How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac: Ultimate Ways

Are you someone who travels a lot, struggles with a stable internet connection, or just needs to have videos ready on your Mac at all times? We’ve got you!

Here’s how to download YouTube videos on Mac for free or with a native built-in feature. In this guide, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for different tools, as well as answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Read also: How to Download Audio from YouTube on Mac: 8 Ways (Free & Paid) + 2 Bonus Ways

Am I Allowed to Download Videos From YouTube?

It’s key to distinguish between YouTube’s rules and the laws of the country where downloading takes place.

When you use YouTube, you agree to their terms. Terms of service state that you can’t access, copy, download, share, stream, show, sell, license, change, or otherwise use any part of the Service or any Content unless: (a) YouTube explicitly allows it; or (b) You have written permission from YouTube and the relevant rights holders.

In other words, YouTube clearly states that you can’t download videos without their permission. If you break these rules, YouTube can take action against you, such as banning your account or even pursuing legal action.

That said, YouTube has never taken legal action against individuals for downloading videos. They once thought about suing YouTube-MP3.org, a big video downloader site, for breaking their rules but didn’t go through with it when the site didn’t comply. Interestingly, YouTube-MP3.org closed down in 2017 after Sony Music and Warner Bros threatened it with a copyright lawsuit.

Is Downloading YouTube Videos Illegal?

So, what about the law? Are you breaking the law by downloading a video from YouTube?

The answer varies. For example, in the United States, copyright law makes it illegal to copy content without the copyright owner’s permission. This rule applies to both personal use and distributing or profiting from copies. In reality, the chances of facing criminal charges, especially as an individual, are very low.

With that said, YouTube provides a legal way to download videos with its Premium service. YouTube Premium is a subscription service YouTube has offered since 2018 (previously called YouTube Red). For a monthly fee, YouTube Premium provides several benefits: 

• Access to YouTube Music for streaming music;
• The ability to watch YouTube videos without ads and in higher quality;
• Most importantly, the option to download any video you want.

Because you have a built-in download feature, we can only assume that it’s okay to do so for personal use.

How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac Without Software

It’s very easy but it comes with a cost: a subscription fee. If you have YouTube Premium, here’s how you download the videos:

1. Go to the YouTube website and log in to your YouTube Premium account.
2. Find the video you want to save.
3. Click the Download button under the video.
4. When the video is downloaded, the download icon below the video will turn black.

If your internet connection drops while downloading, the download will automatically continue once you’re back online.

However, there are some limitations. You can only watch the downloaded videos on that computer. To view the videos, open the website again and click on Downloads in the left-hand menu. They can’t be transferred to an external drive or watched on a different device without downloading them again on that device while logged into your YouTube account. 

Also, downloaded videos expire after 30 days. To keep them, you need a connection to Wi-Fi at least once every 30 days while the subscription is active. In some places, you can watch content offline for up to 48 hours.

Read also: How to Get YouTube Music Premium for Free

How to Delete Downloaded Videos From YouTube Premium

Option one:

1. Under the video player, tap the Downloaded icon next to the video you want to remove.
2. Click Delete.

Option two:

1. Open your Downloads page.
2. Tap More next to the video you want to delete.
3. Click Remove from downloads.
4. Confirm by clicking Delete when asked “Delete all downloads?”

Other Options to Download YouTube Videos on Mac

4K Video Downloader Plus

For an alternative method, if you don’t have YouTube Premium or prefer not to use a web browser, you can use 4K Video Downloader Plus, a free tool to save audio and videos from dozens of platforms. Plus, you’ll get to keep the videos downloaded forever.

Here are the instructions for the tool: 

1. Open the 4K Video Downloader Plus app.
2. Copy the web address of the video you’d like to save.
3. Press the Paste Link button in the downloader.

4. Choose the format, quality, and where you want to save the file.
5. Click Download.

You can also use the app’s built-in browser to find and download YouTube videos directly without leaving it. Here’s how:

1. Start the 4K Video Downloader Plus app.
2. Click the search bar at the bottom.
3. Click the site icon you want to download from, which is YouTube for now. 
4. (Optional) Click Sign In and enter your credentials and sign in to your YouTube account. This will allow you to download your private videos and playlists, such as the Watch Later playlist.
5. Browse or search for the video you want. Use keywords like “music video” or “playlist” to narrow your search.
6. Open the content you want to save and click Download.
7. Pick your format and quality, then click Download again to start the video download immediately.

