While YouTube basically only offers the ability to download a few videos in selected locations, there are ways to download any YouTube video you want at any time.
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We will introduce how you can download your favorite videos using three methods:
- Paying for YouTube Premium
- Use the free Mac, Windows or Linux app
- Use an obscure and complex (but very powerful) Linux command line tool
Your paid option: YouTube Premium
I’m a big fan of YouTube Premium because of save my wife and I from having to endure most ads, but that’s a luxury expense. Individuals can subscribe to YouTube Premium for $11.99 a month. YouTube also offers a family plan for up to six users for $22.99 a month. Finally, students can subscribe to YouTube Premium for $6.99 a month.
My favorite feature is the complete no ads provided by Google. No banners, no headers, and no interstitial ads. However, if a YouTube channel wants to embed ads in a video, YouTube Premium will not filter those embedded ads by the YouTuber.
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YouTube Premium offers background and picture-in-picture play, YouTube Music, and access to YouTube Originals.
YouTube Premium also includes the ability download videos. Here’s how you do it.
How to download YouTube videos via YouTube Premium
After subscribing to YouTube Premium, you will have one Download in your web browser or phone app to the right of Share (arrow) at the end of the video.
See the Download button marked with my arrows. Screenshots by David Gewirtz/ZDNET
Select the video(s) you want to download and when it appears on the home screen, click Download icon.
You can find your downloads in Download YouTube region. Note that YouTube says that downloads are kept as long as you have an internet connection at least every 30 days. That way, YouTube can confirm you’re still a YouTube Premium user.
Save after download
You’re not provided with an easy way to turn that download into a video file usable on a desktop device, so if you want to use the video for anything other than watching online, you’re a bit out of luck. The same is true for iOS.
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However, if you are an Android user with an SD card slot in your phone, you can set the YouTube app settings (tap your profile picture, then SettingLater Download) to save the video to your SD card.
So that’s how to download videos in usable form for the low low price of $11.99 per month. But what if you want a better solution and you want to do it for free? Yes, we have you covered.
Your free option (and my favorite way) to download YouTube videos: ClipGrab
I have to give ZDNET’s management editor props for introducing me to the program a few years ago. I have been using it since then.
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ClipGet is a free program for Mac, Windows and Linux users. The developer says it’s open source, but the source code is only available for Linux. In any case, ClipGrab succeeds. Here’s how to download and use it.
1. Go to ClipGrab.org
Point your browser to ClipGrab.org and click Show all Downloads Optional link. You’ll see download links for Mac, Windows, and Linux there. I’ll show you the Mac version in this article, but the interface is virtually identical on all three.
2. Copy YouTube video link
Copy the video link of the YouTube video(s) you want to download. You can do this in your browser’s URL bar or by clicking Share button below the video.
3. Launch ClipGrab
Make sure you are on Download tab and then select Launch ClipGrab select.
4. Copy and Paste
Copy and paste the URL of the video you want to download into ClickGrab.
5. Click Grab this clip!
Once you have copied and pasted the desired video link into the ClickGrab browser, select Get this clip!
Place a link of the video at a time in the Top Downloads tab browser on ClickGrab. When you’re ready to download, select Get this clip! David Gewirtz/ZDNET
6. Choose a video format
On ClickGrab, you can also adjust the options.
For example, you can choose the format in which you want the video to be when it is stored on your computer. I usually use Original, but I’ll specify something else if that doesn’t work.
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You can also choose a download resolution. Depending on the original resolution of the video, you can choose to download the video in full resolution or reduce the resolution to save space.
7. Customization
Finally, touch Setting tab allows you to customize where ClipGrab sends your newly downloaded videos.
Linux command line options
I would be remiss (or I have been told so in the comments below, on Twitter, and in my email inbox) if I didn’t mention that Linux users have a command line option (of course). because they have) to download YouTube videos. As with the Linux universal command line, there are some gray areas here, such as whether this will work or if there is a better tool.
The first march in this command line is youtube-dl. You can access it through it own website, on GitHubor your favorite package manager.
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It should be noted that the GitHub repository was taken down for a while due to alleged DMCA violations, but GitHub later restored it. You can read something very interesting story on GitHub’s reasoning and feedback.
Some people think that youtube-dl is old and hasn’t been updated for a while. There is another open source project on GitHub, called yt-dlp, which claims to be a fork of youtube-dl with more features. I have not tested it, so use it at your own risk.
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Both youtube-dl and yt-dlp provide very, very good features if you need them. Personally, I’d stick with ClipGrab because I don’t have the time to make YouTube downloads a second or third full-time job. But it is up to you.
What happened to SaveFrom.net?
Some of you may be familiar with the SaveFrom.net site. This site allows you to download from YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion (and a few others), just by pasting the URL into a web page on the website. It also has a browser extension that supports downloads. However, highlighting the topic in our follow-up, SaveFrom.net has been discontinued in the US and UK, saying this from the UK (and the US equivalent):
However, one of our intrepid editors (not me) put VPN came to the Czech Republic and found that SaveFrom.net is still alive and well, away from copyright law:
Speaking of copyright law…
Some ethical, moral and legal considerations
Now you know how to download YouTube videos, right? First, be aware that different jurisdictions have different laws. Downloading a certain video may or may not be legal, even if all you want to do is watch it offline.
If you want to download a video to incorporate it into something you’re producing, be aware that some countries have a Fair Use concept. In those jurisdictions, small clips of copyrighted media may be included in your production. But you should also keep in mind that YouTube has algorithmic systems that look for video reusers, and your channel may receive a media strike.
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When in doubt, it’s always best to ask.
So there you go. Do you have other techniques to accomplish the same thing? Let us know in the comments below.
You can follow my daily project updates on social media. Remember to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtzon Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtzon Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtzand on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
