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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- ClipGrab and WinX/MacX are one of the best free instruments for YouTube downloads.
- YouTube Premium gives authorized, ad-free downloads tied to your account.
- Be aware of copyright legal guidelines and solely obtain movies which can be allowed.
For those who’ve ever wished to obtain a YouTube video to observe later — say, for a flight or someplace with horrible Wi-Fi — you’ve got in all probability observed that Google does not make it simple. YouTube’s personal app limits offline viewing to pick movies and paying Premium subscribers. Nonetheless, there are methods to obtain movies free of charge. The problem is determining which choice is definitely value utilizing.
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After years of working in multimedia, I’ve needed to regionally save numerous YouTube movies. I now have one go-to software, and my colleague David Gewirtz has steered one other, however there are many choices on the market that come extremely really useful. Both manner, listed here are two strategies which can be free and trusted, so you will not should wade by means of sketchy pop-ups and questionable hyperlinks, or pay a cent.
I will additionally cowl YouTube Premium, the official paid technique for downloading movies, so it is best to discover no less than one choice that works.
How one can simply obtain YouTube movies free of charge
What you may want: Editors at ZDNET, together with me, have been utilizing ClipGrab for years. It is a free program obtainable for Mac, Home windows, and Linux customers. The developer describes it as open supply, although the supply code is barely obtainable for Linux.
Level your browser to the official ClipGrab.org site.
- Click on the “Present all obtain choices” hyperlink.
- Obtain the installer in your platform (Home windows, MacOS, Linux). It is free, however there may be an choice to donate.
- Run the installer to put in ClipGrab.
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Throughout set up, ClipGrab might request permission to put in a Rosetta helper (on newer MacOS) or to obtain supplementary parts (reminiscent of yt-dlp). It is best to enable them — they’re a part of ClipGrab and allow options or help with processing.
If you wish to change the place your downloaded YouTube movies are saved, click on the Settings tab in ClipGrab. Right here, you’ll be able to specify a goal folder, alter metadata and notification settings, arrange a proxy, and extra. You do not have to tweak any of those choices, although — by default, ClipGrab prompts you every time you obtain, and it saves movies to your system’s default Movies or Downloads folder.
In your internet browser, go to the YouTube video you need to obtain.
- Copy the video’s URL from the tackle bar. (You may as well click on the Share button underneath the video.)
- Open ClipGrab and go to the Downloads tab.
- Click on into the enter subject and paste the copied YouTube hyperlink (Ctrl+V on Home windows/Linux or Cmd+V on Mac).
- ClipGrab will mechanically fetch details about the video.
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As soon as the video is acknowledged (you may often see the title seem in ClipGrab), you are able to proceed.
Earlier than downloading, use the Format drop-down to decide on the file kind in your saved video. You will discover it proper under the sector the place you pasted the YouTube hyperlink. I often depart the format set to Unique, which retains the video’s native file kind, however you’ll be able to choose MP4, WMV, OGG, MP3 (audio solely), or no matter you like.
Subsequent, use the High quality drop-down to pick a decision. It is proper subsequent to Format and often permits you to select the total unique decision (reminiscent of 1080p and even 4K, if obtainable) or a decrease one like 720p if you wish to save house.
When prepared, in ClipGrab’s Downloads tab, click on the “Seize this clip!” button.
- ClipGrab will immediate you to decide on a file identify and save location for the video.
- When you verify, the obtain will start.
- You will see progress within the Present Downloads part.
A typical YouTube video ought to obtain quick — or no less than in an inexpensive time, relying in your web pace and the video size. It took me lower than 2 minutes to obtain an hour-long ZDNET livestream.
One other free choice
ClipGrab is my best choice for simple, simple YouTube video downloading. I recurrently use it to seize movies, together with my very own uploads after I want an area copy. After greater than a decade of use, I have not run into any points with it.
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However if you would like another, ZDNET’s David Gewirtz makes use of the WinX/MacX apps. Made by Digiarty Software program (recognized for its DVD-ripping instruments), WinX Video Converter (for Home windows) and MacX Video Converter (for MacOS) are freemium video conversion packages.
How one can use WinX or MacX to obtain YouTube movies free of charge
What makes them fascinating right here is that the free trial contains a vast YouTube downloader you should use indefinitely — when you do not thoughts dismissing the occasional immediate to improve.
- Set up the software program: Obtain the trial of WinX Video Converter Deluxe (Home windows) or MacX Video Converter Pro (Mac) from the official web site. As soon as put in, launch the app.
- Paste a YouTube hyperlink: Within the app’s toolbar, click on the “YouTube URL” button. The app will swap to a obtain display, the place you’ll be able to click on a hyperlink icon on the prime, then paste your video’s URL, and click on Analyze. After a couple of seconds, you may see a listing of obtainable resolutions and codecs (for instance, 1080p MP4, 720p WebM), together with file sizes.
- Obtain the video: Select your most popular decision and format from the record, then click on OK or Obtain. The video will obtain rapidly. Other than YouTube, WinX/MacX supports hundreds of other sites — Fb, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and extra.
For those who determine to improve to the paid model, you may unlock a full suite of video instruments to transform, compress, trim, crop, and even add subtitles. The paid choices begin at $19.95. However you needn’t pay something in case your principal aim is solely downloading movies.
