How to Download YouTube Videos for Free
YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world, with billions of hours of content available for streaming. However, sometimes you may want to download YouTube videos to your computer or mobile device for offline viewing, especially when you have limited or no internet access. For example, you may want to watch a tutorial, a documentary, or a music video without interruptions or ads.
Downloading YouTube videos can also help you save storage space and data usage, as you can transfer the files to other devices or delete them after watching. However, downloading YouTube videos is not always easy or legal. You need to be aware of the terms of service, the copyright issues, and the quality options before you proceed. In this article, we will show you three different methods and tools that you can use to download YouTube videos for free.
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Method 1: Using Open Video Downloader on a Computer
What is Open Video Downloader?
Open Video Downloader is a free open source tool that allows you to download any YouTube video on Windows and macOS. You can choose from various formats, resolutions, and frame rates, including MP4, MKV, 3GP, MP3, M4A, OGG, 4K, and 8K. You can also download subtitles, playlists, and channels with this tool. Open Video Downloader is simple to use, highly customizable, ad-free, and does not include any bundled extra software.
How to use Open Video Downloader?
Here are the steps to use Open Video Downloader:
Install Open Video Downloader from . To install on Windows, click the GET icon to install the Microsoft Store version. On a Mac, click the Download button, then double-click the downloaded file to install the app.
Go to the YouTube video you want to download in a web browser. You can use any web browser, such as Safari or Chrome.
Copy the video's URL from the address bar. Just highlight the URL of the video, right-click the highlighted area, and then select Copy.
Start the Open Video Downloader app. You'll see it in your Windows Start menu or in your Mac's Applications folder.
Right-click the address bar at the top of Open Video Downloader and select Paste. This pastes your video's URL into the field.
Click the + button. The tool will scan the video and display some options for download.
Select your download preferences. The "Video + Audio" format is selected by defaultthis ensures you're downloading the entire video, including the audio. You can also choose the video resolution and frame rate you want to download from the second drop-down menu. The higher the resolution and framerate, the better the quality. However, a higher-quality file will result in a larger file size.
Go to the folder where you saved the file and double-click it to play it with VLC or any other media player.
Congratulations, you have successfully downloaded a YouTube video with Open Video Downloader.
Method 2: Using VLC Player on a Computer
What is VLC Player?
VLC Player is a free open source media player that can play almost any video and audio format. It also has some hidden features, such as streaming and recording online videos, converting media files, and downloading YouTube videos. VLC Player is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
How to use VLC Player?
Here are the steps to use VLC Player:
Install VLC Player from . Follow the instructions to install the program on your computer.
Go to the YouTube video you want to download in a web browser. You can use any web browser, such as Safari or Chrome.
Copy the video's URL from the address bar. Just highlight the URL of the video, right-click the highlighted area, and then select Copy.
Start the VLC Player app. You'll see it in your Windows Start menu or in your Mac's Applications folder.
Click Media > Open Network Stream... or press Ctrl + N on Windows or Command + N on Mac. This will open a new window where you can enter a network URL.
Paste the YouTube video's URL into the field. Make sure the entire URL got copied.
Click Play. The video will start playing in VLC Player.
Click Tools > Codec Information or press Ctrl + J on Windows or Command + J on Mac. This will open a new window where you can see the codec details of the video.
Copy the Location field at the bottom. This is a long address that contains the direct link to the video file. Right-click on the field and select Select All, then right-click again and select Copy.
Open a new browser tab and paste the copied URL, then press Enter. This will load the video directly in your browser.
Right-click on the video in your browser and select Save Video As... This will open a dialog box where you can choose a name and a location for the file.
Click Save. The video will be downloaded to your computer as an MP4 file.
Go to the folder where you saved the file and double-click it to play it with VLC or any other media player.
Congratulations, you have successfully downloaded a YouTube video with VLC Player.
Method 3: Using Online YouTube Converter Websites
What are online YouTube converter websites?
Online YouTube converter websites are web-based services that allow you to download YouTube videos as MP3 or MP4 files without installing any software. You just need to enter the URL of the YouTube video and choose a format and quality option. Some of these websites also support other video platforms, such as Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Online YouTube converter websites are convenient, fast, and easy to use. However, they may also have some drawbacks, such as limited file formats, low quality, pop-up ads, malware risks, and legal issues.
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How to use online YouTube converter websites?
