How to Download YouTube Videos
You don't need desktop software or sketchy browser extensions to save a YouTube video. A browser-based downloader handles MP4 in every quality plus MP3 conversion.
When downloading makes sense
Offline access on a flight, archiving your own uploads, saving Creative Commons footage for a project, keeping lectures for study — there are plenty of legitimate reasons to want the file. YouTube Premium's offline mode locks videos inside the app, while a downloaded MP4 is yours to keep and edit.
Respect copyright: download your own videos, openly licensed content, or videos whose creators permit it.
MP4 vs MP3
Choose MP4 when you want the video itself; every resolution the uploader provided is available, up to 4K. Choose MP3 when you only need the audio — the tool extracts the best audio stream and converts it in one step, so you don't need a separate converter site.
Step by step
- 1
Copy the video URL
From the address bar, or the Share button under the player. Shorts and youtu.be links work identically.
- 2
Paste into the downloader
Open the YouTube downloader, paste the URL, and press Download to fetch the format list.
- 3
Pick a format
Select an MP4 resolution, or the MP3 Audio option for sound only.
- 4
Save and verify
The file downloads directly to your device — check your Downloads folder (or Files on iPhone).
Ready to try it?
The youtube video downloader is free, works in your browser, and takes about 30 seconds per video.
Open the YouTube downloaderFAQ
Why do some videos fail to download?
Age-restricted, members-only, and region-locked videos need a signed-in session and may not be fetchable. Public videos work reliably.
Can I download an entire playlist?
Not in one click — paste each video link individually.
What's the best quality I can get?
Whatever the uploader provided. A 4K upload gives you a 4K option; a 720p upload tops out at 720p.