How to download YouTube videos on your computer in 4 ways

YouTube has billions of videos available for streaming, but sometimes, you might want to download some of them for offline viewing. 

However, there's no download button that allows you to save them onto your computer. This is odd, considering that the YouTube mobile app allows you to download videos on your smartphone and watch them offline.

Luckily, you can use third-party services – of which they're dozens – to download videos from YouTube.

YouTube has billions of videos available for streaming, but sometimes, you might want to download some of them for offline viewing. 

However, there's no download button that allows you to save them onto your computer. This is odd, considering that the YouTube mobile app allows you to download videos on your smartphone and watch them offline.

Luckily, you can use third-party services – of which they're dozens – to download videos from YouTube.

How to download YouTube videos using VLC Media player

VLC Media Player is a free app that lets you watch videos or play music from your Mac or PC. There's a chance you might already have it installed on your computer.

And although it'll take a few minutes, you can use it to download any YouTube video.

1. Find the video you want to download off YouTube and copy its URL.

Quick tip: You can copy text by highlighting it and pressing Control + C on a PC or Command + C on a Mac.

2. Open VLC. If you're on a PC, click Media in the top menu, and then Open Network Stream. If you're on a Mac, click File in the top menu, and then Open Network.

3. In the pop-up that appears, select the Network tab and paste the YouTube video's URL in the text box at top, and then click Play or Open at the bottom.

Paste the YouTube video’s URL in the text box located in the “Network” tab. 

Ryan Ariano

Quick tip: You can paste text you've copied by pressing Ctrl + V on a PC or Command + V on a Mac.

4. After a moment, the YouTube video will begin playing. A longer YouTube video will take longer to open.

5. If you're on a PC, click Tools in the top menu, and then Media Information. If you're on a Mac, click Window in the top menu, and then Media Information.

6. In the Media Information" pop-up, there will be a Location text box at the bottom. Double-click the URL in this text box to select it, and then copy it.

Copy the URL in the “Location” text box at the bottom. 

Ryan Ariano

7. Go back to your web browser and paste that link into the URL text box at the top of the screen, and then hit the Enter key on a PC or Return key on a Mac.

8. You'll be brought to a page with just the video playing. Click on the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner, and then click Download.

Download the video in your browser. 

Ryan Ariano

The video will download onto your computer as an .MP4 file. You can name it or move it wherever you like.