Individuals watch greater than one billion hours of video daily on YouTube, the go-to vacation spot for video for two-plus many years. Why go anyplace else when there’s a lot to observe? Nevertheless, generally you simply have to have a kind of movies in your machine. However is it authorized?
On the copyright entrance, so long as you are downloading a video on your personal private offline use, you are most likely OK. That mentioned, Google’s phrases of service for YouTube say: “You aren’t allowed to…entry, reproduce, obtain, distribute, transmit, broadcast, show, promote, license, alter, modify or in any other case use any a part of the Service or any Content material besides: (a) as expressly licensed by the Service; or (b) with prior written permission from YouTube and, if relevant, the respective rights holders.”
Watching YouTube movies offline by way of unofficial channels takes cash away from Google and video creators. There is a motive YouTube runs advertisements: Individuals make a residing this manner. If you wish to share a video, YouTube and most different video websites make it simple, from embedding to emailing to sharing through social networks. You sometimes don’t have to obtain a video, however for those who should —completely have to, only for your self, not for dissemination, and to not be a jerk—this is how.
Notice: This story is up to date often, because the instruments concerned change. A few of these adjustments aren’t all the time nice, equivalent to software program so filled with “extras” that antivirus instruments flag it as malware. The identical applies to web sites—a change in a web site’s advert community can even create points. To forestall this from changing into a prolonged checklist of packages and websites, we established a number of pointers for inclusion. Providers should:
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Work with the highest three video websites: YouTube, Fb, and Vimeo.
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Obtain total playlists or channels in a batch (on YouTube), no less than with a paid model.
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Output to MP3 for audio (or provide companion software program that does so).
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Have an interface that does not suck.
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Not gather your private information past your e mail deal with.
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Not include malware. If there’s even a whiff of it, even a PUP, it is out.
The packages, providers, and websites on this story are freed from spam and viruses as of the time of writing; nonetheless, purchaser beware. (Particularly for those who’re probably not shopping for.)
YouTube Premium: Restricted Downloads, the Method YouTube Needs
Video downloads can be found to subscribers of YouTube Premium, the $13.99-per-month model of YouTube that means that you can watch with out advertisements. A less expensive choice, Premium Lite, limits advertisements in most classes and permits downloads for $7.99 per 30 days. Nevertheless, all of the movies you obtain are restricted to 1080p or decrease. No 4K.
(Credit score: PCMag/YouTube)
The largest situation: This function does not actually obtain a video you could save wherever you need. It’s just like the obtain options in streaming service cellular apps, which allow you to watch a streaming video offline for a restricted interval. This selection on YouTube Premium won’t will let you, for instance, watch a video utilizing completely different software program, equivalent to VLC Media Participant or Plex.
To obtain a video on the YouTube web site or cellular app, choose the three-dot icon for the entry you want to save and select Obtain video from the menu. You possibly can then entry the obtain from the cellular app by opening your profile picture and deciding on Downloads to view the checklist of what you have grabbed. You may as well open the Downloads settings and allow Sensible downloads to have the app mechanically seize new movies it thinks you may like. Downloads will stay so long as your machine has an energetic web connection no less than as soon as each 30 days.
This most likely is not precisely what you might be on the lookout for. Wherein case, learn on for instruments which might be a greater match.
Desktop Software program: The Finest Approach to Obtain From YouTube
Third-party software program provides you probably the most management over downloading on-line movies. Usually, you paste the URL for the YouTube video you need into this system, and it downloads the highest-quality model it may discover. For movies in 1080p high-definition format, that is normally an MP4 file. For higher-quality content material—4K or 8K—the file format is often MKV or WEBM. MKV or WEBM extensions point out the file is a Matroska file, that means it may maintain quite a lot of media, from video to stills to subtitles, and helps a number of codecs.
