Downloading YouTube videos is not only convenient but also an offline viewing experience when there is no Internet connection. Click this link, and the recording will begin on this site only. Whether it is an educational tutorial or your favorite music video, the content stored locally on your mobile device will be just the thing you need to do when you are away. Besides how it is made, the legality of this issue must be considered too. Now, it turns out that a distinct question that we should ask is: is it legal to download YouTube videos?
4K Video Downloader
Videos download in 8K, have playlists and channels, and fetch subtitles.
Is Downloading YouTube Videos Legal?
The download of the YouTube videos is with legal and ethical rules. Although this may appear to be the act of mere downloading, nonetheless, it usually abuses the download without permission features of YouTube! YouTube has specified that unless the downloads are approved: – downloaded through Premium, – use “is only allowed when the creators allow it.”.
- Authorized by the creator.
- Done via YouTube Premium.
To say it straight, when you download videos, it’s important not to infringe the copyright of the material and avoid further redistribution or sharing.
How to Download YouTube Videos Safely
When it comes to downloading YouTube videos, make sure that safe steps are your main concern. Some of the available online tools might bring you risks like malware, phishing scams, and annoying advertisements. In the text below, we present methods that are safe and legally viable for downloading YouTube videos.
1. Use YouTube Premium
The best and most legal way to do so is by purchasing a YouTube Premium subscription. With the help of this service:
- The users are given the facility of offline video download, which can be used on the YouTube app.
- The resolution of the video download is restricted to 1080p or lower.
- The most important of all is that these videos work only if your device logs in to the internet once every 30 days.
Although this approach is fantastic, it still does not enable you to send videos to other devices or software such as VLC Player.
2. Desktop Software for Downloading YouTube Videos
Desktop software offers good flexibility and high-quality files that can be downloaded. Some reliable tools are:
4K Video Downloader+
- 4K Video Downloader + Features: “Videos download in 8K”, have playlists and channels, and fetch subtitles.
- Pricing: Free version with 30 downloads per day, or paid version at $15, lifetime license.
- How to Use: Copy the URL of a YouTube video, paste that into the software, and then choose your preferred format, MP4 or MKV.
- Safety: confirmed without malware or intrusive ads.
VideoProc Converter
- Features: Batch downloads and 4K video support.
- Pricing: Free limited version or paid plans starting from $25.95/year.
- Speed: Uses hardware acceleration for rapid downloads.
- Supported Formats: It supports MP4, MKV, and WEBM formats.
FlixGrab
- Features: Works with many sites like YouTube and Netflix.
- Pricing: Free (donation-based).
- Ease of Use: It enables downloading either a specific file or a playlist directly.
3. Download YouTube Videos Using Python Scripts
If you are savvy with technology, then a Python script is handy for downloading safe videos. Using tools like yt-dlp, you can:
- Downloads of videos in good quality.
- Avoid risks from third-party software or malware.
How to Download Using Python:
- Download Python and the yt-dlp library.
- Open a Jupyter Notebook or terminal.
- Now run the download command!yt-dlp <video_url>.
It is extremely useful for automatically obtaining downloads or simply accessing additional websites that YT-DLP supports.
4. Browser Extensions
Browser extensions make this much easier, putting a download button right below YouTube videos. Some of the most popular choices are:
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YouTube Video Downloader (Addoncrop)
- Web browsers: Supports Edge, Firefox, and Chrome using sideloading.
- Downloads videos up to 8K resolution.
- Convert video to MP3.
Video DownloadHelper
- Works best with Firefox or Edge (it doesn’t work well with Chrome).
- Supports many video sites, including YouTube.
- It comes with downloadable video with a moving icon and indicator.
Note: Sideloaded extensions from third-party sources are because the Chrome Web Store is not yet fully extended.
5. Mobile Apps for Downloading YouTube Videos
Downloading videos directly to your smartphone is difficult because of platform rules. Here’s how to do it safely:
For Android:
Make use of apps belonging to other companies, such as InsTube. The application is not available on Google Play. You can download it, though, as an APK file. Download it from a trusted source to avoid malware.
For iPhone/iPad:
Use apps like Documents by Readle. It requires a workaround:
- Copy the YouTube video URL.
- Use the local browser in the Documents to access a useful webpage and download the video.
- Save the video to your Photos app.
You can also move the downloaded videos to your iOS device using a desktop manager such as AnyTrans.
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6. Online Helper Websites
Websites, where you can download videos directly from a YouTube link, are easy to use but do come with risks of viruses or annoying ads. If you still want to use one, be sure that:
- No spammy ads are on the website.
- Your antivirus software finds no problems.
Warning: Use helper websites only, when necessary, as most are unreliable.
FAQs About Downloading YouTube Videos
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Is it legal to download videos from YouTube?
Downloading videos is against YouTube’s terms of service unless you have YouTube Premium.
- You have an explicit permission from the creator.
What is the best way to download YouTube videos for free?
It is feasible to use reliable tools like 4K Video Downloader or VideoProc Converter for a good mix of safety, quality, and easy use.
Can I download YouTube videos as MP3 files?
Yes! Tools such as 4K Video Downloader or browser extensions like YouTube Video Downloader can download the MP3 files.
Key Takeaways
Downloading YouTube videos can make watching them offline better, but always keep safety and the law in mind. Reliable tools include YouTube Premium, 4K Video Downloader, or VideoProc Converter, which can avoid malware and copyright issues. For tech lovers, Python scripts are a more advanced and customizable option.
Always remember: Respect copyrights and support creators by watching your content legally.
