/PowerMyMac /How To Download YouTube Videos On Mac

• Youtube Converter To Mp4 Mac
• How Do You Download Youtube Videos For Mac Laptop
• Youtube Video Converter Mac
• How To Download Youtube Videos For Macbook
• How Do You Download Youtube Videos For Macbook Pro

YouTube is a great platform for watching videos. Aside from learning a lot from informational media, you can even get entertained with various video options to choose from. That’s why YouTube has become a very popular platform around the globe.

However, there are times when you don’t possess an Internet connection. Plus, you’re not sure if YouTube will actually stay forever. We’re not sure about the future, aren’t we? Thus, you might want to download YouTube videos on Mac and save your most favorite YouTube videos to make sure you can keep watching them over and over again.

YouTube Premium allows you to download videos using your mobile device. However, YouTube hasn’t provided an official way of saving YouTube videos on your Mac.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to download YouTube videos on your Mac computer. This can be done by using unofficial YouTube downloaders designed for Mac devices. We’ll give you two safe options to choose from. Plus, we’ll teach you a free method of doing so.

Although we’re teaching you how to do it, it doesn’t mean we condone the action. There’s a big risk when you go against the rules of YouTube. Please read our warning or disclaimer below before we start with the entire tutorial.

When it comes to online video content, YouTube is the largest site having videos from almost all genres. No matter whether you are searching for the latest sensational music video, a tutorial, a regional movie, a funny clip, or a high definition wildlife video, YouTube has all. While many want to download YouTube videos, the only way to do so responsibly is on iOS and Android, by paying the $11.99 for YouTube Premium. Otherwise, you're violating YouTube's terms of.

Article GuideGoing Against The Terms Of Service Of YouTubeHow To Download YouTube Videos On Mac QuicklyHow To Capture YouTube Videos Using Your Mac ComputerThe Best Applications To Help You Download YouTube Videos On MacFree Applications That Help You Download YouTube Videos On MacIn Conclusion

Going Against The Terms Of Service Of YouTube

A lot of people would want to download videos hosted on YouTube. The responsible way of doing so is by paying for YouTube Premium. This is available on both Android and iOS devices. However, if you’re not doing it through YouTube Premium, then you’re violating their terms of service which can be seen here.

According to their terms, you can access content for your personal use. However, it states, that you cannot download content unless you see a “Download” or similar link from YouTube itself. Violating these rules will result in the termination of your account. This is, in case, you are determined as a repeat infringer and depends on the circumstances as well.

That’s why we’re not recommending that you download YouTube videos without opting for YouTube Premium. It’s best to follow the rules while you can.

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How To Download YouTube Videos On Mac Quickly

Circumventing the rules of YouTube is not simple. We’re not saying that it’s safe as well. However, the easiest way of downloading YouTube videos using your Mac is through Online Video Converter. Here’s how to do it step by step:

Step 01: Go to YouTube and search for your favorite video. Copy the URL of that video from the browser’s address bar.

Step 02: Go to Online Video Converter. Make sure you decline notification requests.

Step 03: Paste the URL of the YouTube video you copied earlier.

Step 04: Select a video format. For instance, you might want to select .mp4 as it is a universal format popular in most devices.

Step 05: Press More Settings. It will show you various options for resolution.

Step 06: Choose a resolution you want. Larger resolutions result in crispier videos with bigger file size.

Step 07: Uncheck the boxes labeled Convert To and Convert From. However, you can also add your own time for starting or ending the video. This should be done if you don’t want to download the entire video but only a portion of it.

Step 08: Press Start. Wait until the entire process is complete. After this, click Download.

Step 09: Exit every pop-up window that appears. Most of it is nonsense. Think about it, it’s the price you pay for using a free service.

Step 10: Press Leave if prompted with a pop-up dialog box.

How To Capture YouTube Videos Using Your Mac Computer

You can also capture videos from YouTube by utilizing Mac’s built-in screen capture software. If you have macOS Mojave, simply press the keys Shift + Command + 5. This will display a screen region selector. You have to drag and then drop the crosshairs to select the region of the video you wish to record.

