YouTube is the most popular and largest on-demand video platform on the globe.
Actually, mote than 30 million visitors are watching about 5 billion videos every day on YouTube.
If you want to save videos from YouTube to watch later, you gonna need to learn how to download YouTube videos effectively. You can download videos from YouTube into formats like AVI, MP4, MPEG, and many more. Or if you only just need audio, you can convert YouTube videos into MP3 files.
With so many ways to download videos from YouTube and access videos on demand, I created this tutorial with the best easy ways to download YouTube videos for desktop and mobile this year.
Let’s get started.
Try our Free: Script Timer – Words to Time Calculator
#What Are the Steps to Download Youtube Videos?
Downloading YouTube videos is a straightforward and simple process. The first method to download YouTube videos is to use a video converter tool.
1.) Download YouTube Videos Using a Video Downloading Converter.
Using a YouTube downloader is the easiest and fastest method to download YouTube videos. Let’s look at it step-by-step:
Choose a Video Downloading Converter/Tool.
At first, you have to select the best possible YouTube downloading tool/converter.
In my opinion, the best YouTube downloading tool on the market is 4K Download.
4K Download works with Mac, Linux and Windows and offers decent great features like saving playlists, batch downloading, and downloads in 4k, 1080p and 720p. You can extract YouTube subtitles and save them in more than 50 languages.
There are few other tools out there and while there are some geat free tools, the paid versions provide way higher quality.
What futures to look into an: YouTube Downloading Tool.
- 1) Quality of The Video: The converted video file must have standard video quality for great viewing. Correctly, you should be able to handle the quality of the video. It may range between high, medium or low. It’s better if you can choose exact video resolution like 1080p, 720p, 360p and more.
- 2) Subtitles: Everyone likes videos that are in different languages. In such instances, the use of subtitles is very essential while playing it on YouTube. Rationally, you’ll prefer to download those YouTube videos along with the subtitles.
- 3) Batch Downloading: You can download the files in bulk or individually based on playlists from YouTube channels. If you like a band, you might want to download their entire discography. And also you may want to download their entire filmography.
- 4) Multiple File Format Compatibility: You may want to download and save YouTube videos in multiple formats within your file manager. Having diverse options to choose from, like MP4, MP3, AAC or FLAC, allows you to be more flexible.
- 5) Built-In Video Editor: You may want to view a song in the middle of a video. Or you may want to edit out a particular portion of a film. Video editing needs can proceed at any point in time, making it an important feature in a YouTube video downloading tool. You can try out Any Video downloader/converter (AVC) that comes with a built-in editor.
- 7) Speed: The video downloader tool should be able to convert and download videos fast. The download times perfectly shouldn’t be highly affected by wi-fi connectivity and fluctuations in internet.
2.) Copy The Video Address Bar URL From YouTube.
Assume you’re using an video downloading tool. Using this method, you gonna need to head to YouTube and open the video you want to download.
You can just simply to copy and paste the link URL displayed in the box.
You can open the online video downloading tool in a new tab on the same window. Once it opens, it will display a text box for you to enter the URL from YouTube.
Find here a screenshot from y2mate where you can download the YouTube video. You simply jest need to paste the URL from YouTube in the text box above and click on the ‘Start’ option. Some websites may also have buttons saying ‘Download’ or ‘Go’ .
If you are using a video downloadable tool, you gonna need to download and install it on your own computer first. Once you start to run it, it will provide you with the same options to copy and paste the YouTube URL for conversion.
Beware about unnecessary software that you may need to download videos as well. Stay away from those whenever possible. Some great alternatives are Keepvid, which can help you download YouTube video files with iPad, Apple MacOS, Android devices and iPhone.
You may gonna need to look into alternative YouTube apps that work in the Google Play Store or with different smartphones. If you’re downloading from Vimeo to watch videos offline, there are a host of other more options to choose from.
3.) Choose the Video Quality and File Format.
Once you copy and paste the YouTube video URL into the search box, you’ll get a host of many choices. As an example, y2mate lets you choose the video quality, video format you want to download and the file size.
Next, select the option you want and click on the “Download” option.
Some of the video downloader tools also allow you to download YouTube videos in formats like MPG, WMV, AVI, ASF, M2TS, 3G2, 3GP, FLV, WEBM, MKV, SWF, HTML5 OGG, HTML5 WEBM, HTML5, and many more.
If you are searching for batch downloads, you can specify a folder in your own computer to save all the downloaded videos. You might encounter some confusion if you’re using a VPN as these video downloaders tools usually point out on your IP address over the YouTube video URL you enter.
Therefore if you’re a VPN user, you may gonna want to change the location for proper YouTube video downloads. Once the YouTube video gets downloaded, you can play it wherever and whenever you want.
