Download Youtube Videos To Mac
How to download YouTube videos? As the world’s largest video sharing platform, YouTube is all-inclusive. No matter what type of video you like, whether it is news, movies, sports, music, technology, education, or funny, fashion, Vlogs, etc., you can find it here. In spare time, watching YouTube videos is the greatest pleasure for most users. However, streaming videos online is usually annoying because there are too many ads and buffers. In addition, it requires a lot of data. Thus, there is an increasing demand for downloading YouTube videos for offline viewing.
How to Download Youtube Videos to your MacVLC Player: -Recorded with iShowU on my iMacEdited. Visit on your Mac and click the 'Download' button. After an analyzing process, you will see the download options available, including videos in different quality and audio in varying formats. Choose the format and click 'Download' to start downloading YouTube videos to your Mac. The desire to free download YouTube videos on Mac fuels the growth of software, apps, adds-on and online tools, partly because some users give no heed to pay $9.99/month for Google's new subscription service YouTube Red which lets users watch/play YouTube videos with no ads at all, though.
To protect the copyright and privacy of creators, YouTube does not allows users to download videos directly from its platform unless you pay $11.99 per month for the premium version. Fortunately, there are some third-party YouTube video downloaders on the market designed for this purpose.
Is it legal to download videos from YouTube?
It is important to note that downloading YouTube videos using third-party applications violates YouTube’s Terms of Service and may expose you to potential copyright infringement risks. So, before downloading someone else’s video, be sure to get permission from the copyright owner.
How to Download YouTube Videos for Free?
To serve your needs, in the next part, we will share with you the 7 best ways to download videos from YouTube, whether you are using an Android, iPhone, PC, or Mac device, you can find the solution here. Read on to check the full guide.
Method 1. Use Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader
Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader is the best YouTube video downloader for PC and Mac. With this powerful tool, you can download multiple videos at once and select from various resolutions such as 720P, 1080P, 2K, 4K, and so on. The best part of the program is that it enables you to download an entire YouTube channel or playlist by simply pasting the link. Not only is it limited to YouTube, but it can also save videos from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Reddit, Tumblr, and more.
It is a free YouTube video downloader, but also has a pro version that allows you to do more things you want to do, such as download subtitles from YouTube, convert YouTube videos to mp3, merge subtitles into videos, etc. Now let’s take a look at how to download videos from YouTube with this magic tool:
Step 1. Download and Install the 4K YouTube Video Downloader on your computer.
Step 2. Open YouTube and copy the link address of the video you’d like to download. Then run the 4K Downloader and paste the URL into the program by clicking the upper left button of the main interface.
Download Youtube Videos To Macbook
Step 3. After the link is parsed, select the video quality and format from the pop-up box. The highest quality will be automatically selected, but you can change it according to your preference. Once confirmed, hit Download to start the process.
Step 4. The video will begin downloading. When complete, it will be automatically saved to the “Finished” section, you can watch it directly, or open the folder to rename and share it elsewhere.
Method 2. Use Gihosoft TubeGet
Gihosoft TubeGet is a professional YouTube video downloader that lets you download videos in their original quality and format from YouTube. The software can also extract audio from videos, which is very useful if you are looking to download songs for video editing. In addition to YouTube, the free video downloader also supports other media platforms, such as Twitter, Vimeo, Instagram, etc. Here are the simple steps to save YouTube videos using TubeGet:
- Step 1. Go to YouTube, find the video you want to download, and copy the link address by right-clicking the video.
- Step 2. Run TubeGet on your computer after installation and insert the link into the program by clicking the “Paste URL” button.
- Step 3. After analyzing, a pop-up box will appear whereby you have to choose the resolution and the saving directory of the video.
- Step 4. Click download to begin the process.
Method 3. Use YTD Video Downloader
YTD is a powerful video download software. With it, you can not only download YouTube videos but also grab videos from other video hosting sites like Facebook, Vimeo, etc. It supports a variety of video formats, such as MP3, MP4, 3GP, AVI, FLV, MOV, and more. You can create a video collection and use the app to set a password for yourself. The following are the detailed steps to download videos from YouTube with YTD:
- Step 1. Open YouTube and find the video that you would like to download. Copy the URL from the address bar.
- Step 2. Open the YouTube Video Downloader and paste the link to the required box.
- Step 3. Using the options of video formats by the application, choose the desired one.
- Step 4. Select the destination folder.
- Step 5. Start to download.
