How to Download and Save YouTube Videos in 2024

YouTube is an extremely popular platform that has over 2.7 billion monthly active users. At the moment, there are more than 4 billion videos on YouTube, so no wonder that anyone would be able to find something to their liking. But, unfortunately, users typically have access to all this content only when they have an internet connection. Without it, you won’t be able to enjoy everything that the platform has to offer. 

Unless you manage to find an answer to the question: "Can I download a video from YouTube?" 

And the good news is that there are quite a few ways to download your favorite clips to then watch them whenever and wherever your heart desires. Here is everything that you need to know.

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Do You Need Permission to Download a YouTube Video? 

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of downloading YouTube videos, it's important to understand YouTube's stance on this practice. The YouTube Terms of Service are pretty clear on this: downloading content without permission or without using the official download features is not allowed. 

The aim of this policy is to protect the intellectual property rights of content creators.

With that being said, there are totally legit ways to download videos, which we're going to look into in this guide. Just make sure you have the right to download and use the content, especially if you plan to use it for things other than just watching it at home.

The Official Way: YouTube Premium

Figuring out how to download a videos from YouTube is extremely simple for those with YouTube Premium. The feature offers:

1. Legal downloads via the "save offline" feature
2. Ad-free viewing experience
3. Access to YouTube Originals
4. Background play on mobile devices

How to use YouTube Premium for downloads

1. Subscribe to YouTube Premium.
2. Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
3. Find the clip that you’re planning on downloading.
4. Tap the "Download" button (you’ll find it right below the video).
5. Choose the desired quality.

Just a heads-up: Videos downloaded through YouTube Premium are only accessible within the YouTube app, so you can't transfer or edit them externally.

A Couple of Software-Based Methods

How to download and save a YouTube video? 

While YouTube Premium offers the easiest way to get your hands on the clip wherever you are, some users prefer to have a bit more flexibility. And this is where specialized software can become the center of your attention.

1. 4K Video Downloader

4K Video Downloader is a great option for anyone looking for a reliable software solution.

Key features:

• Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux
• The free version allows up to 30 downloads per day
• Supports high-quality downloads
• Can download entire playlists and channels

How to take advantage of the software:

1. Download and install the software.
2. Copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to download.
3. Open 4K Video Downloader and click "Paste Link".
4. Choose your preferred format and quality.
5. Select the download location and click "Download".

2. VLC Media Player

Looking for other ways to learn how to download YouTube videos without YouTube Premium? The widely-used VLC Media Player can also be used to download YouTube videos. It’s available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and other platforms.

Why pick VLC?

• Free and open-source
• No additional software is required if you already have VLC
• Trusted and secure

How to download using VLC:

1. Open VLC and go to "Media" > "Open Network Stream".
2. Paste the YouTube video URL and click "Play".
3. Go to "Tools" > "Codec Information".
4. Copy the URL in the "Location" field.
5. Paste this URL into your browser.
6. Right-click on the playing video and select "Save video as".

How to Download Video from YouTube Without Any Software

If you'd rather not install any extra software, you can try one of the web-based options that also lets you download YouTube HD videos.

1. Savefrom.net

Savefrom.net is a handy online service that lets you download YouTube videos directly from your browser.

How does it work?

1. Go to the Savefrom.net website.
2. Copy and paste the YouTube video URL into the provided field.
3. Select your desired format and quality.
4. Click "Download".

2. Browser Extensions

There are lots of browser extensions that let you download YouTube videos right from your web browser. 

How to download YouTube videos in Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers and customize your desktop? Here are a few options that you might want to take a look at:

• Video DownloadHelper (Firefox, Chrome)
• YouTube Video Downloader (Chrome)
• Easy YouTube Video Downloader Express (Firefox)

How do browser extensions work?

1. Install the extension from your browser's web store.
2. Navigate to the YouTube video you want to download.
3. Click the extension icon next to the address bar.
4. Select your preferred format and quality.
5. Click "Download".

How to Extract Video from YouTube: Advanced Methods

If you're a more tech-savvy user, we've got some advanced tips and tricks for downloading videos from YouTube for you.

1. Using YouTube-DL

YouTube-DL is a really useful command-line program that can download videos from YouTube and lots of other sites.

Why opt for YouTube-DL?

• Highly flexible and customizable
• Can download entire playlists and channels
• Supports a wide range of video hosting platforms

A basic step-by-step guide:

1. Install YouTube-DL.
2. Open your command prompt or terminal.
3. Type: youtube-dl [VIDEO_URL].
4. Press Enter.

2. Using Developer Tools

If you're comfortable with web technologies, you can extract video URLs straight from YouTube's page source.

How can you do that?

1. Open the YouTube video in your browser.
2. Right-click and select "View Page Source".
3. Search for "ytplayer.config".
4. Look for the "url_encoded_fmt_stream_map" parameter.
5. Decode the URL to find the direct video link.

Flagging a Few Legal and Ethical Considerations

While this guide has some great tips on how to download YouTube videos free on your computer and smartphone, it's important to think about the legal and ethical implications of doing that.

Some Things to Bear in Mind

1. Be sure to respect copyright laws and the rights of content creators.
2. Unless you have explicit permission, only download videos for personal use.
3. It's important to be aware of YouTube's Terms of Service.
4. Think about backing content creators through their official channels.

To Sum Up

There are lots of ways you can download YouTube videos online free, whether you go for YouTube Premium, software solutions, or web-based methods. Just make sure you stick to the rules, and respect the rights of the content creators.

Keep in mind that the world of online video downloading is always changing. Stay up to date on the latest tools and policies to make sure you're using the most recent and appropriate methods for your needs.

While it's handy to download videos from YouTube, creating your own engaging content is even more rewarding. Say hello to BigMotion, an awesome AI-backed video creation platform that'll change how you make and share video content.

It's a complete toolkit for creating faceless videos, from scriptwriting to animation. It even includes captions, voiceovers, and music. 

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Come check out BigMotion today and kickstart your path to effortless, AI-powered video creation!

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