With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube is one of the most popular video sharing platforms on the internet. At times, you may come across a video that you wish to download for offline viewing or sharing purposes. Thankfully, downloading YouTube videos is easy and straightforward.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the different methods to download YouTube videos on your computer, smartphone or any other device. We have also provided some tips and tricks to ensure you download videos in the best possible quality.
Is Downloading YouTube Videos Legal?
Before we dive into the various download methods, let’s first address the legality of downloading YouTube videos. YouTube’s Terms of Service prohibits downloading videos from their platform. However, that does not make it illegal per se. The legality depends on what you intend to do with the downloaded videos.
In most countries, it is perfectly legal to download a YouTube video for personal offline viewing. You are not allowed to redistribute or publicly share the downloaded content without permission from the copyright holder. As long as you limit the use to personal and private viewing, downloading videos from YouTube is not illegal.
Methods to Download YouTube Videos
There are several free and paid tools that allow downloading YouTube videos. Here are some of the most popular options:
Browser Extensions
One of the easiest ways to download YouTube videos is by using a browser extension or add-on. These extensions integrate seamlessly into your browser and provide quick access to download videos with just a click. Some popular YouTube video downloader extensions include:
- Video DownloadHelper (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)
- FastestTube (Chrome)
- Easy YouTube Video Downloader Express (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)
- Ninja Download Manager (Firefox)
To use the extension, simply install it on your browser, go to the YouTube video page and click on the extension icon. Select the preferred resolution and download location – the video will be downloaded to your device within seconds!
Online YouTube Downloaders
Another very convenient option is using an online YouTube video downloader. These are websites or web apps that allow you to paste the link of the YouTube video and download it without any software installation. Some popular web-based downloaders include:
- ClipConverter
- SaveFrom
- FLVTO
- VideoProc
- AnyConverter
Online downloaders offer great convenience as you can use them on any device with a web browser. However, be sure to have an ad blocker installed as many sites are laden with annoying and intrusive ads.
Desktop Software
Desktop software offer the most features and options when it comes to downloading online videos. They allow bulk downloading multiple videos at a time. Some good desktop tools for downloading YouTube videos include:
- 4K Video Downloader (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Free YouTube Download (Windows)
- iTubeGo YouTube Downloader (Windows, Mac)
- YTD Video Downloader (Windows, Mac)
Desktop apps provide fine-grained control and customization over resolution, file format, playlists and more. You can schedule downloads and even download entire YouTube channels. Paid software like 4K Video Downloader also lets you download videos from other platforms like Facebook, Vimeo, etc.
Smartphone Apps
Downloading YouTube videos directly on your iPhone, Android or tablet device is also easy. Some notable apps include:
- Videoder (Android)
- SnapTube (Android)
- TubeMate (Android)
- Documents by Readdle (iOS)
Smartphone apps offer an optimized downloading experience for mobile devices with useful features like offline viewing, background downloading, format conversion, etc. However, most free apps have annoying ads and popups.
YouTube Premium
The official way to download YouTube videos is through YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red). The premium subscription allows offline downloading videos on mobile devices and tablets. Videos can be downloaded via the YouTube app.
YouTube Premium provides up to 1080p resolution downloads without any ads or popups. However, it is a paid subscription costing $11.99/month.
Factors for Best Quality Downloads
Now that you know the various tools to download YouTube videos, let’s look at some tips to ensure you download the best quality videos possible:
- Choose the highest resolution available like 720p, 1080p or 4K.
- Opt for MP4 format as it offers better quality than other formats.
- Use a dedicated downloader instead of online converters which compress quality.
- Download over a fast and stable internet connection for better speed.
- For desktop tools, disable sound normalization for lossless audio quality.
- On Android, grant storage permissions to apps for high-res downloads.
Also keep in mind that YouTube encodes videos at different resolutions. Make sure the video itself is available in HD quality before downloading it in 1080p or 4K resolution. For the best results, use the desktop software method.
Downloading YouTube Videos on Computer
Using Browser Extension
Browser extensions provide the quickest way to download YouTube videos on your computer. Let’s see how to use the Video DownloadHelper extension on Chrome:
- Install Video DownloadHelper from the Chrome Web Store.
- Go to the YouTube video page and click on the blue Video DownloadHelper icon.
- From the context menu, choose the desired resolution (highest available) and MP4 format.
- Select the download location on your computer.
- Click on the Download button and the video will begin downloading.
The process is more or less similar for extensions on other browsers like Firefox. Browser extensions are ideal when you want to quickly grab a video for offline viewing.
