If you use YouTube Music, you’re probably aware of the app’s Smart Downloads feature. It’s essentially a feature that saves mobile data by downloading some tunes offline anytime you’re connected to Wi-Fi. On the video side of things, the YouTube app for Android is experimenting with something similar. The YouTube app’s Smart Downloads feature will download a handful of videos for you every week based on an algorithm for recommended videos.
Some Android users in Europe have gotten a reminder on their devices to try out the new Smart Downloads function, according to 9to5Google. When you sign up to try it, the YouTube app will automatically download a collection of 20 videos per week while connected to a Wi-Fi network. The videos will be tailored for you based on an algorithm that analyzes your viewing history as well as the types of material you consume on the platform. The downloaded videos, along with any other videos you’ve manually downloaded in the app, will be added to your offline playlist.
While many individuals may find the feature unneeded, it can be useful for those who have limited mobile data and wish to view material while commuting or who do not have frequent access to an internet connection. Users with limited storage on their devices will be warned before any downloads take place, allowing them to take appropriate action to free up space. Only the most recent version of Android, Android 12, currently supports this functionality.
Smart Downloads is currently available only for a few people to try out and only in specific regions. It’s also available only for YouTube Premium subscribers and users who receive the prompt can enroll to try the feature till 14 February. If you are one of the chosen ones, you should see a banner when you open the YouTube app or you can try heading to Settings > Try new features to see if you can find the option there.
Google Pixel Watch 5 (45mm)
Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) has reshaped Google Messages, bringing read receipts, larger media attachments, and cross-platform messaging with iPhone users. RCS isn't without its own issues, though, and Messages has so far offered an easy way to opt out on a per-chat basis if it causes problems - a feature that now looks like it […]
AI video generation has moved well beyond experimental clips. In 2026, creators, marketing teams, agencies, and video professionals can use these tools for social content, product videos, storyboards, advertisements, B-roll, explainers, and early-stage creative concepts. The challenge is choosing the right platform. Some focus on cinematic generation, while others are better for rapid marketing production […]
Google Messages is now widely rolling out its new Keep Notes integration, following last week's September 2026 Android Drop announcement. Opening the “plus” menu inside a conversation reveals a new Keep Notes shortcut, and those pills can be reordered like usual. Alternatively, Google might surface a contextual “Create list” shortcut directly in the suggestions row. […]
Developers have discovered that Android 17 quietly blocks apps from checking whether Developer Options and USB Debugging are turned on, in what's being described as one of the release's hidden changes. Regardless of whether Developer Mode is actually enabled on a device, apps that try to read its status in Android 17 will always get […]
The next story loads as you reach the end. You can also load it using the button.
Comments & Discussions
Join the conversation! We use Disqus to handle comments. Click the button below to load the comment section.