Method 4. Use WinX YouTube Downloader
One of the best YouTube video downloaders for Windows 10/8/7, Winx lets you grab clips from YouTube and other online websites. Some of these sites include Vimeo, MTV, and Facebook. The tool has tons of features such as customization, low CPU cost, and downloading videos in batches. You can save YouTube videos using various outputs such as MP3(audio only), MP4, WebM, and FLV.
- Step 1. Download and install the WinX YouTube Downloader.
- Step 2. Open YouTube and copy the URL of the video you like.
- Step 3. Waiting for the program to parse the link.
- Step 4. Select the format of your choice.
- Step 5. Hit the download button.
Method 5. Use Freemake Video Downloader
The Freemake Video Downloader has been named as the best YouTube video downloader for nine years. The application has over 83 million users, and it is not only limited to YouTube but other websites. Some of them include Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo, and Dailymotion. The following are the specific steps to use it:
- Step 1. Download and install the Freemake Video Downloader on your computer.
- Step 2. Run it, and enable the one-click mode.
- Step 3. Copy the URL of the video you would like to download from the YouTube platform.
- Step 4. Put the link into the program, and wait for the video to automatically download.
Method 6. Use Savefrom.net
Savefrom.net is a free online video downloader that offers a fast way to grasp videos and music from YouTube and other sites, such as Tumblr, Facebook, DailyMotion, Vimeo, etc. The most significant advantage of this tool is that it can be used directly, so you don’t have to download any software on your computer.
- Step 1. Go to the official site of Savefrom.net.
- Step 2. Copy and insert the video URL in the box.
- Step 3. The tool will automatically detect the URL.
- Step 4. Choose a quality format.
- Step 5. Download the video for offline viewing.
Method 7. Use Y2mate
Y2mate is another free online YouTube downloader on the market. With it, you can easily download videos from YouTube, Facebook, Yonko, DailyMotion, and other websites. It is also an MP3 converter that allows you to convert videos to MP3, MP4, MOV, WEBM, and so on. Check the following steps to learn how it works:
- Step 1. Open the website and use the free service available.
- Step 2. Copy the URL of the video you like from YouTube.
- Step 3. Paste the link on the Y2mate Browser.
- Step 4. Hit download.
Which Method Do You Like the Most?
Above we mentioned seven ways to download videos from YouTube. The tools used include 5 professional YouTube video downloaders and 2 online video downloaders. Essentially, each tool has its own highlights. But our favorite is Jihosoft 4K Video Downloader. Its performance is much better than similar software, and it is free of viruses and pop-up ads. You can download and try this, or select another. However, it is important to keep this in mind no matter which software you ultimately choose: you should not download YouTube videos without permission.
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Superpowers for your Mac
You may hate funny cat videos or game reviews, but the chances are you still use YouTube. A mammoth of video content, YouTube is a go-to spot for many. In fact, the platform has over 1 billion users which is one-third of all internet users. Huge.
Or, maybe your daily companions are Vimeo and Twitch. One way or another, video content is a part of your digital life. The question is how to make the best use of it.
In this article, we compare top YouTube downloaders for Mac and explain how you can legally download video from YouTube (or any other video platform) to watch it anytime and anywhere.
Best YouTube downloaders
Get a huge set of top tools to download videos from Youtube. Most helpful utilities in one pack, give it a go!
Let us warn you in advance, all YouTube download tools reviewed in this article are worth a try. To help you narrow down the choice, here are the nice-to-have:
- Works with all major video streaming platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
- Allows to save mp4 content and, optionally, convert to different formats.
- Has support for audio output — allowing you to save music from videos.
- Can download playlists or channels in batch.
- Caters for both professional and everyday use.
- Guarantees privacy and does not collect any of your personal information.
For sure, these are not one-size-fits-alls. Maybe batch downloading playlists is totally useless for you. We made sure the reviewed tools satisfy the key needs — like security and integration with video streaming platforms. The rest is up to you.
Quick navigation:
It’s not easy to step into the jungle of video downloaders and instantly pick the right fit. Impossible if you’re new to Mac. There’s help, though.
How to download from YouTube
Whether to capture a few movies for an upcoming flight or save favorite clips to rewatch, many Mac owners want to know how to download a YouTube video. The problem is that it’s complicated to find an efficient free YouTube downloader. Not to mention they could be used for copyright infringement.
To legally save content from YouTube and video streaming services to Mac, as well as download music from videos, you can use third-party apps. As long as you’re not earning money from downloads or breaching any copyright agreements, they are safe to use.