VLC Media Participant was as soon as our favourite free solution to obtain YouTube movies, however latest makes an attempt have failed, so we have switched to the standard YouTube downloaders. We additionally pulled 5KPlayer, as makes an attempt to re-download it prompted antivirus errors. It’s now beneath the Digiarty Software program umbrella, together with one other program beneath, VideoProc. Listed here are the most effective desktop video downloader choices:
4K Video Downloader Plus
Free, or $15 per 12 months of “lite” private use on one PC; $25 for a lifetime license buy for 3 PCs; Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android
(Credit score: InterPromo GMBH)
Multi-lingual 4K Video Downloader Plus (4KVD+) is often up to date and options clear obtain hyperlinks on this system’s web site; no advert traps right here. The software program does what it advertises: It makes use of a easy interface to seize high-quality movies as much as 8K and obtain them in varied codecs. Merely copy a YouTube URL and click on the “Paste Hyperlink” button. 4KVD+ will even gather subtitles, total playlists, and all of the movies from a channel you might be subscribed to. The supported websites are restricted to the foremost platforms, together with YouTube, Vimeo, Fb, TikTok, and Twitch, which ought to cowl most of your wants. The free model shows a big banner advert and limits downloads to 30 per day.
I used the moveable model of 4KVD+ that does not require a full set up in Home windows and snagged my 4K check video—a five-minute 27-second opus shot on a drone by PCMag’s Jim Fisher—in 1 minute and 36 seconds. That point consists of file conversion. It additionally simply downloaded an Extremely Excessive Definition (8K) playlist. Once you allow the Sensible Mode and its presets, 4KVD+ can carry out one-click downloads to your favourite format. If you wish to obtain greater than 10 movies per day or subscribe to YouTube channels to immediately obtain the most recent, you will want the paid model. Playback of the MKV information through VLC Media Participant is flawless.
This system can extract audio to MP3 format, so you do not want the 4K YouTube to MP3 companion software program. Nevertheless, if that is your choice, the choice is obtainable for $10 per 12 months or $15 for a lifetime license.
VideoProc Converter AI
Free with restricted use, or $34.95 for one 12 months on three PCs; $54.95 lifetime for one PC; $79.95 lifetime on three to 5 PCs; Home windows, macOS
(Credit score: VideoProc)
The highly effective VideoProc Converter from Digiarty has added AI to its capabilities (and its identify) to maintain up with the Joneses. It primarily supplies enhancing and results, with AI instruments for upscaling and stabilizing footage, but it surely additionally handles downloading. With {hardware} acceleration, it guarantees quick obtain pace and delivers. Let the software program detect your {hardware} to see what’s going to assist with acceleration (if something). Click on the Downloader button, then Add video to enter as many URLs as you wish to batch obtain, after which click on Obtain Now. Or seize a complete YouTube playlist or dwell stream.
VideoProc transformed my check 4K video to the WEBM format in about 55 seconds, a significant enchancment over previous checks with smaller movies. The free model of VideoProc Converter AI used for testing limits conversions to five minutes per audio or video. It does not seem to restrict the variety of downloads; it solely limits the variety of websites it helps (10). The paid model helps 4K downloads from over a thousand web sites.
Helper Web sites: Coming and Going Like a 4K Wind
Do you wish to keep away from putting in software program? Video obtain helper websites are designed to automate the obtain course of for you. They carry out a fundamental job: You give them a URL from YouTube (or one other video web site, if supported), they parse it, give you a alternative of obtain sizes, and supply a hyperlink to the chosen obtain. The websites work on any platform, generally even on cellular gadgets. You do not have to put in something. It could actually take considerably longer to obtain, relying on the video’s measurement and high quality, however you’ll be able to’t beat the comfort.
The issue is you could’t belief them. Tons of of those websites exist—it appears anybody with a modicum of coding means has set one up. Such websites can simply transition from helpful to suspicious, particularly after they acquire recognition, and the proprietor sells out to revenue out of your visits. Since this story was first printed, all of the helper websites we initially really useful have been eliminated as a result of they’ve added sexually specific advertisements, stopped working, or switched to selling a obtain utility solely. One actually went out of enterprise to keep away from getting sued.
For some time, based mostly on a advice from our associates at LifeHacker, we fortunately talked up Cobalt. Whereas the positioning nonetheless operates, it is at the moment blocked from downloading from YouTube “attributable to restrictions from YouTube’s facet,” in keeping with the positioning developer. (Although you can use its API to run an occasion of Cobalt by yourself PC, you probably have the technical expertise.) It is going to, nonetheless, nonetheless seize clips from different websites, together with Fb, TikTok, Instagram, and Vimeo.
