Using Chromebook offline to play YouTube videos

Dreamscometrue

Hi all,

I've left a Chromebook in Cuba for someone without internet access. Before leaving I downloaded many videos using a YouTube Premium subscription and they worked offline in Cuba at first. When trying again just before leaving using the YouTube app they would not play as it was searching for the internet. I could see that there were many all fully downloaded but it kept searching for an internet connection. Could someone please tell me which setting/s need to be changed to get them to play? I'll then translate. Many thanks.

facade

Just a guess, but it is either trying to look online for a valid subscription, or the date is past the validity of the download.

Premium content is usually DRM'd to either an account or a pc & date.

It might play them if the system date is set to a time when they would play, worth trying as it is free.

Dreamscometrue

The subscription is still active and they've only been downloaded to the Chromebook and very recently. I'll cancel the subscription soon. Only just got back so lots to do.

Neil_Jones

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/11977233 says "

• Downloaded videos can be played offline for up to 29 days. After that, you'll need to reconnect your device to the internet. Reconnecting will allow the app to check for changes to the video or its availability. If a video is no longer available for offline playback, it will be removed from your device during the next sync.
• In some countries/regions, content can be played for up to 48 hours without an internet connection."

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6307365 also says "You may not be allowed to access each of your paid membership benefits if you travel to a country/region that is not listed here," though since there is no internet connection that may not apply.

I wonder if you connected the device to the internet somehow and YouTube now knows its in Cuba, and so the 48hr thing I mentioned applies there?  Cuba doesn't show as an available location for YouTube Premium.

Dreamscometrue

Hmmm, interesting. It definitely had no internet connection. We stayed in a casa particular with no access to the internet. Most people have no internet access. He can access things on his Android phone but that uses a different Google account. Maybe they just worked for 48 hours. Oh well. At least he'll be able to download via USB. I'll download what I can to a portable drive & take it next time. Thanks all.