How to save YouTube videos on Mac using native tools
YouTube used to allow direct video downloads. But well...no more. That’s because there’s now a native tool for the job. If you ask YouTube for the best YouTube downloader, it will probably suggest you use YouTube Premium, a native paid subscription service that allows you to save content for offline watching. For the monthly cost of $11.99, you can keep YouTube videos on iPhone and Android devices. Here’s how it works:
- Open the video in your YouTube mobile app.
- Click on the download button below the video player.
- Customize the quality of the output.
- Once the video is downloaded, you’ll see the “download complete” icon below the player.
The app will automatically save YouTube videos you download to the Library or Account tab. Note that a YouTube Premium subscription allows you to save videos only to mobile devices. Thus, if you want to download a YouTube video to Mac, it won't help.
Save YouTube videos on iPhone and iPad
If you want to download video from YouTube on your iOS device, there’s a way to do it with Shortcuts, a native utility that helps solve tasks faster with your iOS apps (by the way, Shortcuts are coming to macOS Monterey! This means shortcuts for video download on Mac could become available in the future). For now, let’s focus on iOS:
- Add the “Download YouTube” shortcut to your Gallery (open this link on your iOS device)
- Open the YouTube video you want to download in the YouTube app > Share button > More > Shortcuts
- On the Run Shortcut screen, tap your shortcut — it will prompt the download process
- Once the video is downloaded, you can choose to save it to camera roll or share.
Unfortunately, many people have been reporting errors with this shortcut method recently. If you, too, can’t get it to work, here’s a workaround: download video on your Mac and then transfer it to iPhone or iPad with AnyTrans. Sounds like an overkill, but AnyTrans actually makes the whole process really smooth.
AnyTrans for iOS is a file transfer and backup app that lets you manage your content across devices. And guess what, it also has a YouTube download feature! So you can literally do it all in one app: 1) download video from YouTube; 2) connect your iPhone or iPad; 3) move the video from Mac to iOS in one click. Works like magic.
Save YouTube videos on Android
One option is to use YouTube Go, an alternative version of YouTube for Android that wastes less network data but also, naturally, works much slower. If you’re ok with spending more time than usual waiting for your download to finish, you can try it out:
- Find YouTube Go on Google Play and download it on your phone
- Search for the video
- Tap on the video you want to download > select quality > Download.
If you have a Mac, we recommend AnyDroid, an app that downloads and sends your videos directly to your Android phone. It’s faster and requires minimum effort:
- Open AnyDroid on Mac
- Navigate to Media Downloader > YouTube
- Find the video you want to download > select quality > Download
- Click on Device Manager, connect your Android phone to Mac, and move the video.
So that’s how to save YouTube videos on Mac without software that needs installing (for AnyTrans and AnyDroid, you’ll need a Setapp membership). Now let’s talk about third-party tools that not only answer the question of how to download a YouTube video, they are packed with extra perks like trimming, converting, and sharing your videos flexibly.
How to download YouTube videos with a YouTube downloader
If you download media files often, you don’t want any extra fuss. Ideally, you want to just grab the video from YouTube in one click. With browser extensions, you can! Get an app that supports extensions and craft your ideal workflow. Here are our favorite options:
- Downie, a video downloader with built-in search and browser extensions, capable of saving videos from 1200+ websites. Want to download YouTube videos Mac Chrome? Just pick Chrome from the available extensions and give it a go.
- Folx is the fastest video and torrent downloader with extension support we’ve seen. It can split your downloads in up to 20 streams to speed up the process — so if you have a particularly large file to download, you can get it 20x times faster than usual. In Preferences, you can enable an extension for one of the most popular browsers.
- Pulltube supports extensions for only three browsers — Safari, Chrome, and Firefox — but there’s a lot more to love Pulltube for. We love it for the trimming tool and built-in file converter. If you want to know how to save a YouTube video as a file of any quality and size, look no further.
Save video from YouTube in mp3, mp4, and other formats
Whether it’s native YouTube Premium or a third-party application, most of the tools you use to download content from YouTube will by default save video files in mp4. There are different options to tweak the format:
Retrieve only audio from your video file — it’s possible with apps like Downie and Folx.
Use Downie + Permute to download and convert to different formats — from FLV to MKV to AVI. The two work well together and are both available with Setapp subscription.
If you use AnyTrans or AnyDroid to transfer downloaded videos to your phone, there’s an option to change the format in Media Downloader.
