YouTube is only intended to let users watch and see (stream) videos and movies on their website. Many users wish to know how to download YouTube videos or save them to their computer so they may be watched offline with a media player, viewed on other devices, captured as a photo or screenshot, and edited.
Since the inception of YouTube, a user is not allowed to download videos directly from the website or app to a device. However, in order to download a video, a third-party service is needed.
The following are our suggestions on how to download YouTube videos on your phone or computer. Do you want to pay for Apple Music in Nigeria? see our guide on how to go about it
How to Download YouTube Videos
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Download a YouTube video using a website service
Most free YouTube video download websites are no longer safe to use. These websites frequently result in malware being downloaded to your computer, either directly from the website service or through one of their partner sites.
Websites that provided free YouTube video downloading services have now permanently shut down (e.g., Savefrom.net), switched to malware-related advertisements, or used other deceptive tactics.
For these reasons, we no longer recommend or give instructions for any website that offers free YouTube video downloads. Instead, we recommend using youtube-dl, a screen recorder, or a YouTube Premium subscription. These are the best ways to keep your PC malware-free.
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Download a YouTube video using youtube-dl
One of the best, and our favorite, methods for downloading a YouTube video is to use the free application youtube-dl. It can download any YouTube video format to your PC, including the HD version.
However, utilizing youtube-dl is a little more complicated and is intended for more experienced and expert computer users. Youtube-dl uses the Windows command line on Windows PCs and the Terminal on Mac and Linux systems.
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Saving a YouTube video using a screen recorder
Screen recorders are apps that run on a computer, smartphone, or tablet that capture whatever is on the screen. In addition to capturing your screen, these apps can record a video or parts of a video.
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Download a YouTube video using YouTube Premium
Another secure way to download YouTube videos is through YouTube Premium, a user-friendly service built for computer and mobile device users of all skill levels.
YouTube Premium requires a monthly subscription, but for $11.99 per month, you can download unlimited videos and watch them offline at any time. The YouTube Music app also allows you to listen to music offline. YouTube Premium, like other video streaming services, offers unlimited access to YouTube videos and music for a lower fee than other services.
Unlike youtube-dl, YouTube Premium only allows users to view videos from within the application. After 48 hours in your downloads library, you can’t see the videos offline unless you reconnect to the Internet to prove the validity of your YouTube Premium subscription.
Check out the Best Movie website to download Korean Movies with English subtitles.
How to Download YouTube Videos Without Premium
Step 1: Use Online Video Downloaders
using online video downloaders like y2mate or savefrom.net is an alternative to downloading YouTube videos. All you need to do is open YouTube, copy the video URL, and paste it into any of the online video downloaders; then select your desired quality. Just keep in mind that these sites’ pop-up advertising can make them appear shady at times, so keep your antivirus up-to-date and be cautious where you click.
Step 2: Desktop Software Solutions
I prefer to use dedicated tools such as 4K Video Downloader or VLC Media Player. These applications are far more dependable than browser-based alternatives and will not bombard you with dubious adverts. 4K Video Downloader is exceptionally user-friendly; simply copy your YouTube URL, click “Paste Link,” and you’re done.
Step 3: Using VLC Media Player
Here’s a great trick that most people are unaware of: VLC can download YouTube videos. Open the YouTube video, copy the URL, and then select Media > Open Network Stream in VLC. Paste the URL, press Play, and then navigate to Tools > Media Information to find the video’s location. Copy and paste that link into your browser to download the video immediately.
Step 4: Browser Extensions
If, like me, you prefer to keep things simple, browser extensions might be your best friend. Extensions such as Video DownloadHelper for Firefox and Chrome make downloading as simple as clicking a button while watching a video. Simply download these from your browser’s official extension store to avoid security risks.
YouTube Download App: Mobile Video Downloader Apps
Downloading from YouTube using an Android app from the Google Play Store is difficult because Google controls the site (even if it rarely checks for malware); it does, however, provide the premium YouTube Premium service stated above to allow for offline watching.
However, Android allows you to install apps without going via Google. For example, InsTube – Free Video and Music Downloader for Android can only be obtained on the InsTube website. Download the APK (Android application package) file for sideloading on an Android device. Find it in your device’s downloads folder and click to install. (You may need to go into your security settings and activate “Unknown Sources.”)
Let’s see how to download YouTube Videos using the insTube Android App
You’d think there’d be no such restriction on iPhones and iPads, given that Apple and Google aren’t exactly friends (or perhaps they are). However, the iOS apps I’ve tried not only don’t download from YouTube, but they’re also rarely available for long. One of these apps said in its description that “Downloading from YouTube is prohibited due to its Terms of Service.” Apple is ensuring that app developers follow the rules—including Google’s restrictions.
Chances are, the moment you discover an iOS app that can download YouTube videos, it will be “fixed” or blocked. The only true alternative is to jailbreak your iPhone and then use sideloaded apps to download whatever you want.
There are workarounds. One option is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which allows you to download videos to your iPhone or iPad for later viewing, similar to Netflix and Hulu. However, it does not provide you the freedom to alter a clip.
Another option is to use free iOS file manager software, like Documents by Readdle. Visit a YouTube video using the Safari browser, then select the Share option to discover the Copy Link. Then return to Documents and use the app’s built-in browser to navigate to a video download helper site (which we do not advocate).
Paste the URL into the form (hold your finger down until the “Paste” menu appears). The site will provide download links, which you may then save to Documents. Hold and drag the file up until you return to the main screen, then move it to the Photos folder. You’ll need to permit Documents to view Photos for the first time. You can then access the video in the Photos app, just like any other video made with your phone or tablet.
Another option: Return to the desktop and try AnyTrans ($39.99 for a single computer for one year, Windows or macOS; $59.99 for a lifetime plan). It’s a desktop file manager for iOS devices with an integrated downloader that supports 900 websites, including Facebook and YouTube. It will transfer the videos to your iPhone via a USB cord. Even if you do not pay for AnyTrans, the download option stays active and free indefinitely.
Conclusion
It’s never been easier to save a YouTube video for offline viewing or modification. Whether it’s a quick internet tool or a dedicated piece of software, anyone may now download online videos.
If you’ve set your sights (or ears) on a song from a YouTube video? Perhaps you’d like to make a lengthy interview into a podcast that you can listen to on the move.