Then, press the button for Record Selected Portion. After this, press Record. Next, you should go on and play your video. Once it’s finished playing, press the Stop button. This is located on the screen’s upper right portion.

The Best Applications To Help You Download YouTube Videos On Mac

If you want to know how to download YouTube videos using your Mac, then you’re in for a treat. We recommend using Parallels Toolbox which costs about USD 19.9 per year. Although it’s not a free option, the said company is an excellent provider of this feature.

Once you have bought and installed the software, you’ll launch Toolbox. This Toolbox contains multi-function utilities. It can be launched by pressing the bar icon for Toolbox Menu. After this, press Download Video.

The toolbox will open a prompt asking if you want to install its extension on Safari. This is an excellent option for users who love Safari. But, if you prefer Chrome or Firefox, then you can just skip it. Here are the next steps on how to use it:

Step 01: Copy the YouTube URL of the video you wish to download.

Youtube Converter To Mp4 Mac

Step 02: Use the menu bar and launch Toolbox. After this, press Download Video.

Step 03: The prompt to install a Safari extension will pop up. For a fast tutorial, let’s click Cancel.

Step 04: Press the Settings icon, which looks like a gear, for options.

Step 05: You’ll get options for both destination and video quality. Select your preferred options.

Step 06: Click past and then put in your YouTube URL. After this, begin the download process.

Free Applications That Help You Download YouTube Videos On Mac

Are you looking for a free app that can help you download YouTube videos? The best one we recommend is the Free YouTube Download. However, we don’t recommend it as highly as the paid version. You wouldn’t want to use this one regularly.

Although it works if you simply want to download videos from YouTube, it has its drawbacks. You can only download videos that are up to 3 minutes long. If you want to download lengthier ones, you have to pay USD 19.00 per annum. Or, you can pay USD 29.00 for its lifetime use.

In addition, we have noticed red flags with the app. It’s created by DVDVideoSoft, a not-so-popular company. That’s why it’s hard to trust this product. It is best not to install software from unknown companies as you don’t know what it might do to your Mac.

If you wish to use this app, then you just need to download it. After then, copy a YouTube video URL and paste it into the app. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen until you have downloaded your favorite videos.

In Conclusion

Did we answer your question, on how to download YouTube videos for Mac computers? We hope we did. The guide we stated above can help you get YouTube videos as you wish. But remember, we’re not condoning this action. It is best to follow YouTube’s Terms of Service in order to avoid getting penalized or banned by the popular video giant.

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You may hate funny cat videos or game reviews, but the chances are you still use YouTube. A mammoth of video content, YouTube is a go-to spot for many. In fact, the platform has over 1 billion users which is one-third of all internet users. Huge.

Or, maybe your daily companions are Vimeo and Twitch. One way or another, video content is a part of your digital life. The question is how to utilize it.

In this article, we compare top YouTube downloaders for Mac and explain how you can legally save video to Mac to watch it anytime and anywhere.

Best YouTube downloaders

Get a huge set of top tools to download videos from Youtube. Most helpful utilities in one pack, give it a go!

Let us warn you in advance, all YouTube download tools reviewed in this article are worth a try. To help you narrow down the choice, check the nice-to-have assets every safe YouTube downloader should have:

• Works with all major video streaming platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
• Allows to save mp4 content and, optionally, convert to different formats.
• Has support for audio output — allowing you to save music from videos.
• Downloads entire playlists or channels in batch.
• Caters for both professional and everyday use.
• Guarantees data security, not collecting any of your personal information.

For sure, these are not one-size-fits-all qualities. You may need to batch download playlists, or this might be a totally useless feature for you. We made sure the reviewed tools satisfy the key needs — like security and integration with video streaming platforms. The rest is up to you and your priorities.

Quick navigation:

It’s not easy to step into the jungle of video downloaders and instantly pick the right fit – impossible if you’re new to Mac. There’s help, though.