#How to Download YouTube Videos Directly?
You don’t need to use an YouTube video downloading tool. It’s very easy to download YouTube videos directly from YouTube too.
Find here the steps: how to download YouTube videos directly.
1. Head to the You Tube video.
Open YouTube website on your browser and head to the YouTuve video you want to download.
2. Add ‘ss’ In the YouTube URL.
Then you gonna need to edit the YouTube URL in the text editor provided by YouTube. Just simply, enter ‘ss’ after ‘www.’ but before ‘youtube.com.’ After you have entered it, press ‘Enter’ button on your keyboard.
Next, you’ll gonna get redirected to a free download site.
3. Go to the Download Site
Once you’ll get redirected, there are many of free services to use that you don’t need to download or install. The moment you press the ‘Enter’ , you get redirected to them website.
You gonna see that the text editor already has the video YouTube URL, so you don’t need to copy and paste any URL. Your YouTube video is ready to get downloaded – all you need to do is click ‘Download’. You’ll have to choose the format and the quality of the video. Ultimately, click “download” and you’ll have your video within a couple of seconds.
#How to Download YouTube Videos with Browser Add-Ons?
You might don’t want to play around with the video URL or you may not want to use any third-party tool to download the YouTube videos. In this case, using add-ons on your browser is just the method you need.
1. Choose an Add-on to download YouTube videos.
There is an add-on for almost everything you could need.
The great news is that there are many options available to download YouTube videos.
Few of them are suited for Chrome and Firefox while some are just standalone tools.
Find here an example of a similar add-on called ‘YouTube Video and Audio Downloader’ for Opera.
2. Download The Add-on.
The method is very simple in Opera. And it’s more or less similar for other browsers too.
In Opera, you can go ahead and click on the ‘Add to Opera’ option displayed in green color. Additionally, just make sure you download the proper add-on relevant to the browser you’re using. For sure they won’t work otherwise.
Once the add-on is downloaded, just install it. If the add-in doesn’t work after you have done the installation, then restart your computer.
3. Head to YouTube.
Then, go to the YouTube video you want to download. Once you are there, you will notice an icon on the top right side (for Opera users).
When you install this YouTube video video downloader add-on, you get some options:
- Quick download
- Download panel
- Conversion tool
- Settings
Click “quick download” and you will have the video downloader installed in your system. You don’t get the direct download option from YouTube no matter what browser you use unless you gonna use an add-on.
4. Choose your Video File Format.
Nearly all add-ons provide you with a diversity of options to save the YouTube video. Options range are between various formats, as well as multiple video qualities. Normally, a pop-up is slaiding up during the download, asking for your own preferences.
#How to Download YouTube Videos with Virtual Desktop?
By using a Virtual Desktop (VD) is another very easy method to download YouTube videos.
Find here the steps: how to download YouTube videos with a Virtual Desktop.
1. Head to The YouTube Video.
At first, visit YouTube website and then type the name of the YouTube video you want to view and download. Once you do this and you gonna press ‘Enter’, the video starts playing.
2. Add “vd” to the YouTube URL.
Now the method is similar to when you directly download YouTube videos by adding ‘ss’ to the URL. In this situation, you need to edit the YouTube video address and add the words ‘vd’ before ‘youtube’ and after ‘www.’.
Follow up: After the video edit, press ‘Enter’. Then next, you gonna get redirected to the Django website for the YouTube video you wish to download.
3. Choose the Video Quality and Video Format.
On the VDYouTube website, scroll down to choose the video quality and the viseo format of the YouTube video. Based upon your video downloading needs, you can go ahead.
4. Start to Download the YouTube Video.
Once you click “download”, it’s just only a matter of few seconds before it gets installed in your own computer system.
#How to Download YouTube Videos with VLC Player?
If you don’t have the VLC media player in your computer, then you can download it. VLC Media player is secure and makes it easier for you to download YouTube videos.
Find here the steps: how to download YouTube videos with VLC Player.
1. Head to YouTube Video and Copy the URL.
Go to YouTube and open the YouTube video you want to download. Next, copy the URL of the youTube video.
2. Open VLC Media Player.
Correctly, you shouldn’t wait for this step to open the VLC media player. You should keep it open on the taskbar for your own benefit.
3. New Network Stream.
When you open the VLC media player, go over to the ‘Media’ option, and click on it. Then next, select the ‘Open Network Stream’. Definitely, this is just the case when you’re using a Windows OS.
When you are using Mac, the flow gonna be FILE > OPEN NETWORK.
4. Open Media.
In this phase, you will see a page with a text editor and it doesn’t matter what OS you are using. Then, paste the copied URL of the YouTube video you want to download.