Browser Extensions: Well worth the Problem to Set up
A browser extension can prevent a step, however understand that downloading any RTMP protocol video (a protected video) or streaming video is not potential on YouTube. You must have the ability to use these instruments on different video websites, although.
It is also value noting that, since Google owns Chrome and the Chrome Net Retailer, browser extensions able to these actions are even much less more likely to work. Need to get round this? Get an extension that does not come from the Google Net Retailer. Among the packages and helper websites provide an extension part and can spell out the best way to set up it with out the help the Chrome Net Retailer normally supplies. Listed here are a number of:
YouTube Video Downloader
Free; Courageous, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Safari, Vivaldi
(Credit score: Addoncrop)
YouTube Video Downloader from Addoncrop is obtainable for a number of browsers, however not through the standard browser shops. As a substitute, you will have to sideload the extension (which requires one other extension, referred to as CRX Emulator, to make it work). It provides a button beneath whichever video you are taking part in on YouTube, together with embedded YouTube clips, making the video simple to seize. As much as 8K video is supported. You may as well convert audio from the video to an MP3, and it’ll even enable you to take video screenshots.
Video DownloadHelper
Free; Firefox, Chrome, Edge
Video DownloadHelper helps a variety of websites, together with ones for adults. You will know a video is downloadable if the extension icon animates once you’re on the net web page. Video DownloadHelper for Chrome has stopped working with YouTube to safe placement within the Chrome Net Retailer, however you’ll be able to nonetheless apply it to Firefox or Edge.
Really useful by Our Editors
Tubly Downloader
Free or pay $2.49 per 30 days or $17.88 per 12 months to unlock high-res downloads; Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Courageous, Vivaldi
Tubly is aware of you are apprehensive that the extension is not within the Chrome Net Retailer and states proper up entrance why that’s and the best way to get it (through a obtain, extracting from a ZIP file, putting in it, and enabling “Developer Mode” on the browser, then dragging within the .CRX file for the extension). As soon as it is in place, you will get free entry to obtain from YouTube at as much as 1080p per video, with a number of downloads per day (480p downloads are limitless). There is a every day cap on lots of its obtain choices, together with MP3 audio; you’ll be able to keep away from this by paying.
Cell Video Downloader Apps: Skip the App Retailer
What about your cellular machine? Google shouldn’t be going to will let you set up an Android app from the Play Retailer that may obtain YouTube movies. As a substitute, you will have to go round Google totally—for those who even can. Our earlier prime instance, InsTube, is now having main web site points (and is labeled as a probably dangerous web site by the Chrome browser), which is an issue, as that is the one solution to get the app to sideload on an Android machine.
(Credit score: NewPipe)
Different merchandise you’ll be able to attempt for Android downloads embrace NewPipe, which accesses YouTube by way of a brand new interface that features a obtain choice. You may as well get 4K Video Downloader, highlighted above, for Android.
You’d assume there could be no such restriction on iPhones and iPads, since Apple and Google aren’t the most effective of friends. However with the iOS apps we have tried, not solely would they not obtain from YouTube, however they’re additionally sometimes not obtainable for lengthy. A kind of apps actually reported that “Downloading from YouTube is prohibited attributable to its Phrases of Service.” Chances are high, the minute you discover an iOS app that may obtain YouTube movies, will probably be “mounted” or banned. The one actual choice is to jailbreak your iPhone and use sideloaded apps to obtain precisely what you need.
One other is to make use of a free iOS file supervisor app, equivalent to Paperwork by Readdle. Use Safari to go to a YouTube video and make the most of the Share choice to search out Copy Hyperlink. Return to the Paperwork app, use the built-in browser to surf to a video obtain helper web site (you understand, the sort we warned you about above), and paste the hyperlink into the shape. The location will present hyperlinks to obtain the file, and it can save you it to your Paperwork folder. Maintain and drag up the file till you are again on the primary display, then drag it to the Pictures folder. You will want to provide Paperwork permission to entry Pictures. The video ought to then be accessible from Apple Pictures.
One other workaround: Return to a pc operating macOS or Home windows, and check out iMobie’s AnyTrans ($39.99 for a single laptop for one 12 months; $59.99 for a lifetime plan). It is a desktop file supervisor for iOS gadgets with an built-in downloader supporting 900 websites, together with YouTube and Fb. It is going to switch the movies to the iPhone over a cable, like within the days of iTunes. Even for those who do not pay for AnyTrans, the obtain choice stays and is free perpetually.