How to download from YouTube

Whether to capture a few movies for an upcoming flight or save favorite clips to rewatch, Mac owners love to save content. The most basic tool should teach you how to download YouTube videos directly from URL. The problem is that it’s complicated to find an efficient free YouTube downloader. Not to mention they could be used for copyright infringement.

To legally save content from YouTube and video streaming services to Mac, as well as download music from videos, you can use third-party apps. As long as you’re not earning money from downloads or breach copyright, they are safe to use.

Download streaming video

Streaming content is a huge chunk of your internet traffic. Think Vimeo, Twitch, YouTube, Dailymotion, and other platforms where you can watch video displayed in real time. Relying on online streaming stymies your watching experience in many ways – from limited data usage to network issues. Plus Wi-Fi often fails you at the most crucial moments. Therefore, you need a reliable tool that helps you capture YouTube video.

If you’re wondering how to watch favorite YouTube videos offline without breaking any laws, let us help you.

1. Choose the video and copy the URL (the app has in-build video search on YouTube/Vimeo/Dailymotion).
2. Paste the link into the app and wait for the app to finish the download.
3. Choose/customize the output format and storage location.

When using third-party tools, be careful about YouTube blocking downloads. If you comply with YouTube’s Terms of Service, you should be fine.

Download and save video from YouTube in mp4

Whether it’s native YouTube Premium or a third-party application, the tools you use to download mp4 from YouTube will by default save video files in mp4. There are different options on tweaking formats, though:

• Retrieve only audio from your video file — tools like Downie and Folx will work for it.
• Download video in mp4 with Elmedia Player.
• Use Downie + Permute to download and convert to different formats — from FLV to MKV to AVI. The two work well together and are both available with Setapp subscription.
• Customize the output before downloading and convert a poor-quality YouTube video to mp4 HD.

Grab YouTube video with YouTube Premium

Since recently, you can’t download YouTube video anymore. That’s because the service created a native tool for the job.

So if you ask YouTube for the best YouTube downloader, it will probably suggest you use YouTube Premium, a native paid subscription service to save content. For the monthly cost of $11.99, it allows you to keep YouTube videos on iPhone and Android devices. Here’s how it works:

1. Open the video in your YouTube mobile app.
2. Click on the download button below the video player.
3. Customize the quality of the output.
4. Once the video is downloaded, you’ll see the “download complete” icon below the player.

The app will automatically save YouTube videos you download to the Library or Account tab.

Top YouTube downloaders compared

Below you’ll find a small collection of best Youtube downloaders that we recommend you look into. Use the apps to play, manage, and automatically save videos.

Best of all, you can use the full toolkit of apps reviewed in this article for a flat fee. Have a look at the full collection. You’ll find extensive descriptions of every YouTube downloader below.

Downie: Save YouTube videos within seconds

The easiest version of a YouTube downloader you can imagine. Grab a link, drag it onto the app icon, wait a few seconds for the content to travel to your Mac.

While you don’t really do much, you can do even less with the browser extension. Downie already has it, so you don’t have to install the extension separately – check the box in your browser preferences and you’re good to go. Magically, Downie can also scan text files for links and download video content from there.

In other words, Downie is a media downloader that commits to cherishing your time. Here are the key ways to align the app with your workflow:

1. Enable Simple mode to get rid of distractions in Preferences > General. Perfect for those who are annoyed by a progress bar showing up each time a download takes place.
2. Downie is also a search machine. You can find YouTube videos on for download by searching right in the app, without opening a browser.
3. If you love YouTube concerts and music videos, you can download audio only. To set Downie to the MP3 mode, open Preferences > Postprocessing > Enforce MP3.

This downloader automatically converts all videos to MP4, but if you need more options there’s Permute to help. It covers virtually all media formats and works both for video and audio. The app is basically Downie’s cousin, created by the same team of developers, Charlie Monroe Software. So you get a discount if you buy the two. Also, Downie and Permute are both available on Setapp.

