How to Delete Downloaded YouTube Videos and Free Up Space

Downloaded YouTube videos saved via TubeFetcher are real MP4 or MP3 files stored in your Windows Downloads folder or Android internal storage, not locked or encrypted in-app files. Deleting them permanently frees storage space ranging from 60MB for an audio file to 1.5GB per hour for a 1080p video.

On Windows, batch-select all video files by type and remove them in one action. On Android, TubeFetcher downloads appear directly in your file manager under the Downloads folder. Any video you delete can be re-downloaded through TubeFetcher at any time at full quality.

Two Types of Downloaded YouTube Videos — Which One Do You Have

Downloaded YouTube videos come in two completely different file types that require different deletion methods.

Most guides online only cover YouTube Premium offline files, encrypted .exo files locked inside the YouTube app, invisible in your file manager, and removable only through the app. TubeFetcher files are different. TubeFetcher saves standard MP4 or MP3 files directly to your device storage, visible and deletable like any other file.

Type	Format	Visible in File Manager	How to Delete
YouTube Premium offline	.exo (encrypted)	No	YouTube app only
TubeFetcher download	MP4 / MP3	Yes	File Explorer / File Manager

Knowing which type you have determines every step that follows.

How to Delete TubeFetcher Downloads on Windows PC

TubeFetcher saves video files directly to your Windows Downloads folder, making them straightforward to find and permanently remove. The default path is C:\Users\[YourName]\Downloads. Open it with Windows Key + E, then select Downloads from the left sidebar. If you set a custom folder during TubeFetcher setup, check TubeFetcher → Settings to confirm the output path first.

Delete Individual Video Files

Open File Explorer → go to your Downloads folder
Right-click the MP4 or MP3 file → select Delete
Right-click Recycle Bin → Empty Recycle Bin

Files in the Recycle Bin still occupy storage until the bin is emptied.

Batch Delete All Video Files at Once

Open your Downloads folder in File Explorer
Click the search bar top-right, type *.mp4, press Enter
Press Ctrl + A to select all results
Press Delete, then empty the Recycle Bin
Repeat with *.mp3 to clear audio downloads

Not sure where TubeFetcher saved your files? The guide on where downloaded YouTube videos go on Windows and Android covers every storage location by device.

How to Delete YouTube Downloads on Android

TubeFetcher downloads on Android are saved as MP4 or MP3 files in device internal storage, accessible through any file manager app without root access or special permissions.

Using Files by Google

Files by Google is pre-installed on most Android devices and handles TubeFetcher file deletion cleanly.

Open Files by Google
Tap Browse → Downloads
Long-press any MP4 or MP3 file to enter selection mode
Tap additional files to add them to the selection
Tap the trash icon to delete

Deleting from SD Card Storage

If TubeFetcher saves to the SD card:

Files by Google → Browse → SD Card → TubeFetcher folder → long-press to select → delete.

SD card and internal storage are separate pools; clearing one doesn’t affect the other’s reading.

Using Samsung or Stock Android File Manager

Samsung: My Files → Internal Storage → Downloads
Other Android: Settings → Storage → Files → Downloads

Long-press the first file, tap additional files to select, then tap Delete.

One important distinction: YouTube Premium offline videos on Android are stored inside the YouTube app’s private data container; they do not appear in your file manager. Only TubeFetcher files show up as standard MP4/MP3 files you can select and delete directly.

How to Delete YouTube App Downloads on iPhone

YouTube Premium offline downloads on iPhone are stored inside the app’s private container and must be removed through the YouTube app, not the Photos app or Files app.

Open the YouTube app → tap your profile picture → Library → Downloads
Tap the three-dot menu next to the video → Delete from downloads
To remove everything at once: Profile → Settings → Background & downloads → Clear downloads

If the YouTube app still shows high storage after deleting downloads, delete and reinstall the app to clear cached data; your account and watch history are not affected.

Note: TubeFetcher does not currently have an iOS app. iPhone users with MP4 files transferred from a TubeFetcher PC download can delete them through the standard iOS Files app.

How Much Storage Do You Actually Recover?

The storage recovered depends directly on the resolution and format you downloaded; a single 1080p video can occupy 1.5GB per hour of content.

Format	Resolution / Quality	Approximate Size Per Hour
MP4	1080p	~1.5 GB
MP4	720p	~800 MB
MP4	480p	~400 MB
MP4	360p	~200 MB
MP3	320kbps	~140 MB
MP3	128kbps	~60 MB

Deleting 10 downloaded 720p videos, averaging 30 minutes each, recovers approximately 4GB. A TubeFetcher library of 50 videos can occupy 10–20GB, depending on quality settings.

When you re-download, TubeFetcher lets you choose a lower resolution to cut file size without losing the content. The best YouTube video resolution guide for offline viewing compares quality against storage for every format.

What to Do If a Downloaded Video Won’t Delete

A YouTube video file that refuses to delete on Windows is almost always locked by an active process.

Fix 1: Close all media players and attempt deletion again
Fix 2: Restart your PC and delete before opening any applications
Fix 3: Right-click → Properties → uncheck Read-Only → Apply → retry
Fix 4 (Command Prompt): del /f “C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\filename.mp4.”
Fix 5: 0KB corrupt file, rename it first, then delete

If the file plays but produces no audio, the issue is a separate codec problem; the fix for downloaded YouTube videos with no sound covers that directly.

Deleted a Video You Still Need? Re-Download with TubeFetcher

Unlike YouTube Premium offline files that expire after 30 days or disappear when a subscription lapses, videos downloaded with TubeFetcher can be re-downloaded at any time at full quality with no file size limit.

Paste the original YouTube URL into TubeFetcher, select your preferred resolution, and the file downloads fresh. No account required. No re-subscription. If you deleted a full playlist, TubeFetcher re-downloads the entire thing in one action.

Get TubeFetcher free and re-download in seconds →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I delete all downloaded YouTube videos at once on PC?

Open File Explorer, go to your Downloads folder, type *.mp4 in the search bar, press Ctrl+A, delete, then empty the Recycle Bin. Repeat with *.mp3 for audio files.

Where are TubeFetcher downloads stored on my computer?

TubeFetcher saves to C:\Users\[YourName]\Downloads by default. If you set a custom folder during setup, check TubeFetcher’s settings panel to confirm.

Why can’t I find my YouTube downloads in my file manager?

YouTube Premium offline files are encrypted inside the app and do not appear in your file manager. Only TubeFetcher downloads appear as standard MP4 or MP3 files that you can locate and delete directly.