Download YouTube videos on Android

Step-by-step guide for Android

1. Open the video in the YouTube app.
2. Tap Share under the video and choose Copy link. In Shorts the Share button is on the right.
3. Open a browser — Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox or another — and go to meridianload.ru.
4. Tap the input field and paste the link with a long press → Paste. The service immediately shows the title, preview and list of qualities.
5. Tap the quality you need, for example “720p”. While the file is being prepared, progress is shown under the button.
6. When the file is ready, the browser saves it automatically. If it asks about the download, confirm it.

Tip: add meridianload.ru to your home screen via the browser menu “Add to Home screen” — the site will open with one tap, like an app.

Why you don’t need a separate app

There are no YouTube downloader apps in Google Play — you have to install them as APK files from the internet, allowing installs from unknown sources. That’s a risk: such builds often show intrusive ads or ask for unnecessary permissions.

The site works in a regular browser, installs nothing and doesn’t ask for access to your contacts, files or camera. An alternative to an app is the Telegram bot @MeridianDownBot: send it a link and the video arrives in the chat, from where you can save it to the gallery via the “⋮” menu → Save to gallery.

Where videos are saved on Android

The browser puts the file into the Download folder in internal storage. You can find it in three ways:

• in the “Download complete” notification — tap it and the video opens;
• in the Files app (Google) or My Files (Samsung) → Downloads;
• in the browser menu → Downloads.

The gallery and Google Photos usually find new videos in the Download folder on their own. If the video doesn’t appear, open Google Photos → Library → Download and turn on folder backup if you want to keep a copy in the cloud.

Which quality to choose on a phone

Sizes are approximate and depend on the video; the exact size is shown on each button. Videos are saved as MP4 (H.264 + AAC) and play in the built-in player of any Android smartphone.

If it doesn’t work

• “The content is private or available only after signing in” — the post is private, age-restricted or for subscribers only. The service downloads only what opens without signing in.
• “The file is larger than 1024 MB” — the site has a 1 GB per-file limit. Choose a lower quality or send the link to the @MeridianDownBot bot: it delivers files up to 2 GB.
• “Too many requests” — up to 15 files per hour can be downloaded from one address. Wait for the time shown in the message or continue in the Telegram bot.
• “The source has temporarily restricted access” or “The source is not responding” — a restriction on the platform’s side. Retrying in a few minutes usually helps.
• No button for the quality you want — the author didn’t upload the video in that resolution.
• If the error keeps happening on a working link, report it — include the link and the error text.