How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac
YouTube is one of the most popular and diverse platforms for watching online videos. Whether you want to learn something new, enjoy some entertainment, or catch up with your favorite creators, YouTube has something for everyone. However, sometimes you may want to download YouTube videos on your Mac for various reasons. For example, you may want to watch them offline when you don't have an internet connection, save them for future reference, or create backups in case they get deleted or blocked.
In this article, we will show you how to download YouTube videos on Mac using different methods. We will also explain the legal aspects of downloading YouTube videos, as well as the pros and cons of each method. By the end of this article, you will be able to choose the best way to download YouTube videos on Mac according to your needs and preferences.
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Why Download YouTube Videos on Mac?
There are many benefits of downloading YouTube videos on your Mac instead of streaming them online. Here are some of the main ones:
Offline viewing: You can watch YouTube videos anytime and anywhere without relying on an internet connection. This is especially useful if you travel a lot, have limited data plans, or live in areas with poor network coverage.
Saving bandwidth: You can reduce your internet usage and avoid buffering issues by downloading YouTube videos on your Mac. This can also help you save money if you pay for your internet service based on data consumption.
Creating backups: You can keep a copy of your favorite YouTube videos on your Mac in case they get removed or blocked by YouTube or the uploader. This way, you won't lose access to the content you love.
How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac Legally
Before we dive into the different methods of downloading YouTube videos on Mac, we need to address the legal aspect of this practice. According to YouTube's terms of service, you are not allowed to download any content from the platform without permission from the owner or a license from YouTube. This means that downloading YouTube videos without consent may violate the intellectual property rights of the creators and expose you to legal risks.
The only legal way to download YouTube videos on your Mac is with a . This is a paid service that gives you access to various features, such as ad-free viewing, background playback, and offline access. With a YouTube Premium subscription, every video has a download button below the video player that you can use to save the video for offline viewing. You can also access your downloaded videos through the Downloads tab in the YouTube app or website.
However, even with a YouTube Premium subscription, there are some limitations and conditions that apply to downloading YouTube videos. For example:
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You can only download videos that are available in your region.
You can only download videos for personal use and not for commercial purposes.
You can only watch downloaded videos within the app or website and not transfer them to other devices or platforms.
You need to sign in to your account at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads active.
You need to respect the rights and preferences of the content owners and follow their guidelines.
Therefore, Continuing the article: How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac with VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a versatile and free media player that can play various formats of audio and video files. It can also be used to download YouTube videos on Mac by finding the exact streaming URL of the video and saving it in Safari. Here are the steps to do so:
Install VLC Media Player on your Mac. If you don't already have this popular media player installed, you can download it now from .
Copy the address of the YouTube video you want to download. If you haven't already done so, bring up the video in your web browser now. To copy the URL, click the address bar to highlight it, and then press Command + C to copy.
Open VLC Player. You'll find it in the Applications folder once it's installed. You may have to provide permission for the app to run for the first time.
Click the File menu. It's at the top-left corner of the screen in the menu bar.
Click Open Network. This opens the "Open Source" window.
Click the "URL" box and press Command + V. This pastes the YouTube URL into the box.
Click the Open button. It's at the bottom-right corner of the window. This adds the video to your VLC playlist.
Click the Window menu and select Media Information. The Window menu is in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Highlight the "Location" URL and press Command + C. It's the URL at the bottom of the window. This copies the URL to your clipboard.
Paste the copied URL into your browser and press Return. The video will begin to play on your browser.
Right-click the video in your browser and select Save Video as to save. You can name the video anything you wish. Once you've saved the video, it will begin to download from YouTube to your default download location.
You can now double-click the video in your Downloads folder in Finder to watch it in your default media player.
How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac with an Online Converter
An online converter is a web-based tool that can convert YouTube videos into different formats and download them to your Mac. There are many online converters available, but some of them may have ads, pop-ups, or malware. One of the reliable and safe online converters is . Here are the steps to use it:
Copy the address of the YouTube video you want to download. If you haven't already done so, bring up the video in your web browser now. To copy the URL, click the address bar to highlight it, and then press Command + C to copy.
Open a new tab in your browser and go to .
Paste the YouTube URL into the box and select MP4 as the format.
Click Convert and wait for a few seconds until the conversion is done.
Click Download and save the file to your desired location on your Mac.
You can now double-click the video in your Downloads folder in Finder to watch it in your default media player.
How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac with 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is a "Freemium" app that lets you download up to 30 YouTube videos per day at no cost. This app has been around for a long time and doesn't come with any sketchy software installs. It can download single videos, playlists, or entire channels in full UHD resolution. It also works with downloading video and audio from other popular sites like TikTok, Facebook, and Twitch. Here are the steps to use it:
Download 4K Video Downloader from and install it on your Mac.
Copy the address of the YouTube video you want to download. If you haven't already done so, bring up the video in your web browser now. To copy the URL, click the address bar to highlight it, and then press Command + C to copy.
Open 4K Video Downloader and click Paste Link Continuing the article: in the app. It's the green button at the top-left corner of the app window.