How to save streaming video
Streaming content is a huge chunk of your internet traffic. Think Vimeo, Twitch, YouTube, Dailymotion, and other platforms where you can watch live content. Relying on online streaming stymies your watching experience in many ways – from limited data usage to network issues. Plus Wi-Fi often fails you at the most crucial moments. Therefore, you need a reliable tool that helps you capture YouTube videos.
If you’re wondering how to watch favorite YouTube videos without downloading, try Elmedia Player — it disables ads in YouTube videos. Yes, it’s actually possible! Just open Elmedia > menu > Open Online Video > paste the link > Play.
If you want more than just removing ads from a streaming video — maybe you need to extract music from it, add/remove subtitles, trim the video, or just keep it on your Mac — a downloader like Pulltube will work better here. It works with over 1000 websites, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and so on. Its best feature, in our opinion, is the trimming tool. Instead of downloading the whole video, you can just extract a specific scene and save lots of space on your Mac. To start downloading, just drag or paste the video link in Pulltube.
Finally, if you need to capture a live stream that can’t be downloaded, use a screen recording tool like Capto. It lets you record the whole screen, a specific window, or area — save the recording on your Mac, and even edit it if you like.
How to save YouTube videos on Mac FAQ
Any questions left? Hopefully, we’ve covered them in this FAQ.
- How do I download YouTube videos on my Mac for free?>With a Setapp subscription, you can try all the trusted downloaders we’ve mentioned — AnyTrans, AnyDroid, Folx, Pulltube, and Downie – for free with a 7-day trial. We don’t recommend using free online services to download videos, because you can accidentally download malware.
- Can I download a video from YouTube with YouTube Premium?Yes, you can download a video on your mobile device with YouTube Premium. This option doesn’t work on Mac.
- Why do my YouTube videos keep saying an error occurred?It could be that you need to update your browser, clear cache and cookies, or just refresh the page. Check out the most common video download issues below.
- Why are my YouTube videos not downloading?In some work spaces, it’s prohibited to download YouTube videos, so there might be a firewall blocking your downloads. Also, some copyright holders block video downloaders.
Common YouTube video download issues and how to fix them
Got your ideal video downloader, but keep having issues? Well, maybe the downloader itself is not an issue. There are different factors, from your Mac’s performance to YouTube’s geo-restrictions, that might prevent you from downloading videos. Here are the ways to fix them.
How to unblock geo-restricted YouTube content?
Some videos may not be available in your location, but there are still ways to access them. Get a good VPN app that can unblock geo-restricted content.
The absolute best is ClearVPN with its shortcuts. Unlike traditional VPNs that just switch locations, ClearVPN has one-click options to unlock American Netflix, Australian HBO, or Norwegian YouTube — you name it. It’s all geared towards your needs.
You can also use ClearVPN to unlock games, toggle anonymous browsing, change your IP, and all the usual things you can expect from a high-end VPN.
Fix the “video download failed” issue
If your video downloader suddenly freezes and shows the “download failed” error, the first thing to try is to simply quit and reopen the app. Doesn’t work? In this case, check whether there’s a copyright issue involved — make sure you have the copyright holder’s permission to download the video.
Why is YouTube not working?
Here are a few things to try if you can’t play video in YouTube:
- Check your network connection. Even if it looks like you’re connected, there might be a problem that’s hard to spot. Tools like NetSpot and WiFi Explorer will help scan your network environment and identify possible issues. You can then use one of these tools to try and fix the issue or simply connect to a different network.
- Play the video in Elmedia Player. Elmedia can play YouTube videos without ads on Mac — and this is a great way to check if the video is even available. So if you can play video in Elmedia, there’s a YouTube issue. If not, probably the video is just unavailable.
- Restart your Mac — sometimes it helps, for no reason.
Downloading from YouTube is very slow — what to do?
First of all, it should be said that if you download large files (like a high-resolution movie), it’s ok that it takes much time to download it. If you want to get the best speed possible, Folx to the rescue.
Download Youtube Videos To Mac
If you notice that your downloader works much slower than before, there could be a problem with your Mac performance. CleanMyMac X is a wonderful tool to diagnose such problems. Just run a Smart Scan to see whether there’s some kind of malware or performance issue that you can fix. Or, maybe your Mac is just very cluttered and needs a cleanup to free up storage space.
It’s ok if you have a hard time choosing your favorite. Some of the apps complement each other – like you could use Folx to capture large videos and transfer them with AnyTrans. With Setapp subscription, you can try every mentioned YouTube downloader (as well as other apps such as WiFi Explorer, ClearVPN, and CleanMyMac X) for free, and choose what suits your flow. Or, don’t choose. Your Mac deserves all of them.