How To Download YouTube Videos: Your Go-To Guide

If you want to watch your favorite YouTube videos offline or save an interesting video for later, downloading YouTube videos is the best solution. 

This guide will show you four safe, legal ways to download content on a computer or mobile device, making it easy to watch offline whenever you like. Learn how to watch YouTube offline and start downloading responsibly.

Download Videos With YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium offers the easiest way to download videos for offline viewing on desktop and mobile devices. The downloaded videos stay within the YouTube app, but they’re not saved as separate files you can freely edit or share. However, this is a convenient route if you want a quick, secure solution for offline viewing. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in — Sign in to your YouTube Premium account or subscribe if you aren’t a member.
2. Search for the video — Find the video you'd like to save using the search bar or browsing YouTube's recommendations.
3. Download the video — Tap the Download button just below the video.‍
4. Locate your download — When the download is complete, go to the Library tab to access and watch your video offline.

Download Videos With 4K Video Downloader

If you're looking to save YouTube videos in high quality and convert YouTube to MP4, 4K Video Downloader is a solid choice. It lets you download video files straight to your computer, giving you more options for format and resolution. Here’s how:

1. Download the program — First, download and install the 4K Video Downloader on your device and open the program.‍
2. Search for the video — Go to YouTube, find the video you want to download, and copy the URL from the address bar.‍
3. Paste the link — Open the 4K Video Downloader and paste the copied link into the program’s interface.‍
4. Choose the format and quality — Select a video format (such as MP4 or MKV) and quality (such as 1080p or 720p), then choose a folder to save the download.‍
5. Locate your download — Once the download is finished, navigate to the selected folder to find and enjoy your video offline.

Download Videos With VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a handy, free tool for downloading and saving YouTube videos. It might not be the quickest method, but the portable edition is great if you don’t want to install extra software. Follow these steps: 

1. Get VLC Media Player — If you don’t want to install this program, you can download the portable edition, which runs without installation. Alternatively, you can download and install VLC from the official website.
2. Find the YouTube video — Go to YouTube, copy the link to the video you want, and then open VLC.
3. Open Network Stream in VLC — In VLC, go to the Media tab, then select Open Network Stream from the dropdown menu.
4. Paste the link — Paste the YouTube link into the network stream box and hit Play to start the video.
5. Copy the URL — While the video is playing, go to the Tools tab and click on Codec Information. Copy the URL shown at the bottom of the window.
6. Paste the URL — Paste the copied URL into your browser, wait for the video to load, and then right-click on the video to save it to your computer.

Download Videos With a Browser Extension

Browser extensions make it easy to download YouTube videos, but they can introduce some security risks. If you choose this method, check user reviews and ratings to choose a trustworthy option. Popular extensions for Chrome and Firefox, such as YouTube Video Downloader or Video DownloadHelper, let you download videos from the YouTube interface.

Pro tip: Browser extensions can have limited functions, so it’s best to use them if other methods aren’t working for you.

Understanding Legal Implications

Before downloading YouTube videos, familiarize yourself with all the related legal and ethical issues. YouTube’s rules generally don’t encourage downloading videos without permission, so you have to be careful about how you use downloaded material. Saving your own videos for offline viewing is typically fine, but sharing or making money from other creators’ work could lead to copyright issues.

Some content, like royalty-free music, public domain videos, and anything marked with a Creative Commons license, is generally safe to download and use. If you’re unsure, contacting the original creator for permission is always a good idea.

Additionally, some premium content, like movies or YouTube Originals, require a subscription or special permissions to download. YouTube Premium lets you save videos to watch offline through the app, but you need to log in every 30 days and keep your subscription active to retain access.

Edit Your YouTube Videos With Captions

Downloading YouTube videos lets you enjoy your favorite videos offline — whether you want to learn a new language, enjoy music, or listen to guided meditations. Just remember to respect copyright laws and ethical guidelines when altering or sharing clips. 

Once you have your video, take it to the next level with Captions. Our intuitive creative studio makes video customization effortless, offering features like synced captions, seamless video compression, and background noise removal. Add engaging transitions and profession-grade enhancements to captivate your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is It Illegal To Use A Video Downloader?

Whether you can legally use a downloader depends on what you do with downloaded content. Saving YouTube videos for offline, personal use is generally acceptable if you’re not distributing or profiting off the content. However, sharing, reproducing, or monetizing downloaded videos without the creator’s permission could violate copyright laws and may lead to legal consequences. Always check the platform’s terms of service and copyright policies before downloading.

Which Videos Can’t I Download From YouTube?

Most YouTube videos are copyrighted, which restricts downloading without permission. Additionally, certain premium or paid content — such as movies, TV shows, and exclusive YouTube Originals — requires authorization to download. Using such content without a proper license or subscription may violate YouTube’s terms of service.

How Long Do Downloaded YouTube Videos Last?

For YouTube Premium subscribers, downloaded videos remain accessible if you keep your subscription and log in to the YouTube app every 30 days. If your subscription ends or you’re logged out for too long, YouTube may restrict your access.