Download YouTube Videos on Your Laptop Easily and Quickly
How to Download YouTube Videos on Your Laptop
YouTube is one of the most popular and diverse platforms for watching and sharing videos online. You can find anything from music, movies, tutorials, news, entertainment, and more on YouTube. But sometimes, you might want to download YouTube videos on your laptop for offline viewing, backup, editing, or sharing. For example, you might want to watch your favorite videos when you don't have internet access, save some educational or inspirational videos for future reference, or create your own video mashups or compilations.
However, downloading YouTube videos is not as easy as it sounds. You need to use some tools or methods that can help you save the videos from YouTube to your laptop. Moreover, you need to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks of downloading YouTube videos, as well as the legal and ethical issues involved. In this article, we will show you three different methods that you can use to download YouTube videos on your laptop, along with their pros and cons. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about downloading YouTube videos at the end of the article.
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Method 1: Using Open Video Downloader on a Computer
What is Open Video Downloader and how does it work
Open Video Downloader is a free open source downloading tool that makes it easy to download any YouTube video on Windows and macOS. It is based on youtube-dl, a command-line program that can download videos from various websites. Open Video Downloader provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for youtube-dl, which means you don't have to type any commands or codes to use it. You just need to paste the URL of the YouTube video that you want to download, choose the format and quality that you prefer, and click the download button.
How to install and use Open Video Downloader
To install and use Open Video Downloader on your computer, follow these steps:
Go to https://jely2002.github.io/youtube-dl-gui and download the latest version of Open Video Downloader for your operating system.
Run the installer file and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Launch Open Video Downloader from your desktop or start menu.
Open your web browser and go to YouTube. Find the video that you want to download and copy its URL from the address bar.
Paste the URL into the input box in Open Video Downloader.
Select the format and quality that you want from the drop-down menus. You can choose from MP4, WEBM, MKV, MP3, M4A, OGG, or WAV formats, and from 144p to 4K resolutions.
Click the Download button at the bottom right corner of the window.Wait for the download to finish. You can see the progress and speed of the download in the window.
Once the download is complete, you can find the downloaded video file in the output folder that you specified during the installation. You can also open the output folder by clicking the Open Folder button in Open Video Downloader.
Pros and cons of Open Video Downloader
Open Video Downloader is a simple and effective tool for downloading YouTube videos on your laptop. Here are some of the pros and cons of using it:
Pros
Cons
- It is free and open source, which means you don't have to pay anything or worry about malware or ads.
- It requires installation, which might take some time and space on your computer.
- It supports multiple formats and qualities, which gives you more options and flexibility.
- It does not have a built-in video player, which means you have to use another program to watch the downloaded videos.
- It can download videos from other websites besides YouTube, such as Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and more.
- It does not have a batch download feature, which means you have to download one video at a time.
Method 2: Using YouTube Premium on a Computer
What is YouTube Premium and how does it work
YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that offers several benefits for YouTube users, such as ad-free viewing, background play, offline access, and more. One of the features of YouTube Premium is that it allows you to download YouTube videos on your laptop for offline viewing. You can download up to 100 videos at a time and watch them without an internet connection for up to 30 days. You can also choose the quality of the downloaded videos from 144p to 1080p.
How to sign up and use YouTube Premium
To sign up and use YouTube Premium on your computer, follow these steps:
Go to https://www.youtube.com/premium and click the Try it Free button. You will need a Google account to sign up for YouTube Premium.
Choose a payment method and enter your billing information. You will get a one-month free trial before you are charged for the subscription. You can cancel anytime before the trial ends if you don't want to continue with YouTube Premium.
Once you are subscribed, go to YouTube and find the video that you want to download. Click the Download button below the video player.
Select the quality that you want from the pop-up menu. The higher the quality, the more space it will take on your computer.
Wait for the download to finish. You can see the progress and status of the download in the Downloads tab on the left sidebar of YouTube.
Once the download is complete, you can find the downloaded video in the Downloads tab. You can also access your downloaded videos by clicking your profile icon at the top right corner of YouTube and selecting Downloads from the menu.
Pros and cons of YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium is a convenient and official way to download YouTube videos on your laptop. Here are some of the pros and cons of using it:
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Pros
Cons
- It is easy and safe to use, as you don't have to install any software or visit any third-party websites.
- It is expensive, as it costs $11.99 per month or $119.88 per year in the US (prices may vary in other countries).
- It offers other benefits besides downloading videos, such as ad-free viewing, background play, offline access, YouTube Music Premium, and more.
- It has some limitations, such as a maximum of 100 videos per device, a 30-day expiration period for downloaded videos, and no support for 4K resolution or higher.
- It works seamlessly with YouTube, as you can access your downloaded videos from any device that is signed in with your Google account.
- It only works with YouTube, as you cannot download videos from other websites or platforms with YouTube Premium.
Method 3: Using Online Video Converters on a Computer
What are online video converters and how do they work
Online video converters are Online video converters are websites that can convert and download YouTube videos to various formats and qualities. They are web-based, which means you don't have to install any software or register any account to use them. You just need to enter the URL of the YouTube video that you want to download, choose the output format and quality that you want, and click the convert or download button. Some of the popular online video converters are Y2Mate, Online Video Converter, Clip Converter, and KeepVid.
