How to Save YouTube Audio on iPhone and Android

By Side A · Published 1 November 2026

Side A prepares audio in your browser, so you can save a permitted YouTube recording without creating an account. The important final step on a phone is checking where the browser saved the file.

Prepare your link

Use a public video you own or have permission to download. Copy its link from YouTube’s Share menu, then open Side A in your phone’s browser. Side A accepts individual videos up to 20 minutes long and does not download whole playlists.

If you opened the site inside another app and the download controls behave unexpectedly, open the same site in your regular browser and start there. In-app browsers can handle files differently.

Save YouTube audio on iPhone

1. Open Side A in Safari and paste your video link into Your YouTube video link. If the Paste button cannot access the clipboard, touch and hold the field and use the available Paste command.
2. Choose Get my audio and keep the page open while the track is prepared.
3. Use the preview to check the track. Choose MP3 or WAV in Full track format, then edit Save as if needed.
4. Select Save MP3 or Save WAV. Follow any download prompt Safari presents.
5. Check Safari’s Downloads control, then open the Files app to locate the completed file.

In Files, look in your configured Downloads folder. Apple’s guide to finding downloads on iPhone and iPad explains the Files and Safari download locations. The exact location depends on your settings; check iCloud Drive or On My iPhone as appropriate.

Saving an audio file does not automatically add it to your Apple Music library. Open it from Files or use an audio app that supports importing the format. An iPad follows the same general Safari and Files workflow.

Save YouTube audio on Android

1. Open Side A in Chrome, paste the video link, and choose Get my audio.
2. Wait for the result, preview it, and choose the full-track format.
3. Give the file a recognisable name and select its Save button.
4. Open Chrome’s menu and choose Downloads to check the transfer and open the completed file.

Your device’s file manager may also show the file in Downloads. Android manufacturers and file-manager apps use different layouts, so Chrome’s own download list is a useful starting point. See Google’s Android download instructions for browser-specific help.

Save a short clip instead

Once the result is ready, tap the orange Trim audio button. Drag the selection handles or enter the start and end as minutes:seconds. On a narrow screen, entering times can be easier than moving a handle precisely.

Use Play clip to check your excerpt, choose MP3 or WAV in Clip format, and tap Download clip. The trimming guide includes an example using start and end times.

Which format should you use on a phone?

MP3 uses substantially less storage and data. A three-minute track is approximately 7.2 MB at 320 kbps, while Side A’s WAV version is about 31.8 MB in decimal units. WAV is decoded from the prepared MP3 and does not add sound detail. Our format comparison explains when each is useful.

If the file seems to be missing

First check whether the browser reports a completed download. A preview playing on the page does not mean a copy has been saved. Look for your chosen filename, verify that your phone has free storage, and check the download location before submitting the video again.

Keep the result page open until you have saved what you need. Side A has no download history, and temporary links expire after server cleanup. Your completed device download is separate from that temporary copy. For connection or conversion errors, use the troubleshooting guide.