How to download videos on my iPhone fast and easily
“Grr!” I roared. Like a Dragon on the day the vending machine ran out of Reeses.
The reason for my ire wasn’t actually a lack of chocolate-based snacks, but the fact that a YouTube vid I’d had in my ‘Watch Later’ list and was really looking forward to, had been deleted by the author…
I get it. It happens. Creators are allowed to do that, but it can be frustrating, especially when it’s something (as in this instance) I knew would be useful for my own work.
Not wanting to get caught out like that again, here’s my go-to plan for downloading videos to my iPhone before they get removed!
Built-in video download options left me in a bind
Alright, now, I love a good old native hack for anything like this, and in this instance, Apple still has choices. However, the issue with them is that they vary depending on where you’re downloading from or which app you’re using, and the results won’t always be exactly what you need.
If I want to download from social media sites (say, Instagram), I need to open the app and tap the arrow button on the post to save the content. I must then scroll across to find the download button and save it:
There are different rules if I want to do the same on YouTube. Then, I’ve got to pay for their Premium service, which, although I use YT a lot, still isn’t worth it for me.
Then there’s another method if I want to download something from Amazon Prime (or Netflix). I have to go into the app and find the content I want, hit the download button, and wait…
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BUT… then I can only watch it in those apps, and not directly on my iPhone, which isn’t always convenient.
So, yes, all these methods work. But there are a lot of steps to remember, and it’s not always guaranteed that I’ll be able to view what I need directly on my device.
And when I need something in a hurry, or must make sure I’ve got it saved and backed up, then it might not always be convenient to use the native option.
What I use for all my iPhone video download needs
I’ve been trying out Pulltube lately to keep everything as simple as possible. It’s a quick, effective app that lets me copy and paste links to content from a range of sites.
I’ve tried it out on all my regulars like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and even my arch-nemesis Vimeo (don’t get me started on my loathing of it…).
All I’ve got to do is copy and paste the link directly into Pulltube’s browser tab in the app, then hit download, and as you can see below, it takes no time at all to deliver the content to my device so I can save it directly and watch it at my leisure.
It’s great as a simple URL video downloader for iPhone that works without any frills or fuss, and it means I’ve only got one set of rules to keep in mind when I’m downloading any content to my device. Brilliant!
When you need to find a reliable online video downloader iPhone, just follow my tips
For a task like this, it pays to keep everything as simple and swift as possible.
Yes, if I really need it, the native options will do the job. Often, though, I find I’m rushing and just want to take one easy step that won’t add another headache to my to-do list. Aren’t we all?
What do you think? Do you have any of your own tips for making the iPhone video download process as pain-free as possible? I’d love to know, so why not HMU in the comment section and let me in on your secrets!