Using Online Downloader Website
For quick, one-off downloads, online YouTube video downloader websites also come handy. Let’s see how to use ClipConverter:
- Go to ClipConverter and copy-paste the YouTube video link.
- From the output format dropdown, select MP4.
- Under quality, choose the maximum available resolution.
- Click on the Convert button and wait for processing to complete.
- For the download, click on the Download button and save the video file on your computer.
Online tools like ClipConverter offer great convenience but may be slow for large or bulk downloads. For that, desktop software is preferable.
Using Desktop Downloader Software
Desktop tools provide the most flexibility and features for downloading YouTube videos. We will see how to use 4K Video Downloader on Windows:
- Download and install 4K Video Downloader on your computer.
- Launch the app and click on the Paste Link button.
- Paste the YouTube video link and click Analyze.
- Select MP4 60 FPS under Format for best quality.
- Under Quality, choose the highest resolution available.
- Select the Destination folder to download the video.
- Click on the Download button to start downloading the video in the chosen settings.
4K Video Downloader also allows downloading entire playlists and channels. You can automate downloads by scheduling them. With the paid version, you can even download region-blocked videos.
Downloading YouTube Videos on Mobile
Using YouTube Premium
The official YouTube app allows Premium subscribers to download videos for offline viewing. Here’s how to download YouTube videos using YouTube Premium:
- Make sure you are subscribed to YouTube Premium.
- On the YouTube app, play the video you want to download.
- Tap on the download icon below the video frame.
- Select Download in the prompt to confirm download.
- To access downloads, tap on the Library icon and switch to Downloads tab.
YouTube Premium allows unlimited downloads for offline viewing. The downloads are saved locally on your device storage. However, it is a paid subscription service.
Using Video Downloader Apps
There are various apps on the Play Store and App Store that let you download YouTube videos without any subscription. For Android, let’s see how to use Videoder:
- Install Videoder app on your Android device.
- Grant storage and network access permissions.
- Open the app and paste the YouTube video link.
- Tap on the Download button and select resolutions like 1080p, 720p etc.
- The app will begin downloading the video in your chosen format.
- You can find your downloaded videos in the Downloads tab within the app.
Videoder and similar downloader apps for iOS provide a seamless way to download YouTube videos on smartphones and tablets. However, they contain ads which can be removed only by buying the premium version.
FAQs Related to Downloading YouTube Videos
Here are some common questions people have about downloading videos from YouTube:
Is it illegal to download YouTube videos?
No, downloading YouTube videos for personal offline viewing is not illegal in most countries. You only cannot re-upload or distribute the downloaded videos without permission.
Can you download age-restricted videos on YouTube?
Most downloader tools do not work properly for downloading age-restricted videos. You will need to sign-in to YouTube through the downloader app using an account that meets the age criteria.
What is the best resolution for YouTube download?
1080p or Full HD (1920×1080 pixels) offers the best combination of high visual quality and reasonable file size. HD (1280×720) is also a decent resolution for downloads.
Is downloading YouTube videos safer on desktop or mobile?
Desktop tools and browser extensions are usually safer as some mobile apps have intrusive ads, spammy notifications and potentially unwanted components. Both options are fine as long as you use trusted tools.
Can you download region-blocked YouTube videos?
Yes, using a VPN or proxy extension along with a desktop downloader allows you to change region and download blocked YouTube videos not available in your country.
Is it better to download or screen record a YouTube video?
Downloading is better as it gives you a clean file without any overlays or watermarks. Quality is also much better compared to screen recording. Download should always be the first choice.
Conclusion
Downloading YouTube videos can be extremely useful for offline viewing, sharing, archiving and other personal purposes. There are various free tools and paid services that allow easy downloading of YouTube videos.
Make sure to always choose the highest quality resolution and MP4 format for best results. Also be aware of the basic legality of downloading YouTube videos – limit usage to personal viewing and avoid redistribution without permission.
We hope this detailed guide helped you learn the different methods to download YouTube videos on both desktop and mobile devices. Happy video downloading!
Method | Platform | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
Browser Extensions | Computer | Quick and easy to use | Limited features and control |
Online Downloaders | Computer/Mobile | No installation needed | Slow, ads and popups |
Desktop Software | Computer | Maximum quality and control | Installation required |
Mobile Apps | Android/iOS | Optimized for mobile use | Ads and limited features |
YouTube Premium | Computer/Mobile | Official ad-free downloads | Paid subscription |