The Best Ways to Download YouTube Videos to Your Macbook Air
How to Download YouTube Videos on a Mac
YouTube is one of the most popular websites in the world, with billions of hours of video content available for streaming. But what if you want to watch YouTube videos offline, or save them for later viewing? Maybe you have a slow internet connection, or you want to avoid ads and interruptions, or you just want to keep a copy of your favorite videos.
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Whatever your reason, downloading YouTube videos on your Mac is not as easy as it sounds. YouTube does not provide an official way to do it, and many third-party tools are either unreliable, unsafe, or illegal. However, there are still some methods that work well and are worth trying.
In this article, we will show you four easy ways to download YouTube videos on your Mac, along with their pros and cons. We will also compare them in a table so you can choose the best one for your needs. Let's get started!
Method 1: Use YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is a subscription service that offers several benefits for YouTube users, such as ad-free viewing, background playback, offline access, and more. One of these benefits is the ability to download YouTube videos on your Mac (or any other device) for offline viewing.
To use this method, you need to have a YouTube Premium account, which costs $11.99 per month in the US (prices may vary in other countries). You also need to sign in to your account on your web browser or the YouTube app on your Mac.
Once you have these requirements, follow these steps to download YouTube videos on your Mac:
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Navigate to YouTube in your browser or app and open the video you want to download.
Click or tap the Download button below the video player.
Select the quality you want for your downloaded video (higher quality means larger file size).
Wait for the video to finish downloading (you can see the progress in the Downloads tab).
To watch your downloaded video offline, go to the Downloads tab and click or tap the video.
Pros and Cons of YouTube Premium
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using YouTube Premium to download videos:
Pros:
You can download any video from YouTube (except for some age-restricted or private videos).
You can choose from different quality options for your downloaded videos.
You can You can enjoy other benefits of YouTube Premium, such as ad-free viewing, background playback, and access to YouTube Music and YouTube Originals.
Cons:
You have to pay a monthly fee to use this method.
You can only watch your downloaded videos within the YouTube app or website, and not in other media players or devices.
You can only keep your downloaded videos for up to 30 days, after which they will expire and need to be downloaded again.
Method 2: Use VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a free and open-source software that can play almost any type of media file. It also has some hidden features that allow you to download YouTube videos on your Mac (or any other device) for free.
To use this method, you need to have VLC Media Player installed on your Mac. You can download it from the official website: . You also need to have the URL of the YouTube video you want to download.
Once you have these requirements, follow these steps to download YouTube videos on your Mac:
Open VLC Media Player on your Mac and go to File > Open Network.
Paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download in the box and click Open.
The video will start playing in VLC. Go to Window > Media Information.
Copy the URL in the Location box at the bottom of the window.
Open a new tab in your web browser and paste the URL you copied. The video will start playing in your browser.
Right-click on the video and select Save Video As.
Choose a name and location for your downloaded video and click Save.
Wait for the video to finish downloading (you can see the progress in the Downloads section of your browser).
To watch your downloaded video offline, go to the location where you saved it and double-click on it.
Pros and Cons of VLC Media Player
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using VLC Media Player to download videos:
Pros:
You can download any video from YouTube (except for some age-restricted or private videos).
You can use a free and open-source software that is widely trusted and used by millions of people.
You can watch your downloaded videos in any media player or device you want.
Cons:
You have to go through several steps to download a video, which can be confusing or tedious for some users.
You cannot choose the quality or format of your downloaded video, which may affect its size or compatibility.
You may encounter some errors or glitches during the process, such as broken links, corrupted files, or slow downloads.
Method 3: Use an Online Converter
An online converter is a website that allows you to convert and download YouTube videos on your Mac (or any other device) for free. There are many online converters available, but some of them may be unsafe, unreliable, or illegal. Therefore, you should be careful when choosing one and always check its reviews and ratings before using it.
To use this method, you need to have the URL of the YouTube video you want to download. You also need to find an online converter that works well for you. Some of the popular ones are: .
Once you have these requirements, follow these steps to download YouTube videos on your Mac:
Navigate to the online converter website of your choice in your web browser.
Paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download in the box and click Convert, Start, or similar button.
Select the quality and format you want for your downloaded video (higher quality means larger file size).
Click on Download, Save As, or similar button.
Choose a name and location for your downloaded video and click Save.
Wait for the video to finish downloading (you can see the progress in the Downloads section of your browser).
To watch your downloaded video offline, go to the location where you saved it and double-click on it.
Pros and Cons of Online Converters
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using online converters to download videos:
Pros:
You can download any video from YouTube (except for some age-restricted or private videos).
You can choose from different quality and format options for your downloaded videos.
You do not need to install any software or sign up for any service to use this method.
Cons:
You have to rely on the availability and reliability of the online converter website, which may be slow, down, or blocked at times.
You may encounter some ads, pop-ups, or malware when using some online converter websites, which may compromise your security or privacy.
You may violate some YouTube terms of service or copyright laws when using some online converter websites, which may result in legal consequences or account suspension.
Method 4: Use 4K