What you need to know before downloading a video

Videos on video hosting have authors and owners to whom they legally belong. In addition, YouTube’s terms of use state that no content may be downloaded, copied, or distributed without the prior written consent of YouTube and its respective licensors.

Thus, downloading materials that fall under the free Creative Commons CC0 (Public Domain) and CC BY (Attribution) licenses is acceptable. You can also download your own videos from YouTube that have been previously posted there. In all other cases, we do not recommend doing this.

How to download YouTube videos to any device using online services

This method is good because it does not require the installation of additional programs. All you need is a dedicated downloader site. They are free and, as a result, contain a lot of ads. Therefore, it is better to use them with inappropriate content blockers.

Copy the link to the video you want, and then open any of the sites listed below in the browser.

• X2Download. The maximum quality with sound is 1080p, there is a conversion to MP3.
• Youtube4KDownloader. The maximum quality is 4K, there is a choice of size, conversion to MP3.
• y2mate.com. The maximum quality is 1080p.
• noTube. The maximum quality is 1080p.
• 9Convert. The maximum quality with sound is 1080p, there is a conversion to MP3.
• YT1s. The maximum quality with sound is 1080p.
• UniDownloader. The maximum quality with sound is 720p, there is a choice of formats.

After opening the site, paste the link you copied earlier into a special field. If possible, select the appropriate quality and format for the final file. Click on the download button and wait for the video to download.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, be sure to use Safari. Other browsers on these devices do not allow you to download video files. In addition, the method will only work if you have iOS 13 or newer OS or iPadOS.

How to Save YouTube Videos to Computer Using Browser Extensions

After installing a special extension, a button will be displayed under the videos for easy download.

Unfortunately, Google discourages downloading videos from YouTube. Therefore, the necessary plugins are often removed from the official stores of Chrome and other browsers. But you can install the necessary extensions from other sources.

One of the best video saving plugins is YouTube Video Downloader. This extension allows you to download videos in quality up to 4K and supports Chrome, Edge, Opera, UC, Vivaldi, Yandex Browser.

To install YouTube Video Downloader, open its website, select your browser from the list and click the How to install button. A video tutorial will start to guide you through the installation.

YouTube Video Downloader →

Another good extension is y2mate. With it, you can download videos in Firefox or Google Chrome in quality up to 1080p. To install y2mate, go to the plugin website, click on the download button in the lower right corner and follow the instructions.

y2mate →

How to download YouTube videos to your computer using special programs

If you want to download videos to your PC at the fastest speed, use programs like ClipGrab or 4K Video Downloader. They usually work faster than online services and extensions and allow you to download videos in resolutions up to 4K.

To use any of these programs, just insert a link to the desired video into it, select video options and click on the download button.

Both of the above options are available for free for Windows, macOS, and Linux. But ClipGrab offers to download an antivirus during installation – do not forget to refuse it. And 4K Video Downloader also has a paid version that allows you to save all the videos of selected channels and playlists at once. Its cost is 12 euros.

clipgrab →
4K Video Downloader →

Another option is the Videoder utility, which works on Windows and macOS computers. It is completely free, contains no ads and can download videos in any quality. Even in 8K.

videoder →

How to Save YouTube Videos to Android Device Using Mobile Apps

Can’t find suitable apps on Google Play. They are not allowed in the store due to copyright issues. But you can install the desired application directly from the developer’s site.

Remember: Google Play is not responsible for programs downloaded from other sources. They can damage your device or lead to a Google Account suspension.

If you’re willing to take the risk, install one of the programs listed below. To do this, go to her website from a mobile device, download the installer and run it.

• Snaptube →
• InsTube →
• videoder →

If the system reports that the browser does not have permission to install, click “Settings” and give permission. If this button does not appear, go to the settings of your device. Open the section related to security and allow the installation of applications from third-party sources.

These programs are free…