How to use online video converters
To use online video converters on your computer, follow these steps:
Open your web browser and go to YouTube. Find the video that you want to download and copy its URL from the address bar.
Go to one of the online video converter websites, such as https://y2mate.com, https://www.onlinevideoconverter.com, https://www.clipconverter.cc, or https://keepvid.ch.
Paste the URL into the input box on the website.
Select the format and quality that you want from the available options. You can choose from MP4, WEBM, 3GP, MP3, M4A, AAC, and more formats, and from 144p to 4K resolutions.
Click the convert or download button on the website.
Wait for the conversion or download to finish. You can see the progress and status of the process on the website.
Once the conversion or download is complete, you can find the downloaded video file on your computer. Depending on the website, you may have to right-click on the download link and select Save As or Save Link As to save the file.
Pros and cons of online video converters
Online video converters are a quick and easy way to download YouTube videos on your laptop. Here are some of the pros and cons of using them:
Pros
Cons
- They are free and web-based, which means you don't have to pay anything or install any software to use them.
- They may have ads or pop-ups that can be annoying or harmful to your computer.
- They support multiple formats and qualities, which gives you more options and flexibility.
- They may have some limitations, such as a maximum file size, a maximum number of downloads per day, or a slow speed.
- They can download videos from other websites besides YouTube, such as Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, and more.
- They may not be reliable or secure, as they may not work properly or may contain viruses or malware.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you three different methods that you can use to download YouTube videos on your laptop. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best. Here are some tips and recommendations for downloading YouTube videos:
- Always check the terms of service and privacy policy of the websites or tools that you use to download YouTube videos. Some of them may violate YouTube's terms of service or infringe on the rights of the content creators.
- Always respect the intellectual property and fair use of the YouTube videos that you download. Do not use them for commercial purposes or distribute them without permission from the owners.
- Always scan the downloaded files with an antivirus program before opening them. Some of them may contain viruses or malware that can harm your computer.
- Always delete the downloaded files after you watch them or back them up somewhere else. This will save space on your computer and prevent cluttering.
We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any feedback or questions about downloading YouTube videos on your laptop, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
FAQs
Is it legal to download YouTube videos?
The legality of downloading YouTube videos depends on several factors, such as where you live, what kind of videos you download, how you use them, and whether you have permission from the owners. Generally speaking, downloading YouTube videos for personal use is not illegal, as long as you do not violate YouTube's terms of service or infringe on the rights of the content creators. However, downloading YouTube videos for commercial purposes or distributing them without permission from the owners is illegal, as it violates YouTube's terms of service and infringes on the rights of the content creators. Therefore, you should always check the legal status of the videos that you want to download and use them responsibly and ethically.
Is it safe to download YouTube videos?
The safety of downloading YouTube videos depends on the websites or tools that you use to download them. Some of them may be safe and secure, while others may be unsafe and harmful. Some of the risks of downloading YouTube videos from unsafe sources are:
- You may download viruses or malware that can damage your computer or steal your personal information.
- You may download corrupted or incomplete files that can cause errors or crashes on your computer.
- You may download unwanted or inappropriate content that can offend or disturb you.
Therefore, you should always use reputable and reliable websites or tools to download YouTube videos. You should also scan the downloaded files with an antivirus program before opening them. You should also avoid clicking on any suspicious links or pop-ups that may appear on the websites or tools that you use to download YouTube videos.
How can I download YouTube videos without software?
One of the ways to download YouTube videos without software is to use online video converters, as we have explained in Method 3 above. Another way to download YouTube videos without software is to use a browser extension or add-on that can enable you to download YouTube videos directly from your web browser. Some of the popular browser extensions or add-ons for downloading YouTube videos are Video DownloadHelper, SaveFrom.net Helper, and Easy YouTube Video Downloader Express. However, you should be careful when using browser extensions or add-ons, as some of them may not be compatible with your browser or may contain malware or ads.
How can I download YouTube videos faster?
The speed of downloading YouTube videos depends on several factors, such as the size and quality of the video, the speed and stability of your internet connection, and the performance and capacity of your computer. To download YouTube videos faster, you can try some of these tips:
- Choose a lower quality or resolution for the video that you want to download, as it will reduce the file size and the download time.
- Use a wired connection instead of a wireless connection, as it will provide a faster and more stable internet speed.
- Close any other programs or tabs that are running on your computer, as they may consume bandwidth or resources and slow down the download process.
- Use a download manager program that can accelerate and resume downloads, such as Internet Download Manager, Free Download Manager, or JDownloader.
How can I download YouTube videos in high quality?
The quality of the downloaded YouTube videos depends on the quality and resolution of the original YouTube videos, as well as the format and quality that you choose for the output file. To download YouTube videos in high quality, you can try some of these tips:
- Choose a higher quality or resolution for the video that you want to download, such as 1080p, 2K, or 4K. However, keep in mind that higher quality or resolution will also increase the file size and the download time.
- Choose a format that supports high quality and resolution, such as MP4, WEBM, or MKV. However, keep in mind that some formats may not be compatible with some devices or players.
- Use a website or tool that can download YouTube videos in high quality and resolution, such as Open Video Downloader (Method 1) or online video converters (Method 3).