Use Python for Secure Video Downloads
Are you a programmer? Think about this much more complicated methodology for downloading YouTube movies utilizing a Python script. This course of entails a number of steps and requires putting in a number of parts, however as soon as accomplished, you can safely obtain movies from practically 2,000 web sites. To do that, you’ll want to make use of yt-dlp, a robust, free-to-use Python library that downloads movies on the highest decision obtainable by default. This information focuses on downloading movies from YouTube, however the steps can also work on different websites with out further steps—for those who’re curious, merely enter the video’s hyperlink to test.
Instance of websites apart from YouTube that work (Credit score: PCMag/Python Software program Basis)
Step one is to put in Visible Studio Code, which could be achieved by visiting this web page; it is obtainable for Home windows, macOS, and Linux. Upon getting VSC, you’ll set up Python. There are a number of methods to take action, however the easiest route is to obtain Anaconda, a digital setting distribution that features Python and probably the most generally used Python packages. As soon as that is put in, launch VSC and discover the extensions button on the left facet. Then set up the Python and Jupyter extensions.
(Credit score: PCMag/Visible Studio Code)
This can will let you write Python code in VSC. To maintain issues easy, write your code in a Jupyter pocket book. This lets you separate your code into particular person cells, making it simpler to revisit and modify later for those who aren’t aware of coding. To open a brand new Jupyter pocket book, create a brand new file (identify it no matter you need) and use the file extension .ipynb. Your file ought to look one thing like this: demo.ipynb. Remember to save this file in a folder you’ll be able to simply entry in case it’s essential recycle the code sooner or later to obtain further movies.
(Credit score: David Paiz-Torres/Microsoft/Visible Studio Code)
Lastly, listed here are the steps to obtain movies utilizing Python:
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Set up the yt-dlp library. To take action, open your Jupyter pocket book and enter
!pip set up yt-dlp -
To execute your code, press Shift+Enter concurrently (on Home windows) or Command+Return (on Mac).
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After executing the earlier cell, hover over the center of the cell on the underside facet and choose “code.” This provides you with the choice to create a brand new cell as a way to keep organized.
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In your new cell, write the next:
import os print(os.cwd()). This provides you with the folder listing the place you will discover your video after it is downloaded. -
To alter the listing the file goes to, swap out
print(os.cwd())withos.chdir(‘/enter/your/new/listing’) -
Lastly, to obtain a video, enter the command
!yt-dlpadopted by the video’s URL.
David Paiz-Torres contributed to this story.
About Our Professional
Eric Griffith
Senior Editor, Options
Expertise
I have been writing about computer systems, the web, and know-how professionally since 1992, greater than half of that point with PCMag. I arrived on the finish of the print period of PC Journal as a senior author. I served for a time as managing editor of enterprise protection earlier than settling again into the options workforce for the final decade and a half. I write options on all tech matters, plus I deal with a number of particular tasks, together with the Readers’ Selection and Enterprise Selection surveys and yearly protection of the Finest ISPs and Finest Gaming ISPs, Finest Merchandise of the 12 months, and Finest Manufacturers (plus the Finest Manufacturers for Tech Help, Longevity, and Reliability).
I began in tech publishing proper out of faculty, writing and enhancing tales about {hardware} and improvement instruments. I migrated to software program and {hardware} protection for households, and I spent a number of years solely writing concerning the then-burgeoning know-how referred to as Wi-Fi. I used to be on the founding employees of a number of magazines, together with Home windows Sources, FamilyPC, and Entry Web Journal. All of which are actually defunct, and it isn’t my fault. I’ve freelanced for publications as numerous as Sony Type, Playboy.com, and Flux. I acquired my diploma at Ithaca School in, of all issues, tv/radio. However I minored in writing so I might have a future.
In my long-lost free time, I wrote some novels, a few which aren’t simply on my arduous drive: BETA TEST (“an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic story,” in keeping with Publishers’ Weekly) and a YA e book referred to as KALI: THE GHOSTING OF SEPULCHER BAY. Go get them on Kindle.
I work from my residence in Ithaca, NY, and did it lengthy earlier than pandemics made it cool.