Good to Know: What Format Do YouTube Downloads Use?

For videos in 1080p HD or lower, the file format is usually MP4. Most likely, all your downloads will be in this format, and you can convert these files to other formats if needed.

For higher resolutions, like 4K or 8K, the format is MKV.

Save YouTube Videos on Mac with EaseUS

Another good tool to try is EaseUS. Give it a go for downloading your YouTube videos:

1. Download and open EaseUS Video Downloader for Mac.
2. Choose your desired format and quality for the video.
3. Go to YouTube, get the link to the video you want, and press Paste Link. The video will begin downloading by itself.
4. After the download is complete, click Open File Location to find and view your video.

Download Videos from YouTube on Mac with VLC Media Player

Believe it or not, VLC Media Player can download videos from YouTube. In fact, there are two options for doing it.

Option one:

1. Open VLC Media Player on your computer.
2. Copy the web address of the video you want to save.
3. Click on Media at the top, then select Open Network Stream.
4. Paste the video link into the field. Click the down arrow next to the play button and select Stream.
5. Click Next and choose a destination for the file by clicking Browse. Rename the file if needed.
6. Choose the format you want from the drop-down menu (e.g., MP4). Make sure you checked Activate Transcoding. Click Next.
7. Click Stream and wait for the video to download. It will be saved in the folder you selected.

Read also: How to Remove Background Music from a YouTube Video with the Erase Song Tool (+ Alternative Ways)

Option two: 

1. Click Media and then Convert/Save...
2. In the pop-up window, choose Network and paste the YouTube link. Instead of clicking Convert/Save, click the triangle next to it and select Play.
3. Once the video starts playing, go to Window > Codec Information.
4. Copy the location link and open it in a browser.
5. Right-click on the video and select Save Video As… or click the three dots in the video corner and choose Download. 

This will save the video to your computer.

Is There a YouTube App for Mac?

No, macOS does not have a dedicated YouTube app. However, you can install an in-browser app, which is possible for Windows, too.

Macs come with Safari, where you can’t install YouTube. To get the YouTube app, first install a browser like Chrome or Edge. Once installed, open the browser, go to YouTube, click the Install icon in the address bar, and confirm the installation.

Keepvid: An Online Tool to Save Videos

Keepvid is an online tool that lets you download videos to your computer by pasting the video link into the tool. Here’s how you use it on Mac:

1. Visit YouTube and grab the link of the video you want to save.
2. Go to Keepvid on your Mac and click the Download button.
3. After the site analyzes the video, you’ll see different download options for video quality and audio formats. Select what you need and click Download to save the video to your Mac.

SaveFromNet is a similar online tool that you can try, too.

Is There a Difference Between Downloading on a Mac Computer and a Mac Laptop?

No, there is absolutely no difference. Whether you’re using a Mac desktop or a Mac laptop, the process for downloading files, including videos from YouTube, is the same. Both types of Macs run the same operating system and applications, so follow the steps for downloading and saving files as listed here in this guide.

Bonus: Screen Recording

You can easily record a YouTube video on your Mac using the built-in QuickTime app. Here’s how:

1. Go to your Applications folder and look for QuickTime.
2. Open QuickTime, then click on File and select New Screen Recording.
3. Click on Options to choose where to save your recording and decide if you want to include your mouse pointer.
4. Open your browser and find the YouTube video you want to record.
5. Click the Record button in QuickTime.
6. Play the YouTube video in your browser.
7. When the video is finished, click the Stop Recording button in QuickTime.

Your recording will be saved to the location you selected.

Takeaway

That’s everything for today. If you have a Premium account, you can use the built-in download feature. If you don’t have Premium or it doesn’t seem convenient, try the desktop or online tools we recommended — 4K Video Downloader Plus, EaseUS, VLC Media Player, Keepvid, and SaveFromNet. 

It’s best to steer clear of dubious downloaders that aren’t listed here or that you’re not familiar with. Using unknown tools can lead to all sorts of problems and issues with your Mac.