Here are the steps to use online YouTube converter websites:
Go to the YouTube video you want to download in a web browser. You can use any web browser, such as Safari or Chrome.
Copy the video's URL from the address bar. Just highlight the URL of the video, right-click the highlighted area, and then select Copy.
Go to an online YouTube converter website of your choice. There are many websites that offer this service, such as [6]( [7]( [8]( etc. However, be careful of some websites that may contain malicious ads or viruses. Always use a reliable antivirus software and check user reviews before using any website.
Paste the YouTube video's URL into the search box on the website. Usually, there is a box that says "Enter Video Link" or something similar.
Select a format and quality option for your download. Most websites offer MP3 and MP4 formats, but some may also offer other formats, such as M4A, WEBM, OGG, etc. You can also choose between different quality levels, such as low, medium, high, or HD. The higher the quality, the larger the file size.
Click the download button. Depending on the website, the button may say "Download", "Convert", "Start", or something similar. The website will process your request and generate a download link for your file.
Click the download link to save the file to your computer. You may need to right-click on the link and select "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." to choose a name and a location for the file.
Go to the folder where you saved the file and double-click it to play it with VLC or any other media player.
Congratulations, you have successfully downloaded a YouTube video with an online YouTube converter website.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you three different methods and tools that you can use to download YouTube videos for free. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of each method:
Method
Pros
Cons
Open Video Downloader
- Free and open source- Supports various formats and resolutions- Downloads subtitles, playlists, and channels- Highly customizable and ad-free
- Requires installation- May not work with some videos- May be blocked by antivirus software
VLC Player
- Free and open source- Plays almost any media format- Has many hidden features- Widely available and trusted
- Requires installation- Only downloads MP4 files- May not work with some videos- Involves many steps
Online YouTube Converter Websites
- Web-based and easy to use- Does not require installation- Supports various formats and quality levels- Works with most videos
- May contain pop-up ads or malware- May have limited file formats or quality options- May violate YouTube's terms of service or copyright laws
We hope this article has helped you learn how to download YouTube videos for free. However, we also advise you to be careful and respectful when downloading YouTube videos. Always check the terms of service, the copyright issues, and the quality options before you proceed. Also, do not distribute or monetize the downloaded videos without permission from the original creators. Downloading YouTube videos should be done for personal use only.
FAQs
Q: Is downloading YouTube videos legal?
A: Downloading YouTube videos is not illegal per se, but it may violate YouTube's terms of service or infringe on the rights of the video owners. According to YouTube's terms of service, you are not allowed to access, reproduce, download, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, alter, modify or otherwise use any part of the Service or any Content except as expressly authorized by the Service or by the content owner. Therefore, you should only download YouTube videos for personal use and with permission from the content owner.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos on my mobile device?
A: There are several ways to download YouTube videos on your mobile device. One way is to use a third-party app that allows you to download YouTube videos, such as [5]( [4]( [3]( etc. However, these apps are not available on the official app stores, so you need to download them from their websites or other sources. Another way is to use an online YouTube converter website as described in Method 3 above. You just need to open the website in your mobile browser and follow the same steps as on a computer.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos in HD quality?
A: To download YouTube videos in HD quality, you need to choose a tool that supports HD resolution and quality options. For example, Open Video Downloader allows you to download YouTube videos in up to 8K resolution and 60 fps frame rate. You can also use online YouTube converter websites that offer HD quality options, such as [2]( [1]( etc. However, keep in mind that downloading HD videos will result in larger file sizes and longer download times.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos with subtitles?
A: A: To download YouTube videos with subtitles, you need to choose a tool that supports subtitle download. For example, Open Video Downloader allows you to download YouTube videos with subtitles in various languages and formats. You can also use online YouTube converter websites that offer subtitle download options, such as [10]( [11]( etc. However, keep in mind that not all YouTube videos have subtitles available, and some subtitles may not be accurate or synchronized.
Q: How can I download YouTube playlists or channels?
A: To download YouTube playlists or channels, you need to choose a tool that supports playlist or channel download. For example, Open Video Downloader allows you to download YouTube playlists or channels by entering the URL of the playlist or channel page. You can also use online YouTube converter websites that offer playlist or channel download options, such as [12]( [13]( etc. However, keep in mind that downloading playlists or channels may take a long time and consume a lot of bandwidth and storage space. 44f88ac181