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 Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is a software that allows you to download YouTube videos on your Mac (or any other device) for free. It has a simple and user-friendly interface that lets you download videos in various quality and format options. It also has some advanced features such as downloading playlists, channels, subtitles, and 3D videos.
To use this method, you need to have 4K Video Downloader 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 4K Video Downloader on your Mac and click on the Paste Link button at the top left corner.
Paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download and click Download.
Select the quality and format you want for your downloaded video (higher quality means larger file size).
Click on the Browse button to choose a location for your downloaded video and click Save.
Wait for the video to finish downloading (you can see the progress in the main window).
To watch your downloaded video offline, go to the location where you saved it and double-click on it.
Pros and Cons of 4K Video Downloader
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using 4K Video Downloader 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 can use a simple and user-friendly software that is fast and reliable.
You can enjoy some advanced features such as downloading playlists, channels, subtitles, and 3D videos.
Cons:
You have to install a software on your Mac, which may take up some space or resources.
You have to upgrade to a premium version ($15) to unlock some features such as downloading unlimited playlists, channels, subtitles, and 3D videos.
You may violate some YouTube terms of service or copyright laws when using this software, which may result in legal consequences or account suspension.
Comparison Table of Methods
To help you decide which method is best for you, here is a table that compares the four methods based on criteria such as cost, ease of use, quality, speed, and features:
MethodCostEase of UseQualitySpeedFeatures
YouTube Premium$11.99/monthEasyHighFast+ Ad-free viewing+ Offline access+ YouTube Music+ YouTube Originals
VLC Media PlayerFreeMediumMediumMedium+ Play any media file+ Watch downloaded videos in any media player or device
Online ConverterFreeEasyLow to HighSlow to Fast+ Choose from different quality and format options+ No software installation or sign up required
4K Video DownloaderFree or $15 (premium)EasyHighFast+ Choose from different quality and format options+ Download playlists, channels, subtitles, and 3D videos (premium)
Conclusion
In conclusion, downloading YouTube videos on your Mac is possible with various methods, each with its own pros and cons. Depending on your preferences, budget, and needs, you can choose the one that suits you best.
If you want a simple and reliable method that also offers other benefits, you can go for YouTube Premium. If you want a free and open-source method that also plays any media file, you can go for VLC Media Player. If you want a quick and easy method that also gives you different quality and format options, you can go for an online converter. If you want a fast and user-friendly method that also has some advanced features, you can go for 4K Video Downloader.
We hope this article helped you learn how to download YouTube videos on your Mac. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about downloading YouTube videos on a Mac:
Q: Is it legal to download YouTube videos on a Mac?
A: The legality of downloading YouTube videos on a Mac depends on several factors, such as the source of the video, the purpose of the download, and the country where you live. In general, it is not legal to download YouTube videos that are protected by copyright laws or that violate YouTube's terms of service. However, it may be legal to download YouTube videos that are in the public domain or that have a Creative Commons license. It may also be legal to download YouTube videos for personal use or fair use, such as education, research, or criticism. To be safe, you should always check the legal status of the video before downloading it.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos on a Mac without software?
A: One way to download YouTube videos on a Mac without software is to use an online converter website, as explained in Method 3 above. Another way is to use a browser extension or add-on that allows you to download YouTube videos directly from your browser. Some examples of such extensions are . However, you should be careful when using these extensions, as some of them may contain ads, pop-ups, or malware.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos on a Mac in MP4 format?
A: MP4 is one of the most common and compatible video formats that can be played on most devices and media players. To download YouTube videos on a Mac in MP4 format, you can use any of the methods above that offer this option. For example, you can use YouTube Premium, an online converter website, or 4K Video Downloader to choose MP4 as your output format when downloading YouTube videos.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos on a Mac in HD quality?
A: HD quality refers to high-definition video resolution that offers better clarity and detail than standard-definition video resolution. To download YouTube videos on a Mac in HD quality, you need to make sure that the original video is available in HD quality on YouTube. Then, you can use any of the methods above that offer this option. For example, you can use YouTube Premium, an online converter website, or 4K Video Downloader to choose HD quality as your output quality when downloading YouTube videos.
Q: How can I download YouTube playlists or channels on a Mac?
A: A playlist is a collection of videos that are grouped together by a user or by YouTube. A channel is a page that belongs to a user or an organization that uploads and showcases their videos on YouTube. To download YouTube playlists or channels on a Mac, you need to use a method that supports this feature. For example, you can use 4K Video Downloader, as explained in Method 4 above, to download entire playlists or channels with one click. However, you need to upgrade to the premium version ($15) to unlock this feature. Alternatively, you can use some online converter websites that also offer this feature, such as . However, you should be careful when using these websites, as some of them may contain ads, pop-ups, or malware. 44f88ac181