transfer youtube music to usb

Download YouTube Music to USB Flash Drive - 2025 Latest

Two ways to download and transfer YouTube Music to USB Drive will be covered in this guide.

"I have YouTube Premium and use YouTube Music. Is there any way to download YouTube Music playlist to a flash drive?"

Many users search for a way to download YouTube Music to a USB flash drive, hoping to play songs offline in their car, smart TV, or other USB-compatible devices. However, YouTube Music doesn't let you save music directly to a USB drive, even if you are YouTube Premium.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through two proven methods to download YouTube Music to a USB drive safely and easily, including detailed steps for both Windows and Mac users.

See also: Transfer Spotify Playlist to USB Drive

🎥 Quick Video Guide: How to Transfer YouTube Music to USB

Part 1. Can You Download YouTube Music to USB Directly?

The short answer: No.

As a YouTube Premium, you can choose where to store YouTube Music downloads (Settings > Downloads)—like another drive on your computer or an SD card on your phone.  

See also: How to Get YouTube Premium for Free

However, these downloaded files are encrypted cache files and can only be played within the YouTube Music app temporarily. Simply moving them to a USB drive won't let you play YouTube Music offline. 

To play YouTube Music on USB, you need a dedicated YouTube Music Downloader like AudiFab to convert YouTube Music to MP3. Then, you can easily copy them to USB stick and listen wherever you want.

In the next part, I'll show you two safe and free ways to do this.


Part 2. Best Tools to Download YouTube Music to USB Drive

✨Note:
1. Please download YouTube Music to a USB-compatible format: MP3, WMA, AAC, M4A, and M4B.
2. Downloads are for personal use only.
3. Ensure your USB has enough free space before downloading.

AudiFab Music One — Safe YouTube Music to USB Converter

  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why We Recommend: As one of the best YouTube Music Downloaders, AudiFab Music One is fast, easy to use, and 100% safe. It supports both Free and Premium YouTube Music accounts to batch download and convert YouTube Music songs, albums, and playlists to MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, or ALAC (M4A). All downloads keep original sound quality and include ID3 tags like title, track number, and artist.

Besides YouTube Music, AudiFab Music One also works with Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, and more. You can easily switch platforms, download your favorite songs, and put them on a USB drive or anywhere else you like.

✨Tips: Want to download YouTube videos to USB? Try SameMovie YouTube Video Downloader — it lets you download full YouTube videos in MP4 format, perfect for saving directly to your USB drive.

download youtube music to computer

Best AudiFab YouTube Music to MP3 Converter

  • Download YouTube Music songs, playlists, podcasts & videos
  • Offline playback for YouTube Music Free & Premium users
  • No YouTube Music app required.
  • 10x fast speed & batch download YouTube Music playlists
  • Keep original quality, ID3 tags, and lyrics
  • Transfer YT to USB, MP3 player, etc.
  • 100% safe and virus-free.
  • Free updates and technical support.

How to Download YouTube Music Playlist to USB

Launch AudiFab and Sign in to YouTube Music

Download and install AudiFab for Windows or Mac. Open it and choose YouTube Music, and you'll see the built-in YouTube Music web player. Click "Sign In" to log into your Google account and access your playlists—or just skip it if you prefer.

choose youtube music as music source

Set MP3 as Output Format

Click the gear icon (bottom left) to open Settings. Select MP3 for USB-friendly output. You can also set the output folder to your USB drive to save directly. To keep playlist order, put “Playlist Index” first in Output File Name.

set output format to mp3

Add YouTube Music to Downloading

Search for songs, albums, or playlists in the YouTube Music web player. Click the yellow "Click to Add" button to queue them. You can select individual songs or the entire playlist. Enable "Filter Converted" to avoid converting duplicates.

add youtube music playlist to audifab

choose youtube music songs to audifab

Convert YouTube Music to MP3

Click “Convert” to start. Once done, safely eject your USB drive and plug it into your device to start listening. If you saved files locally, see Part 3 to copy YouTube Music to your USB drive.

convert youtube music to mp3

Cons:

  • Free version only converts the first 1 minute of each song.
  • Requires software installation.
  • Not available on mobile devices.

Free Online YouTube Playlist Downloader to USB - YTMP3

Why We Recommend: YTMP3 is a widely used free online tool that allows users to convert YouTube to MP3 or MP4 formats for free. No registration or installation required. This Online YouTube Downloader is beginner-friendly and supports mobile and desktop devices.

Cons:

  • Does not support batch downloading YouTube Music.
  • Contains ads and redirect links.
  • No fixed domain—often inaccessible.
  • Download speed can be slow.
  • Lossy audio quality.

How to Download YouTube Music to USB

To avoid ads or redirects, install a trusted ad blocker first. If you land on a suspicious page, be sure to close it right away to avoid any security risks.

✨To save all YouTube Music downloads directly to USB:
1. In Chrome, go to "Settings" > "Downloads".
2. Click “Change” next to the download location.
3. Select a folder on your USB drive and click “Select Folder”. 
4. All future downloads will go to the USB until you change it again.

