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When the topic of downloading YouTube videos comes up, there's a side-subject that must always be broached: Is it even legal? When it comes to copyright, that may be a bit of a gray area. As long as you're downloading a video for your own personal offline use, you're probably okay.
It's a trifle more black and white when you consider Google's terms of service for YouTube, which read: "You shall not download any Content unless you see a 'download' or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content."
After all, watching YouTube videos offline is taking money out of Google's pocket (and those of its creators). There's a reason it runs those ads in front of videos; a lot of people making a living with YouTube videos. As a result, only users in India officially have offline video viewing.
So, let's be clear: taking video from YouTube is probably a big no-no and you shouldn't. If you want to share a video, YouTube makes it pretty damn easy to do, from embedding to emailing to sharing via social networks. The company is even experimenting with animated GIF files. You don't really need to download a video most of the time. But maybe you have your reasons. We won't judge. If you must download a YouTube video—absolutely need to, just for yourself, and not for dissemination, and not to be a total douche-nozzle—here's how.
Software
Third-party software is where many will find the best control for downloading online videos. Typically you just paste the URL for the YouTube video you want into the app, and it downloads the highest quality version it can find, probably in MP4 format.
(It used to be that YouTube videos were all Flash-based, so your download was an FLV file, but those tend to be harder to play back. MP4, short forMPEG-4 Part 14 multimedia format, plays everywhere on anything.)
Here are some options:
ClipGrab
(Donationware for Windows/Mac/Linux)
Clipgrab works with YouTube, Vimeo, and DailyMotion specifically, and a lot of others unofficially. It has a search function for the officially supported sites built in. You pick a format to download the video in, and it'll convert it on the fly as needed. Formats include MP4, WMV, but also audio-only MP3 or Ogg Vorbis (converting video to audio is a tried-and-true trick for those not into buying music). As donationware, you don't have to pay for it, but it's nice if you do so it can stay afloat.
(Donationware for Windows/Mac/Linux)
Clipgrab works with YouTube, Vimeo, and DailyMotion specifically, and a lot of others unofficially. It has a search function for the officially supported sites built in. You pick a format to download the video in, and it'll convert it on the fly as needed. Formats include MP4, WMV, but also audio-only MP3 or Ogg Vorbis (converting video to audio is a tried-and-true trick for those not into buying music). As donationware, you don't have to pay for it, but it's nice if you do so it can stay afloat.
YTD Video Downloader
(Free or $29.90/year for Mac/Windows)
YTD works not just with YouTube but over 60 other video-hosting sites, and will convert files to other formats. Pay the yearly fee and you get even more functions, like downloading multiple videos at once and download acceleration.
(Free or $29.90/year for Mac/Windows)
YTD works not just with YouTube but over 60 other video-hosting sites, and will convert files to other formats. Pay the yearly fee and you get even more functions, like downloading multiple videos at once and download acceleration.
Any Video Converter
$49.95 (Pro) to $69.95 (Ultimate) for Mac/Windows
It's expensive, but AVC Ultimate claims it can also capture streaming video—like from Netflix. It'll also rip DVDs and provides some video editing.
$49.95 (Pro) to $69.95 (Ultimate) for Mac/Windows
It's expensive, but AVC Ultimate claims it can also capture streaming video—like from Netflix. It'll also rip DVDs and provides some video editing.
Fastest YouTube Downloader
Free or $19.95/month for Mac/Windows
It swears it's the quickest downloader going, as in 600 times faster—for that monthly price, it better be. It'll convert YouTube videos to MP3 audio format and turn videos into formats suitable to play back on not just the PC but also smartphones and tablets.
Free or $19.95/month for Mac/Windows
It swears it's the quickest downloader going, as in 600 times faster—for that monthly price, it better be. It'll convert YouTube videos to MP3 audio format and turn videos into formats suitable to play back on not just the PC but also smartphones and tablets.
Want to avoid installing software? Download helper sites do the work for you, providing conversion and then a download link. It can take a lot longer, depending on the size of the video, but you can't beat the convenience.
Savefrom.net
Savefrom.net was smart enough to register the domain namessyoutube.com. Just type it into a browser, and it forwards you to the site. But if you're looking at a video on YouTube itself, put that "ss" in the URL after the "www." and the forward takes you to an instant download page for that video in every format available. You also have the option to just paste a URL into Savefrom.net. And it supports over 35 video sites—even Facebook. It also has a Web browser add-on.
Savefrom.net was smart enough to register the domain namessyoutube.com. Just type it into a browser, and it forwards you to the site. But if you're looking at a video on YouTube itself, put that "ss" in the URL after the "www." and the forward takes you to an instant download page for that video in every format available. You also have the option to just paste a URL into Savefrom.net. And it supports over 35 video sites—even Facebook. It also has a Web browser add-on.
ClipConverter.cc
ClipConverter.cc does the usual—takes a URL and lets you download the video hosted there in multiple formats, both video and audio—but also lets you upload your own files for conversion to new formats. Change the start and end time of the video if you like. YouTube, Vimeo, and others are supported; it also offers browser add-ons.
