Step by step
- Step 1
Copy the Short’s link
In the YouTube app, open the Short, tap Share (the arrow) and choose Copy link.
- Step 2
Open FetchBolt in Safari
Go to the YouTube Shorts downloader, tap the box and paste the link. The video and its qualities appear in a few seconds.
- Step 3
Download the MP4
Tap Download next to 1080p (or the best quality listed). When Safari asks, tap Download. The file goes to Files → Downloads.
- Step 4
Save it to Photos
Open the Files app, go to Downloads, tap the video, then Share → Save Video. It’s now in your camera roll.
Why Safari, not the YouTube app?
The YouTube app’s own download button keeps Shorts inside the app, and only with Premium. Saving through Safari gives you an ordinary MP4 that lives in Photos, plays offline and can be shared or edited like any clip you filmed.
Chrome on iPhone works too, but downloads land in Chrome’s own folder in Files, so Safari is the simplest route.
Which quality to choose
Most Shorts are uploaded in 1080×1920, which looks crisp on every iPhone screen. Pick 720p to save storage. The file always includes the sound.
If it doesn’t work
Make sure you copied the Short’s link (it contains /shorts/) and that the Short is public. If Safari doesn’t ask to download, check Settings → Safari → Downloads and make sure a location is set.
The tool for the job
Everything above uses the YouTube Shorts Downloader. Vertical MP4 in up to 1080p with sound, or the audio as MP3.
Questions
Do I need an app to download Shorts on iPhone?
No. Safari and the Files app, both built into iOS, are all you need.
Will the Short keep its sound?
Yes. FetchBolt joins the video and audio into one MP4.
Can I save Shorts to my iPad too?
Yes, the steps are the same on iPad.
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