The official paid choice
Let’s discuss Google’s official technique to obtain YouTube movies: YouTube Premium. I have been a subscriber for years and love the blissful absence of adverts, picture-in-picture mode on cell, the power to maintain a video taking part in within the background whereas utilizing different apps, entry to YouTube Music Premium, and all the opposite perks — together with downloading movies for offline viewing.
Within the US, a person YouTube Premium plan is $13.99 monthly. There’s additionally a Household Plan for as much as six customers at $22.99 monthly, and a Pupil Plan at $7.99 monthly. It isn’t low cost, however for heavy YouTube customers, it may be value it.
How one can use YouTube Premium to obtain movies
Since that is an official characteristic, it is utterly authorized and sanctioned by YouTube.
- Log in together with your Premium account: As soon as you’ve got subscribed to YouTube Premium, sign up to YouTube in your gadget (cell app or internet browser) together with your account. As soon as logged in, search for a video you need to save.
- Faucet Obtain: If you’ve discovered a video, click on or faucet the Obtain button. On desktop, you’ll now see a down arrow under movies, often to the suitable of the Share arrow icon. Within the cell app, the Obtain choice seems within the video choices menu (three-dot menu).
- Select your high quality: The primary time you obtain, YouTube will ask what high quality you need to save by default (reminiscent of 720p or 360p). Increased resolutions take extra storage and won’t be obtainable for all movies. When you verify, the video will start downloading. A progress indicator may seem (on cell, it is a loading circle).
- Discover your downloaded movies: After the obtain completes, yow will discover the video within the Downloads part of YouTube. Within the cell app, faucet Library > Downloads. On desktop, click on your profile image menu and go to Downloads (or go to youtube.com/feed/downloads whereas logged in). All movies you’ve got downloaded for offline viewing can be listed there.
You may watch your downloaded movies with out an web connection, however you may want to go surfing no less than as soon as each 30 days for YouTube to confirm your Premium standing. In any other case, your downloads will expire. Your downloads are additionally tied to YouTube. So, when you have been hoping to get an MP4 file to edit or share outdoors of YouTube, you are out of luck with this technique.
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Mainly, you are not given a simple technique to flip your YouTube downloads into usable video information on a desktop or from iOS units. Nevertheless, when you’re an Android consumer with an SD card slot, you’ll be able to change the YouTube app’s settings to save lots of movies on to your SD card. Within the YouTube app, faucet your profile pic > Settings > Downloads, and you may see the choice to make use of an SD card.
Are there Linux command-line choices?
Sure. Linux customers have a command-line option to obtain YouTube movies. As with all issues Linux command line, there are some grey areas right here, reminiscent of whether or not a given software nonetheless works or if there’s a greater one on the market.
The primary choice is youtube-dl. You will get it from its official site, GitHub, or by means of your favourite bundle supervisor. However some of us say youtube-dl is outdated hat and hasn’t been up to date shortly. There’s one other open-source mission on GitHub referred to as yt-dlp, a fork of youtube-dl with extra options and extra lively upkeep. I have not examined it myself, so use it at your individual threat.
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Each youtube-dl and yt-dlp provide an extremely wide selection of options when you want them. Personally, I am sticking with ClipGrab — I haven’t got time to show YouTube downloading into a 3rd full-time job. Nevertheless it’s as much as you.
What’s the most secure technique to obtain YouTube movies?
Absolutely the most secure manner is to make use of YouTube Premium’s offline obtain characteristic, because it’s an official, absolutely authorised technique offered by Google itself. If you obtain a video through YouTube Premium, you are abiding by YouTube’s phrases of service in addition to the video’s utilization restrictions (the movies are DRM-protected and tied to your account).
YouTube will implement any regional or copyright restrictions on these downloads, so you will not be capable to obtain movies that the platform does not enable in your nation. And you will not run into any malware or sketchy software program points, as a result of it is a built-in characteristic.
How can I obtain personal movies?
You may solely obtain personal movies if you have already got entry to them (or they’re your individual — YouTube Premium will allow you to obtain your individual personal movies). For those who can log in and watch the video in your browser, you’ll be able to often obtain it.
However if you cannot view it in any respect, you will not be capable to obtain it both.
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So, when you have login credentials for the video and you are a Home windows consumer, attempt utilizing the premium model of By Click Downloader. It permits you to save personal movies on to your laptop and usually prices between $20 and $40, relying on promotions.
Are you able to get in bother for downloading YouTube movies?
Simply because you’ll be able to obtain a YouTube video does not all the time imply it is best to — no less than not with out understanding the implications. Completely different jurisdictions have completely different legal guidelines, and it will not be authorized to obtain a given video, even when all you need to do is watch it offline. Some international locations additionally prohibit movies on sure matters, so when you’re in a repressive area, be additional cautious.
You may need to learn our VPN guide for tips about downloading with a bit extra privateness.
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For those who plan to obtain a video to include into one thing you are producing, needless to say some international locations acknowledge honest use, permitting small parts of copyrighted materials for commentary, criticism, or schooling. That stated, YouTube makes use of automated methods to detect reused content material, and your channel may obtain a copyright strike for violations.
When unsure, it is all the time greatest to ask for permission first.
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