Pros:

• Simple and clean interface
• Customizable functionality
• 4K support
• Integrates with YouTube video converter

Cons:

• Limited file conversion options

Price:

$19.99 if purchased separately

How Do You Download Youtube Videos For Mac Laptop

$26.99 Downie + Permute

Starting at $9.99 per month Downie, Permute and 150+ apps on Setapp

Play and download video content with Elmedia Player

Elmedia Player is one of the best tools to entrust your movie watching experience to. Not only does it tell you how to save videos from YouTube, it also enables viewing content ad-free, right from the app. Download audio, convert to different media formats, or stream via AirPlay – it solves tons of problems.

Not limitless, but the functionality is pretty impressive. It’s a good idea to work with Elmedia Player if you want to:

1. Organize downloads and bring them into curated playlists.
2. Play Vimeo, Dailymotion, and YouTube videos in the app, without downloading.
3. Open and convert files to different formats – from MP3 TO MKV.
4. Extract audio tracks from YouTube videos.
5. Stream media content to all Apple devices that support AirPlay.

Compared to Apple’s native QuickTime, Elmedia Player supports a bigger number of formats and is generally a decent alternative to the default program.

Pros:

• Intuitive interface
• Covers virtually all video and audio formats
• Streaming capabilities

Cons:

• Lots of features confusing for a beginner

Price:

$19.95 Elmedia Player Pro license

Starting at $9.99 per month Elmedia Player Pro and 150+ apps on Setapp

Swiftly download large videos with Folx app

There’s no better option than Folx if you’re big on big downloads. Combining the functionality of a download manager and torrent client, the app brings large videos to your Mac in a matter of minutes.

With your browser and Folx open, you can download any video from YouTube by URL. Once you have the URL, paste it directly into the search bar or click on the plus button > YouTube > paste the link. Give the app a few seconds to prepare a download, and click OK. Before you know it, the video is on your Mac.

The in-built torrent client that is available to Pro plan users works in a similar way – simple and lightning fast. Navigate to the Torrent tab via the plus button. In the top search field, click on the three dots to select a torrent file, customize default preferences if needed, and click OK.

To accelerate the process, Folx splits downloads in up to 20 streams. The app also cleverly adjusts download speed to your online activities, so that not to hamper important programs and processes running on your Mac. To tweak the default speed settings in Folx, access Preferences > Smart Speed.

Pros:

• Torrent search right in the app
• Speed optimization
• Download scheduling and auto-resume

Cons:

• No free trial for Pro features

Youtube Video Converter Mac

Price:

$19.95 Folx Pro license

Starting at $9.99 per month Folx and 150+ apps on Setapp

AnyTrans to download and transfer content

Many think of AnyTrans as an alternative to iTunes, but it’s much more than that. The app is an all-mighty file manager that works with all your devices. So whether you want to copy images from iPhone to Mac, or transfer from Android to iOS, AnyTrans has you covered.

Apart from cleverly managing your content, the app also helps you grab some new. Using an in-built Media Downloader, you can save video from 900+ websites, including Vimeo, Dailymotion, and YouTube.

Capturing and instantly sharing media is why you should pick AnyTrans over the other options. It has limited functionality in terms of download preferences, but is pretty good for capturing short videos.

How To Download Youtube Videos For Macbook

Pros:

• Clean and understandable interface
• Excellent file control
• Media transferring options

Cons:

• Limitations in terms of integration with iTunes library.

Price:

$39.99 AnyTrans Single license

Starting at $9.99 per month AnyTrans and 150+ apps on Setapp

It’s ok if you have a hard time choosing your favorite. Some of the apps complement each other – like you could use Folx to capture large videos and transfer with AnyTrans. With Setapp subscription, you can try every mentioned YouTube downloader for free and choose what suits your flow. Or, don’t choose. Your Mac deserves all of them.

Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

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How Do You Download Youtube Videos For Macbook Pro