ClipConverter.cc does the usual—takes a URL and lets you download the video hosted there in multiple formats, both video and audio—but also lets you upload your own files for conversion to new formats. Change the start and end time of the video if you like. YouTube, Vimeo, and others are supported; it also offers browser add-ons.
KeepVid
Supporting downloads from 57 sites and counting (including Veoh, Vine, Instagram, Facebook, Break, CollegeHumor, even TED Talks and Kickstarter), KeepVid does more than video (as evidenced by supporting downloads from SoundCloud). Just paste in the video's URL and click download—don't click the big advertisement that also says "download." You'll need Java installed for it to work.
Supporting downloads from 57 sites and counting (including Veoh, Vine, Instagram, Facebook, Break, CollegeHumor, even TED Talks and Kickstarter), KeepVid does more than video (as evidenced by supporting downloads from SoundCloud). Just paste in the video's URL and click download—don't click the big advertisement that also says "download." You'll need Java installed for it to work.
YouTube mp3
Want the instantaneous pleasure of making a musical MP3 file out of a video on YouTube? This site exists for no other reason. Expect a 1- to 4-minute wait per conversion, depending on the length of the video.
Want the instantaneous pleasure of making a musical MP3 file out of a video on YouTube? This site exists for no other reason. Expect a 1- to 4-minute wait per conversion, depending on the length of the video.
We mentioned a few browser extensions in the section above. If you can be spared a step from taking a URL to a site to convert it, why not?
You're going to run into some issues with downloading video from YouTube, however, especially if you're using Chrome as your primary browser.
The Chrome Web Store where you get such browser extensions is controlled by Google, naturally, since Google makes the Chrome browser. Even an extension ostensibly for this purpose—the obviously named Video Downloader professional—states right up front in its description, "The download of YouTube videos to hard drive is locked because of restrictions of the Chrome Store." Google isn't in the habit of letting one division screw over the others. The download of any RTMP protocol video (protected videos) or streaming video also isn't possible. (Video Downloader Ultimate, however, is software from the same developer that downloads from YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, etc.)
It's the same with other extensions like vGet. But you can use them on othersites with video, of course. Just not YouTube.
Want to get around it? You need an extension that doesn't come from the Google Web Store. Download YouTube Chrome says it'll do the job, and even spells out how to do the install without the assistance Chrome users typically get from Google Web store.
Other browser extensions that can do the job, if you don't get them from Google:
FastestTube
(Free for Opera, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer)
This downloader tool is on all the platforms, and even has an installer for Chrome that skips the Google Web Store. It puts a "download this video" menu right on any YouTube page you load, with all the format options on display.
(Free for Opera, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer)
This downloader tool is on all the platforms, and even has an installer for Chrome that skips the Google Web Store. It puts a "download this video" menu right on any YouTube page you load, with all the format options on display.
Video DownloadHelper
(Free for Firefox on Windows/Mac/Linux)
Supporting a huge number of sites—even those for adults!—this Firefox-specific extension adds to your Tools menu and provides a bunch of format options for download when you're on a page with a supported video. You'll know when the icon for the extension animates.
(Free for Firefox on Windows/Mac/Linux)
Supporting a huge number of sites—even those for adults!—this Firefox-specific extension adds to your Tools menu and provides a bunch of format options for download when you're on a page with a supported video. You'll know when the icon for the extension animates.
Remember that problem of using Chrome extensions from the Google Web Store to try and grab YouTube videos? (Seriously, we just talked about it. I worry about your memory.)
You're going to have an even bigger issue when you want to get an Android app from the Google Play store. Google's got an even tighter grip on the apps there. And of course you can't actually download anything with your officially sanctioned YouTube apps. Unless you live in India.
That said, with Android it is possible to install apps without going through Google. WonTube's Free YouTube Downloader for Android is one—you can download the APK (Android application package) file to "sideload." Find it in your download and click it to install. (You may have to go into your security settings and enable "Unknown sources.") After that, launch the app, use it to surf around YouTube, and the download links and video management features are built right in. It's buggy as an ant hill covered in syrup, but one of the few options.
On the iOS platform, you'd think there would be no such restriction, since Apple and Google aren't exactly best of pals anymore. But on the few apps I tried, including the former Titan Downloader, VIATube, VDownload, andVideo Downloader, they could grab some videos—but not from YouTube. It says right on one description, "downloading from YouTube is prohibited due to its Terms of Service." Apple is ensuring that app makers play by the rules—even Google's rules. All the better to get Google to block someone who eventually does something illegal with iTunes downloads, probably.
You can, of course, use iTunes to sync videos you have on your Windows or Mac desktop, even use AirDrop. But it's not the same. Chances are, the minute you find an app that can download YouTube videos, it will get "fixed." The only serious option: jailbreak your iPhone to get some sideloaded apps that do what you want.
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