5. Hit The ‘Play’ Option on VLC Media Player.
When you click ‘Play’ button, the video you downloaded from YouTube starts playing on VLC.
6. Codec Information.
Then next, click ‘Tools’ on the top right corner. There, you gonna find an option ‘Codec Information’. You can reach the ‘Codec Information’ also by using the ‘CTRL + J’ command. When you click on ‘Codec Information’, a new window opens up.
7. Location.
The window looks basically like this: You gonna need to copy the information of the video from the location text box at the bottom of the page. This step is for Windows OS users. If you are a Mac OS user, you need to right click on the field and click on the ‘Open URL’ option.
8. Copy and Paste the URL.
If you are on a Windows OS, you already copied the URL. next, paste it onto your web browser and click ‘Enter.’ This step is unnecessary for Mac OS users.
9. Save the Video.
At this point, the video should be playing on your own browser online. Then right click on the video and select the ‘Save video as’ option.
10. Download The Video.
Now the video will start downloading. Just notice that the default video format is MP4, and the default title would be ‘videoplayback.’ Once the video it gets downloaded, save it with your other own videos. Although the method may seem lengthy right now, it’s very simple once you do it yourself.
#How to Download YouTube Videos on Mobile?
Downloading a YouTube video to your own smartphone or tablet is a bit delicate.
Anyway, we have 2 very simple methods for you to download YouTube videos to your smartphone or tablet.
Option #1: If you have an Android smartphone or tablet you can use this app called InsTube. InsTube app makes downloading the YouTube videos to your phone simple and free.
Option #2: If you are an iPhone userand running on IOS you can’t use InsTube to download your favorite YouTube videos.
The easiest method to get this done is by getting YouTube Premium membership. It cost $11.99/month but is absolutely worth it. You can download YouTube videos right to your smartphone or tablet and watch them right within the YouTube app. Me personally this is the way I do and I would recommend you try this method too.
A free method to get this done is also by using Apple AirDrop.
You can transfer the video files from your Apple computer to your smartphone or tablet and watch them like a normal video. All you must to do is fjust to follow the y2mate.com steps and you will be able to download any YouTube video for free and have it on your smartphone or tablet.
Is Downloading YouTube Videos Legal?
YouTube has a unequivocal Terms of Service that plain define what a user can or can’t do on the YouTube platform.
Although downloading YouTube videos is procedurally a criminal act, they has made no desire to penalize viewers for downloading YouTube videos. Certain free videos on YouTube with the proper licenses are legal to download. Additionally, if you’re just only using the YouTube video for personal use, it can be considered legal.
In plain English, you can watch Youtube videos, but only just from Google applications.
Anyway, third-party apps will continue to come up online and let users to download YouTube Videos. It’s hard to ban or enforce users for exploiting them: you can watch YouTube videos when you’re not signed in.
Finally, it’s just up to you to decide if downloading videos from YouTube for personal use is something you should be doing.
Download YouTube videos: FAQ.
Can you download a video from YouTube?
Yes, you can download any YouTube video you want by following the steps in this tutorial. I walk you through more than 5 methods to download YouTube videos using a extension, video downloader, and mobile device.
Can I download YouTube videos for free?
Yes, of course you can download any YouTube video for free. Anyway, if you are searching to save yourself time I recommend you get started with 4K Download. It will give you great quality videos and will keep your devices free from malware and viruses.
What is the best method to download YouTube videos?
For desktop the best method to download a YouTube video is with 4k Download.
For smartphone or tablet the best method to download YouTube videos is either YouTube Premium or InsTube.
How do I download YouTube videos to my android?
The best method to download YouTube videos to your Android is by using InsTube. It is free and very super simple to use.
#How to Download YouTube Videos: Conclusion
Voila you have it: the few of the best methods to download YouTube videos. In my personal opinion, go with 4K Download, it’s the best tool for MP3 conversions and video quality.
This video downloader tool lets you access your favorite YouTube videos, even without an Internet connection. Downloading YouTube videos and storing them on your smartphone, tablet or computer helps you never miss out on the videos you really like.
Do you download YouTube videos? Which video downloader tools do you use? Please just let me know in the comments below.
Recommended Articles on StartUpAm.com: For more ideas on making money with video, check out my last articles of the best video editing software and my guide how to make money on YouTube.
Want to Learn More?
- 10+ Best Podcast Hosting Platforms
- 45+ Blogging Ideas for Bloggers
2 thoughts on “How to Download YouTube Videos: +5 New Methods”
thanks for sharing downloading method.
You’re welcome! I’m glad that you found the downloading method I shared helpful. If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to let me know.