Open the YTMP3 Website

Go to the official YTMP3 converter using a working domain such as ytmp3.vin.

download youtube music to usb via ytmp3

Paste the YouTube Link

Copy the link of a YouTube Music song you want to download and paste it into the input box on the homepage. Click the “Convert” button to start the process.

convert youtube music

Choose MP3 Format and Audio Quality

Once processed, choose MP3. Click the Download button next to the quality you want, and the MP3 file will automatically save to your device.

download youtube music to mp3

If you saved YouTube Music files to your device instead of USB, please see the next section.


Part 3. How to Transfer YouTube Music to USB Drive - Windows/Mac

Now that you have your YouTube Music real downloads on your computer, you can easily move them from your Windows PC or Mac to your USB flash drive.

Transfer YouTube Music to USB Drive on Windows

Insert Your USB Drive

Plug your USB flash drive into a USB port. Wait for it to appear in File Explorer under “This PC” or “My Computer.”

insert usb drive to computer

Locate Your YouTube Music Files

Navigate to the folder where your YouTube Music MP3 files are saved.
For AudiFab: Go to Converted and click the folder icon next to the song.
For Chrome: Press Ctrl + J to open Downloads, then click “Show in folder.”

check converted history

Copy Your YouTube Music Downloads

Select the files you want to transfer. To select multiple files by holding Ctrl while clicking, or press Ctrl + A to select all. Or simply select the entire folder. Right-click and choose Copy or Cut.

copy youtube music downloads to usb

Paste YouTube Music Songs to USB Drive

Open your USB flash drive. Right-click inside the USB drive folder and select Paste. The files will start moving to your USB drive.

✨Tips: AudiFab’s "Playlist Index" keeps the original order of the playlist. If not, right-click inside the USB folder, choose Sort by > Name to fix it.

transfer youtube music to usb drive

Safely Eject USB

Once the transfer is complete, right-click the USB drive and choose Eject. Wait for the confirmation message before unplugging the drive.

safely remove usb flash drive


Transfer YouTube Music to USB Drive on Mac

The steps for Mac are very similar to those on Windows.

Insert Your USB Drive

Plug your USB drive in; it will appear on the desktop or Finder sidebar.

Locate Your YouTube Music Files

For AudiFab: Open Converted and click the folder icon by the song.
For Chrome: Press Command + Option + L to open Downloads, then click “Show in Finder.”

Copy and Paste YouTube Music Files

Select files or the whole folder (use Command to multi-select or Command + A to select all), right-click, and choose Copy.
Open your USB drive in Finder, right-click, and choose Paste Item.

Safely Eject USB

Right-click the USB icon and choose Eject, or drag it to Trash before unplugging.


Part 4. FAQs About Saving Music from YouTube to a USB Flash Drive

Can I transfer YouTube Music to USB without Premium?

Yes. With tools like AudiFab YouTube Music Converter (Music One), both Free and Premium users can download and save songs to a USB stick.

Can I play YouTube Music from USB in my car?

Yes. Just convert YouTube Music to MP3 and ensure your car stereo supports USB input. Check the detailed steps below:

  • Insert the USB into your car’s USB port.
  • Turn on the stereo and select “USB” as the source.
  • Use the stereo screen or buttons to browse songs.
  • Select a track and press play to start listening.

Tips: For older stereos, keep MP3s in the root folder with short filenames.

Is it legal to download YouTube Music to USB?

For personal use only, and not for redistribution or commercial use.

What to do if my car stereo can't play YouTube Music from USB?

Here are some quick checks:

  • Wait 20–30 seconds after plugging in the USB for the stereo to recognize it.
  • Reconnect the USB if it’s not recognized.
  • USB must be in MSC mode or be an Android phone. For other smartphones, use Bluetooth instead.
  • Ensure USB has supported music files (e.g., MP3).
  • Format the USB as FAT32 or exFAT (other formats like NTFS aren’t supported).
  • Use a short, good-quality USB cable (avoid extension cables).
  • Update your stereo’s firmware if needed.
  • If all else fails, reset your car stereo to factory settings.

📌 Note: Not all car stereos support USB playback. Check your model’s manual for details.

Which is the best YouTube Music to USB Converter?

The best YouTube Music to USB converter depends on your needs (quality, ease of use, platform). Here's a quick rundown of top options:

Features AudiFab Music One
YTMP3.cc / MP3Juices
Best For Best Overall (All-in-One & Safe) Quick Online Use (Free)
Conversion Formats MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC MP3 (Limited)
Audio Quality High quality Lower quality
ID3 Tags Keeps ID3 tags (artist, album, etc.) No tag info
Playlist Support Supports playlists & albums No full playlist support
Ease of Use Easy to use on Windows & Mac No software required
Speed Fast batch downloads Quick for single songs
Ads & Safety 100% clean and safe Pop-up ads

How big should my USB drive be for YouTube Music?

One song in MP3 format (320kbps) is about 7–10MB. A 1-hour playlist is roughly 150MB. A 4GB USB stick can typically store 400–500 songs depending on the bitrate.

Summary

Downloading YouTube Music to USB is simple and convenient with the right YouTube Music to USB converter. Whether you choose a professional tool like AudiFab Music One or a free online downloader such as YTMP3, you can easily convert and transfer YouTube songs to your USB drive. For fast, safe, and simple YouTube Music USB transfers, choose AudiFab—perfect for both free and Premium users.

AudiFab is free to try. It can be downloaded for free and converts the first minute of each audio file for sample testing. If the program meets your needs, you can buy a license to unlock the time limit.


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