Downloading YouTube Videos

Are you looking to download YouTube videos and enjoy them offline?

Whether you want to watch your favorite tutorials, music videos, or vlogs on the go, downloading YouTube videos is a handy option.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple steps to achieve this on various devices. Let’s dive right in!

Top Ways to Download YouTube Videos

There are best ways to download YouTube videos, but not all of them may work for you equally. To know which one is the best, start by understanding each option and assessing it as you go along.

Top Choice for YouTube to MP4 Converter

1. Playlistdownloadr

Your first option for downloading YouTube videos is Playlistdownloadr. This website will only ask you for the URL of the video you want to download. They will parse it, provide options for different download sizes, and then give you a link to your download. 

What’s great about these sites is they can work on any platform. You can use them on your cell phone or any mobile device. You don’t have to download anything that eats up your computer’s memory unnecessarily. While it may take longer to download through these sites, their overall convenience is just unbeatable. 

 

YouTube premium

2. YouTube Premium 

If you’re a YouTube Premium subscriber, you probably enjoy the best of the platform: no ads and other disruptions, plus video downloads. While this sounds like a great deal, there’s one caveat. YouTube premium downloads are notorious for churning out 1080p and that’s it, even lower sometimes. So if you’re a 4K kind of video buff, this might be disappointing. 

As mentioned, 1080p is the industry standard for crisp HD digital video viewing. But why would you settle with YouTube to MP4 HD when you can get all 8 million pixels with 4K?   

The other problem with a YouTube Premium “download” is that there’s practically no such thing. When you “download” a video through YouTube’s paid service, the file stays available in your account’s Downloads page, but you can’t view it using other software, such as VLC Media Player or Windows Media Player. And should you ever lose your Internet connection for a certain number of days for whatever reason, that video will no longer be there. 

For these reasons and more, YouTube Premium “downloads” are not technically downloads – at least, based on the current globally accepted definition of the word. Instead, they’re more akin to movies or series you can save on video streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu.  

3. VLC Media Player

VLC isn’t just for playing videos; it can also download YouTube videos:

  1. Download and install VLC Media Player.
  2. Open VLC and click “Media” in the top menu.
  3. Select “Open Network Stream” and paste the YouTube video URL.
  4. Click “Play.” As the video starts, click “Tools” > “Codec Information.”
  5. Copy the Location field URL and paste it into your browser.
  6. Right-click the video and choose “Save video as.”

4. Using ‘ss’ in the URL:

Here’s a quick trick to remember: add “ss” before “youtube.com” in the video URL. For example, change “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example” to “https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=example.” This will redirect you to a download page where you can choose the video quality.

Downloading YouTube Videos on Different Devices

Downloading on iPhone:

  1. Install the “Documents by Readdle” app from the App Store.
  2. Open the app, tap the browser icon, and visit a YouTube video download site.
  3. Paste the video URL, choose the format, and tap “Download.”

Downloading on Android Mobile:

  1. Download the TubeMate app from its official website (it’s not on Google Play).
  2. Open TubeMate, search for the video, and tap the green download arrow.
  3. Select the desired quality and hit “Download.”

Download If You Must, But Be Smart About It

Whatever your reasons for downloading YouTube videos, they’re all on you, and the Internet won’t stop you. As long as you abide by widely accepted conventions for using YouTube videos, you shouldn’t have a problem. 

Always do your research because it can save you a lot of trouble in the future. While downloading YouTube videos is inherently innocent, nothing is ever safe enough online. But you don’t have to jump in with your eyes closed.    

Downloading YouTube videos doesn’t have to be a complex task. With various methods available for different devices, you can enjoy your favorite content offline without hassle. Give these methods a try and find the one that suits you best. Remember, while downloading videos is convenient, respecting copyright and fair use policies is essential.

Remember, the world of online videos is always evolving, and new methods for downloading might emerge. Stay updated and enjoy your favorite videos wherever you go!