YouTube is one of the most popular social media websites. The video-sharing website features billions of hours of content, with one video more than intriguing or fascinating than the other. Just what happens when your Internet connection disconnects?

There are many reasons someone would want to try downloading YouTube videos to sentry them offline. The main is being able to admission them fifty-fifty when your internet connection is spotty – like on a flight or trips to places without reliable mobile internet access. Downloading videos can besides be a corking idea if you have a mobile plan with a express information allowance.

Whether you lot want to know how to download music from YouTube or a video of your favorite YouTuber – this guide will help you do it. At that place are both free and paid options to consider.

Only let's commencement with the most pressing question – is downloading videos from YouTube legal?

Is downloading videos from YouTube legal?

It depends. Downloading videos through the YouTube Premium app is legal, nevertheless, using unofficial methods may exist against YouTube's Terms of Service.

What's the easiest way to download YouTube videos?

The easiest way is to subscribe to YouTube Premium, which is $11.99/mo.

Once you consider Google'due south Terms of Service for YouTube, you may discover yourself in a grayness surface area. The very starting time restriction practical to the users read that they are non immune to download any part of the Service or any Content except:

  • Those that are exclusively authorized by the Service
  • The user who has prior written permission from YouTube
  • The respective right holder

Watching videos offline with the help of free (read unofficial) applications or platforms takes the coin away from Google and YouTube. It is why they address restrictions commencement. Breaching their Terms of Service can get you in trouble. However, through all these years, we're not aware of the platform showing a desire to do then.

So, does that mean you cannot download videos from YouTube? Hardly.

There are several ways to download YouTube videos to watch your favorite videos off the platform without committing a cybercrime.

Cull A Tool to Download YouTube Videos

In that location are many 3rd-party applications and software that allow you lot to download YouTube videos. It is recommended to subscribe to YouTube Premium, but there are other options:

  • YouTube Premium
  • 4K Video Downloader
  • VLC Media Role player

YouTube Premium

The easiest mode to download YouTube videos is by subscribing to YouTube Premium which gives you lot access to your favorite videos, even without an Internet connection. However, the videos are automatically removed every bit a download after thirty days.

Reasons to consider subscribing to YouTube Premium include:

  • Authorized – Using YouTube Premium to download videos from YouTube is 100% authorized and legal.
  • Advertizing-Gratuitous Service – By paying for a membership, y'all also get ad-free streaming.
  • Uninterrupted Background Streaming – YouTube plays in the background, even when yous start using another app.

How exercise I download videos with YouTube Premium?

  1. Start watching the video that you lot want to download
  2. Tap Download beneath the thespian
  3. Select the quality, and the downloading starts automatically
YouTube Premium comes with a 1-month free trial

4K Video Downloader

A 3rd-party tool worth considering is 4K Video Downloader. It allows you to download videos from all popular video streaming websites. This multi-lingual platform offers a number of handy features, also — like the ability to download annotations and subtitles.

As the proper name suggests, you're able to download videos in 4K resolution — all the manner up to 8K. Autonomously from high-quality downloads, you can also download three-dimensional and 360° videos.

Nosotros also like that the tool offers these features:

  • Free Trial – You can download upward to thirty single videos, 10 playlists, and 1 subtitle videos a day with the free version. Upgrade if yous'd like to download audio in high quality and enjoy an ad costless experience.
  • One Time Payment – This tool has two paid plans – the Personal Programme for $17.54 and the Pro Program for $52.62. The payments are ane fourth dimension and not subscription-based, which makes the tool extremely affordable for everyone.
  • Highly Compatible – 4K Video Downloader works with pretty much every video website – including YouTube, Facebook, Tiktok, Vimeo, and Twitch.
  • Download Any Format – You're able to download videos in a variety of formats including MP4, MKV, OGG Theora, MP3, M4A.

4K Video Downloader is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How do I save a video with 4K Video Downloader?

  1. Download and install 4K Video Downloader
  2. Copy the link of the video, aqueduct, or playlist you want to download
  3. Press Paste URL in the 4K Video Downloader software
  4. Select a quality blazon (college is amend quality)
  5. Press Download
4K Video Downloader is available on macOS

VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is open-source software which means it is free to download and use! VLC Media Player works on all platforms and allows you to save any video without ads, spyware, or user tracking.

Unlike 4K Video Downloader, VLC Media Player is besides available on your phone. It is supported by iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

This video tool is a no-frill, straightforward tool that does what it says (and not much more). The simple interface allows yous to play and save videos without other confusing features.

Notable VLC Media Actor features include:

  • Completely Complimentary – VLC Media Thespian won't try to upsell you. Their software is complimentary. You are able to donate to supporting them if you'd similar to, however.
  • Mobile Support – This tool works on Android and iPhone devices. This is something non offered by other software.
  • Allows Customization – VLC Media Player isn't the near stylish. Information technology has a basic user interface. The nice affair most it beingness open source is that there are options to change skins and install extensions fabricated past the customs.
  • File Format Support – VLC Media Player can play almost, if not all, video or audio formats. This is arguably the best technical perk of this video downloader.

Steps to Download Videos with VLC Media Player

  • Download and install VLC Media Role player
  • Copy the link to the video you want to download
  • Open VLC Media Actor and click Open Media
  • Click Open Network Stream and paste the copied link. Click Play.
  • Windows – As the video plays, go to Tools and select Codec Information
  • MacOS – As the video plays, go to Windows and select Media Information
  • Become to Location and copy the URL
  • Paste and search in the browser, then click salvage
VLC Media Player is Open Source

What Format Should I Relieve My Video In?

In that location are iv main video file formats in which you can download a video — MP4, 3GP, AVI, and MOV.

  • MP4 — Also chosen MPEG-4 Part xiv, this video format is one of the earliest and well-nigh pop ones. About devices, software, and video players support this format. The biggest perk of this format is its high quality and relatively pocket-sized size.
  • 3GP — This media format aims at saving disk space, bandwidth, and data use. It is why 3GP is ofttimes seen created from and transferred between mobile devices. It is the standard format used for MMS and MBMS messages.
  • AVI — This video file format uses less pinch than MP4 and MOV, resulting in a large file. Information technology likewise offers the choice to make a video lossless, which ways it doesn't apply pinch. This results in consistent high quality and eliminates the use of codecs.
  • MOV — A popular file format designed by Apple tree to support the QuickTime actor. It can comprise audio with subtitles, timecodes, etc. Since MOV is a very loftier-quality format, information technology takes significantly more deejay infinite.

Summary

At that place are certainly options to consider if you lot're looking to download YouTube videos. The easiest and most straightforward is subscribing to YouTube Premium, but there are third-party tools that offering functionality besides. MP4 is one of the most popular file formats, but 3GP, AVI, and MOV offer perks of their ain to consider depending on your needs.