Select the quality and format of the video you want to download. You can choose from various options, such as 4K, HD, MP4, MKV, etc. You can also choose to download only the audio or subtitles if you want.
Click Download and wait for the video to be downloaded. You can see the progress and speed of the download in the app window.
Once the download is complete, you can find the video in your Downloads folder in Finder or in the app itself. You can also right-click on the video and select Show in Finder to locate it.
You can now double-click the video in your Downloads folder in Finder to watch it in your default media player.
How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player
QuickTime Player is a built-in media player on Mac that can also record your screen activity. You can use this feature to capture YouTube videos on your Mac by playing them on your browser and recording them with QuickTime Player. Here are the steps to do so:
Open QuickTime Player on your Mac. You can find it in the Applications folder or use Spotlight to search for it.
Click the File menu and select New Screen Recording. This opens a small recording window.
Click the arrow next to the red record button and select Internal Microphone as the audio source. This will record the sound of the YouTube video along with the video itself.
Click the red record button and drag a rectangle over the YouTube video you want to capture. You can also click anywhere on the screen to record the entire screen.
Click Start Recording and play the YouTube video on your browser. Make sure you don't switch tabs or windows while recording.
When the YouTube video is over, click the Stop button in the menu bar or press Command + Control + Esc to stop recording.
Save the recorded video to your desired location on your Mac. You can name it anything you wish and choose a format such as MOV or MP4.
You can now double-click the video in your Downloads folder in Finder to watch it in QuickTime Player or any other media player.
Comparison of Different Methods
As you can see, there are various ways to download YouTube videos on Mac, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide which method is best for you, here is a table that compares them based on some important criteria:
Method Cost Ease of Use Quality Speed Features --- --- --- --- --- --- YouTube Premium $11.99/month Very easy Depends on video quality Fast Ad-free, background playback, offline access, original content VLC Media Player Free Moderate Depends on video quality Moderate Plays various formats, no ads, no malware Online Converter Free Easy Depends on converter quality Slow No installation required, no ads, no malware 4K Video Downloader Free/Premium ($15 one-time) Easy High (up to 4K) Fast Downloads playlists, channels, subtitles, 3D, VR, etc. QuickTime Player Free Moderate Depends on screen resolution Slow Records screen activity, no installation required Tips and Warnings
Before you start downloading YouTube videos on Mac, here are some tips and warnings that you should keep in mind:
Always respect the rights and preferences of the content owners and follow their guidelines. Do not download YouTube videos without permission or for commercial purposes.
Always check the quality and format of the video before downloading it. Some videos may have low resolution or incompatible formats that may not play well on your Mac or other devices.
Always check the storage space on your Mac before downloading YouTube videos. Some videos may take up a lot of space and slow down your Mac or cause other problems.
Always scan your Mac for viruses or malware after downloading YouTube videos from unknown sources. Some websites or apps may contain harmful software that may damage your Mac or compromise your security.
Conclusion
In conclusion, downloading YouTube videos on Mac is possible and beneficial for various reasons. However, you need to be aware of the legal and technical aspects of this practice and choose the best method that suits your needs and preferences. We hope this article has helped you learn how to download YouTube videos on Mac using different methods and compare their pros and cons. Now you can enjoy watching YouTube videos offline anytime and anywhere without relying on an internet connection. Happy downloading!
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers about downloading YouTube videos on Mac:
Is it illegal to download YouTube videos on Mac?
It depends on the content and the purpose of downloading. According to YouTube's terms of service, you are not allowed to download any content from the platform without permission from the owner or a license from YouTube. However, if you have a YouTube Premium subscription, you can download videos for offline viewing within the app or website. You should also respect the rights and preferences of the content owners and follow their guidelines.
What is the best format and quality to download YouTube videos on Mac?
The best format and quality to download YouTube videos on Mac depends on your needs and preferences. Generally, MP4 is the most compatible and widely used format for video files, and HD or 4K is the highest quality available for YouTube videos. However, you should also consider the storage space and playback compatibility of your Mac or other devices before downloading YouTube videos.
How can I transfer downloaded YouTube videos from Mac to iPhone or iPad?
There are several ways to transfer downloaded YouTube videos from Mac to iPhone or iPad, such as using iTunes, AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or third-party apps. However, you should be aware that some downloaded YouTube videos may not play well on your iPhone or iPad due to format or quality issues. You may need to convert them to a compatible format or quality before transferring them.
How can I edit downloaded YouTube videos on Mac?
You can edit downloaded YouTube videos on Mac using various software or apps, such as iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, etc. You can trim, crop, rotate, add effects, transitions, subtitles, music, etc. to your downloaded YouTube videos. However, you should also respect the rights and preferences of the content owners and follow their guidelines before editing their videos.
How can I delete downloaded YouTube videos from Mac?
You can delete downloaded YouTube videos from Mac by simply moving them to the Trash and emptying it. Alternatively, you can use a cleaner app or software to scan and remove unwanted or duplicate files from your Mac. However, you should also backup your important files before deleting them in case you need them later.
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