YouTube is the most popular platform in the world, where millions of users can upload and watch videos of various genres and topics. However, despite its free access and diverse content, this platform does not enable users to download videos directly to their Mac or other devices. This is particularly desirable for users who want to watch videos offline when they are traveling, relaxing, or entertaining their children. So, if you are seeking to know how to download YouTube videos on Mac, then you are at the right place.
What is the best YouTube video downloader for Mac?
Although YouTube allows downloading videos on their premium version and watching them offline, they are limited to staying for only 30 days on the app, and the feature is not available on Mac or PC. Instead, downloading YouTube videos with third-party tools on your own Mac will let you decide how you want to store those videos and how long they will be saved on your device. You might find so many software, websites, and plugins that offer such a feature to convert YouTube videos to MP4 on Mac. The issue is that not everyone is reliable. This might lead you to tremble with fear of losing device integrity. Especially when you are asked to download a flash file while using the tool in need. So, whatever tool you use to rip YouTube videos must be built with a clean interface, secured, easy to access, and able to provide high-end output. In this write-up, we will discuss the best possible ways to download YouTube videos on your Mac safely and easily.
How to download YouTube videos from Mac | Three ways
With so many restrictions and limitations, it seems challenging to download YouTube videos with audio directly on your device, but the ways we are going to tell you here will make the task fairly easy to accomplish. In our opinion, the best approach is to use an online platform known for direct access to downloading tools, but most of them are cluttered with intrusive ads and cookies. Don't worry, though; we have found a reliable and ad-free online platform that simplifies the process. Additionally, you can download YouTube videos with the VLC media player or capture them with audio on your Mac.
Method - 1: Saving YouTube video to Mac using online downloaders
It is the most straightforward and speedy method to convert YouTube videos to MP4 on Mac and download them directly to your hard drive. However, finding the best 4K YouTube video downloader for Mac can be confusing, considering the myriad of options available. In this tutorial, not only will we delve into the detailed procedure of downloading YouTube videos on Mac using the Smooth Downloader and Instafinsta, but we'll also recommend a couple more tools to ensure you choose the one that best fits your needs.
How to download YouTube videos on Mac using Smoothdownloader:
Launch your preferred browser and navigate to Smoothdownloader's YouTube video downloader to kickstart the process. Once there, paste the URL link of your desired YouTube video and click on "Get the video info." This action prompts the site to display the video metadata, ensuring that you're downloading the exact content you've selected on YouTube. Once you've confirmed the selection, click the download button to initiate the download process. Here's the step-by-step breakdown:
- Find the YouTube video you want to download.
- Copy the URL of the video.
- Navigate to the Smoothdownloader YouTube downloader.
- Paste the URL into the input box on the website.
- Select the button named "Get the video info."
- Click on the "Download the video" button to download the video.
- Click "Download" from the three icons located on the video to initiate the download process and save the video to your Mac.
How to download YouTube videos on Mac with YTdown:
If you're seeking a platform specifically designed for downloading content from YouTube, YTdown stands out as an excellent alternative. This platform simplifies the process by just pasting the YouTube link into the provided input field, clicking the "Get the video info" button to reveal the video details, and initiating the download process by clicking the "Download the YouTube video" button. For a comprehensive understanding of the entire process, follow the steps outlined below:
- Find the YouTube video you want to download.
- Open your browser and get the link to the YouTube video.
- Put the YouTube video link in the box displayed on the YTdown website.
- Click on "Get the video info" to extract the video info.
- Next, press the "Download the YouTube video" to start the download process.
- Finally, click on the three-dot icon and press "Download" to download the file on your device.
In addition to the two websites mentioned, you can also utilize Ytconvert or YTmp3converteronline. Each of these platforms is completely free and devoid of any ads, cookies, or puzzling redirects while using the tool.
Method - 2: Downloading YouTube videos on Mac with the VLC media player
When asked to suggest the best media player for any platform, VLC undoubtedly comes to mind as one of the top choices. Interestingly, this media player also has the capability to download videos from YouTube, although the process isn't as straightforward as using online YouTube downloaders. However, since we're exploring different methods for downloading YouTube videos, we'll also cover this method. Nonetheless, we still recommend online platforms as the most convenient way when answering the ways how to download YouTube videos on Mac.
- Install the VLC media player on your Mac if you haven't already.
- Launch VLC media player.
- Access the "Media" menu and select "Open Network...".
- Paste the YouTube video link into the network URL box.
- Click "Open" to begin streaming the video.
- Navigate to "Tools" > "Codec information...".
- Copy the link given in the Location on the Codec information tab
- Now, Paste the link on your browser's address bar
- Next, click on the three-dot icon and choose "Download the save video as MP4" on your Mac.
Method - 3: Capturing YouTube videos with sounds using the keyboard shortcut
Here's a native way to rip videos from YouTube on a Mac without using any additional tools, software, or even a browser. This method involves screen recording the YouTube video directly on your Mac, capturing both video and audio. While this process is hassle-free, it does have its drawbacks. One major downside is that you have to play the entire video, which can be time-consuming and frustrating for longer videos. Additionally, the quality of both the video and audio may be downgraded compared to the original file format. Below are more detailed steps on how to download YouTube videos on Mac using the screen recording feature.
- Open the YouTube video you wish to capture in your web browser.
- Play the video.
- Press Command + Shift + 5 to access the screenshot toolbar.
- Select either "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion."
- Click "Options" to configure audio input settings (usually "Internal Microphone" for capturing system audio).
- Start the recording process by clicking "Record".
- Stop the recording once it is done by pressing the stop button in the menu bar or pressing Command + Control + Esc.
- The captured video with sound will be saved to your desktop by default.
How to convert YouTube video to audio files?
Using Smoothdownloader, you can extract audio from any YouTube video and save that in your preferred file format. For that, you need to grab the link of the YouTube video and put it into the input field > choose the file format from the drop-down menu like MP3, FLAC, AAC, OGG, etc. > press "get the file info" button > Click "Download the file"> click on the three-dot icon and choose "Download" to save the audio file on your device.
What is the best YouTube thumbnail grabber for Mac?
One of the best YouTube downloaders available is YTmp3converteronline. This website stands out for its user-friendly interface, efficient extraction process, and commitment to ensuring safety and security. Unlike many other platforms, it effectively avoids unwanted ads, providing a seamless experience for users.
How to save a YouTube short as MP4?
YTdown is the best YouTube shorts to MP4 converter. This tool is free and doesn't require installing any app, software, or extension on your device. Most importantly, the site is safe without displaying pesky ads or popping up cookies. To download the YouTube shorts, paste the link in the editable box > click the "get the video info" button > Click "download the shorts as MP4"> click on the three-dot icon and select "Download."
Original Source of the original story >> How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac
