standard solutions, suitable:

🤖 Telegram bots

Bots like @vid or @SaveAsBot let you download videos directly from the messenger.

1. Find the bot in Telegram and launch it.
2. Send a copied link to the video from YouTube.
3. Choose the right quality (usually up to 1080p).
4. Download the file – it will be saved in the Telegram folder on your Xiaomi.

🎬 VLC Android

VLC media player can download videos from YouTube through the built-in browser:

1. Install VLC from Google Play.
2. Open the side menu and select the Network.
3. Insert the link to the video and click Replay.
4. During playback, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Information.
5. Click Save – the video will be downloaded to the VLC folder.

On Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14, the VLC can conflict with the system player. To avoid problems, in the application settings, turn off the option to Use hardware acceleration.

Make sure there is enough memory on the device.|Turn off traffic savings in settings MIUI|Allow installation from unknown sources (if necessary)|Check the stability of the Internet connection (Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi) 4G/5G)|Update the YouTube app to the latest version-->

6. Optimizing video storage on Xiaomi

After downloading a video, it is important to properly organize storage, especially on devices with limited memory (such as Redmi 10A with 32 GB).

• 📁 Move files to the memory card: Use MIUI File Manager → highlight the video → Move it → choose SD-map.
• 🗑️ Cache Clearing: After downloading through third-party apps, clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Application data.
• 🔍 Search for duplicates: B MIUI There is a built-in tool for finding duplicate files (File Manager). → Analysis).
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Upload videos to Mi Cloud (5GB for free) or Google Drive if you don’t plan to watch them often.

On smartphones Xiaomi with UFS 3.1 (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Pro) video file read/write speeds up to 1200 MB/s, allowing for storage and playback 4K-On budget models with eMMC 5.1 (e.g., free of lag, POCO M4 Pro) it is recommended to store video on a class memory card A2.

⚠️ Note: When moving the video to SD-An exFAT card (such as a 128GB card or more) make sure your Xiaomi supports this format. Some older models (Redmi 5 and earlier) may require formatting in the same format. FAT32.

To save space, convert video to smaller formats with applications like Video Compress or Panda Video Compressor. For example, 1080p video can be compressed to 720p without significant loss of quality, saving up to 50% of space.

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On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, videos are automatically indexed for quick search. To turn off this feature (and save battery power), go to Settings → Privacy → Device Search and turn off Media Files option.

FAQ: Frequent questions