YouTube is one of the most popular and diverse platforms for watching and sharing videos online. You can find videos on almost any topic, from music and movies to tutorials and news. However, sometimes you may want to download YouTube videos on your device, so you can watch them offline, save them for later, or share them with others.
Downloading YouTube videos is not as straightforward as it may seem. YouTube does not offer a built-in option to download videos, except for some premium users who can download videos within the YouTube app for a limited time. Therefore, you need to use third-party tools or services to download YouTube videos on your device.
In this article, we will show you how to download YouTube videos on your iPhone, Android, Mac, and PC. We will also explain the legal and ethical issues of downloading YouTube videos, and the best formats and quality options for downloading YouTube videos.
Legal and ethical issues of downloading YouTube videos
Before we show you how to download YouTube videos on your device, we need to address the legal and ethical issues of doing so. Downloading YouTube videos may violate YouTube’s terms of service, which state that you are only allowed to stream videos directly from its servers. Downloading YouTube videos may also infringe the copyright of the video owners, who have the right to control how their content is distributed.
Therefore, you should only download YouTube videos if you have permission from the video owners or if the videos are in the public domain. You should also only download YouTube videos for personal use and not for commercial or illegal purposes. You should respect the work and rights of the video creators and not abuse their content.
Best formats and quality options for downloading YouTube videos
Another thing you need to consider before downloading YouTube videos is the format and quality of the video files. YouTube supports various formats and quality options for its videos, such as MP4, WEBM, AVI, MKV, FLV, 3GP, 144p, 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K. However, not all formats and quality options are available for all videos or devices.
The best format and quality option for downloading YouTube videos depends on your device’s compatibility, storage space, and viewing preference. Generally speaking, MP4 is the most widely supported and compatible format for most devices. As for the quality option, higher resolutions offer better clarity and detail, but they also take up more storage space and bandwidth. Therefore, you should balance between quality and size when choosing the quality option for downloading YouTube videos.
How to download YouTube videos on iPhone
Downloading YouTube videos on iPhone is not as easy as on other devices, because iOS does not allow apps that can download videos from YouTube. Therefore, you need to use a workaround method that involves using a web browser and an online video downloader service. Here are the simplified steps to download YouTube videos on iPhone:
- Copy the link of the YouTube video from the Share button in the YouTube app.
- Go to an online video downloader service (such as Y2mate, SaveFrom, or BitDownloader) in a web browser on your iPhone.
- Paste the link of the YouTube video into the input box and tap on Download.
- Choose the format and quality option you want to download (such as MP4 and 720p) and tap on Download again.
- Confirm the download in the pop-up window that appears.
- Find the downloaded video file in the Files app on your iPhone.
How to download YouTube videos on Android
Downloading YouTube videos on Android is easier than on iPhone, because Android allows apps that can download videos from YouTube. Therefore, you can use an app that can download YouTube videos directly from the YouTube app or website. Here are the simplified steps to download YouTube videos on Android:
- Download and install an app that can download YouTube videos (such as TubeMate, VidMate, or Snaptube) from its official website or a trusted source.
- Share the link of the YouTube video from the Share button in the YouTube app or website to the app that you installed.
- Choose the format and quality option you want to download (such as MP4 and 720p) and tap on Download.
- Find the downloaded video file in the Gallery or Videos folder on your Android device.
How to download YouTube videos on Mac
Downloading YouTube videos on Mac is similar to downloading YouTube
videos on PC, because both use the same operating system and web browsers. Therefore, you can use a web browser extension, a desktop software, or an online video downloader service to download YouTube videos on PC. Here are the simplified steps to download YouTube videos on PC:
- Choose a method to download YouTube videos on PC: a web browser extension (such as Video DownloadHelper for Firefox or FastestTube for Chrome), a desktop software (such as 4K Video Downloader or WinX YouTube Downloader), or an online video downloader service (such as Y2mate, SaveFrom, or BitDownloader).
- If you use a web browser extension, install it from its official website or the web browser’s store. If you use a desktop software, install it from its official website or a trusted source.
- Copy the link of the YouTube video from the address bar in the YouTube website.
- If you use a web browser extension, click on the extension icon in the toolbar and choose the format and quality option you want to download (such as MP4 and 720p). The video will start downloading in the background. If you use a desktop software, paste the link of the YouTube video into the software’s input box and click on Download. Choose the format and quality option you want to download (such as MP4 and 720p). The video will start downloading in the background. If you use an online video downloader service, paste the link of the YouTube video into the service’s input box and click on Download. Choose the format and quality option you want to download (such as MP4 and 720p). Click on Download again and confirm the download. The video will start downloading in the background.
- Find the downloaded video file in the Downloads folder on your PC.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful and informative. Downloading YouTube videos on your device can be useful for various purposes, such as watching them offline, saving them for later, or sharing them with others. However, you should also be aware of the legal and ethical issues of downloading YouTube videos, and respect the work and rights of the video creators. You should also choose the best format and quality option for downloading YouTube videos, depending on your device’s compatibility, storage space, and viewing preference.
There are many methods to download YouTube videos on your device, such as using a web browser extension, a desktop software, or an online video downloader service. We have shown you how to download YouTube videos on your iPhone, Android, Mac, and PC using these methods. You can choose the method that suits your needs and preferences best.
