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Best YouTube Music Downloader for Mac
Download music from YouTube to Mac with ease:
  • Effortless YouTube URL Copying.
  • Rapid Video Link Submission.
  • Speedy Video/Audio Downloading and Converting.

Note: We resolutely oppose all forms of copyright-infringing downloads. This tutorial is only for downloading videos/audio materials from your own channel.

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How to Download Music from YouTube to Mac (Free & Premium Methods)

Julia Becker
Julia Becker Originally published Feb 19, 25, updated Feb 21, 25

YouTube offers endless playlists and recommendations, making it a top choice for music lovers. Many Mac users seek ways to save music to their devices for offline listening. They also tend to save their favorite tracks for background audio insertion in content creation projects.

However, it is important to consider copyright rules and platform policies when saving content from these sites. This article explores the free and premium methods to download music from YouTube on Mac while ensuring legal compliance.

download music from youtube to mac

note
Copyright Disclaimer:
  • The tools listed are for downloading publicly available or non-copyrighted content only.
  • Downloading copyrighted material without permission is illegal and violates YouTube's Terms of Service. Always ensure you have proper authorization and respect content creators' rights.
  • The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. We are not responsible for any misuse of the tools or software mentioned herein.
  • In this article

    Part 1. Download Music from YouTube to Mac with YouTube Premium

    In this section of the article, we will have a walkthrough of all the aspects of saving audio from the streaming platform using its premium subscription:

    What is YouTube Premium?

    It is a subscription service that enhances the content consumption experience by offering a video-watching experience without ads. Individuals who use this utility can watch content without interruptions, even while using other apps or when the screen is locked. Additionally, it enables offline video and music downloads, making it convenient for users to enjoy content anywhere.

    How to Download YouTube Music Mac with YouTube Premium?

    As discussed, this famous streaming site offers the utility of saving your favorite music to your Mac device using its premium version. To learn how to execute YouTube music download Mac, read the steps mentioned below:

    Step 1. Firstly, acquire the YouTube app on your device or head to the website using the web browser. Next, sign in to your Premium account by entering your credentials.

    download youtube music mac youtube premium

    Step 2. Search for the song or playlist by typing in the search bar and clicking on the desired video after the successful login. Now, locate the “Download” button below the video and click on it to proceed forward.

    download songs from youtube to mac

    Step 3. Head to the “Library” tab and press the “Downloads” button to find the downloaded music after the download is successfully executed.

    locate youtube music download mac premium

    Pros
    • You can listen to music without annoying ads interrupting your music-listening experience.
    • It provides various audio quality options, ensuring better sound clarity and enhanced listening experience.
    • Downloading music through YouTube Premium follows copyright laws, ensuring you access content legally.
    Cons
    • You need a paid subscription to access the perks and functionalities, which may not be ideal for budget-conscious individuals.
    • This streaming site does not allow exporting downloads as MP3 files, restricting users from listening to music without video.  
    Note: The music downloaded through the site is tied to the YouTube app along with the video and is not in MP3 format. You can utilize other YouTube music downloaders for Mac to save YouTube music to MP3 form.

    Part 2. The Best YouTube Music Downloader for Mac

    If you are looking for an all-in-one YouTube music downloader Mac that lets you download music from streaming platforms in multiple formats, use Wondershare UniConverter. The dedicated downloading feature offered by this platform helps users save their content in the original quality. Users can extract the audio from video and save them in more than 10 formats to repurpose the content for multiple purposes.

    Besides YouTube downloading, this multimedia solution offers downloading media from more than 1000 sites. Once you have saved the desired content using this YouTube song downloader for Mac, you can perform other enhancement functions on it as well.

    uniconverter video converter

    Best YouTube Music Downloader for Mac

    Effortlessly save and convert YouTube music on your Mac for offline listening and more.

    Guide To Download YouTube Music on Mac Using UniConverter

    After learning about what UniConverter is, let us now discover the procedure of saving audio from the streaming platform using this efficient tool:

    Step 1. Start by Accessing The Downloader Feature

    After you have launched the UniConverter tool on your device, explore its homepage. Now, click the “Downloader” tab to proceed forward with the process in the following interface.

    download music from youtube to mac uniconverter

    Step 2. Copy the Video URL and Paste it to the Tool’ Interface

    Head to YouTube and copy the video link for which you need the audio. Navigate to UniConverter, paste the link within the text box provided within the interface, and select the “Audio” option from the drop-down menu located on the left of the textbox. Once done, click the “Download” button to command the tool for process execution.

    add url and choose audio 

    Step 3. Locate the Downloaded File Under the Finished Tab

    Head to the "Finished" tab to locate the result file once the process is successfully completed. Now, expand the drop-down menu on the right and choose "Download Audio" to save the music to your device.

    download song from youtube to mac uniconverter

    Advantages of Using UniConverter For Music Download

    1. Batch Music Saving: It allows users to download songs from YouTube to Mac in bulk, greatly saving time.
    2. File Format Conversion: You can easily convert the audio into 10 formats after downloading your favorite music from YouTube using Wondershare UniConverter.
    3. Audio Editing: It provides basic audio editing tools, letting you trim, cut, or merge tracks once you have saved them using this YouTube music downloader for Mac.
    4. Compression Without Quality Loss: If you’re concerned about file size, UniConverter lets you compress your downloaded music without losing audio quality.
    5. Precise Vocal Remover: Whether you want to create an instrumental version for karaoke or background music, you can extract vocals from the downloaded tracks.

    Part 3. Download YouTube Music on Mac with Command-line Tools

    If you are a tech-savvy individual and want to download YouTube music directly from your Mac device without downloading any tool, you can utilize the command-line utility. With the package manager offered by the system, Homebrew, you can easily incorporate apps that are not available on your device. To use a more systematic technique for downloading audio from YouTube, try this utility.

    Steps for Downloading YouTube Music With Command-line

    As discussed, users can download their favorite music using this YouTube music downloader for Mac the right way. Read the following steps to learn how to save the audio from your favorite streaming platform using the command line:

    Step 1. Type the text "Terminal.app" and select the "Terminal" option after accessing the terminal window using the "Command +Space" keys.

    launch terminal on mac

    Step 2. Now, head to the Homebrew official site and copy the link located within the interface using the “Copy” icon.

    get homebrew link and proceed

    Step 3. Moving forward, paste the copied link to the terminal window and hit the “Enter” key. Follow further instructions provided by the system and wait for it to display the installation successful notification.

    add link to terminal and continue

    Step 4. Once Homebrew is installed on your device, open the terminal again and input the “brew install youtube-dl” command. Next, hit the “Enter” key on your keyboard to execute the yt-dl installation.

    hit enter key after adding commands

    Step 5. After the successful installation of yt-dl, head to YouTube and copy the video link. Now head back to the terminal and paste the copied video link following the “Enter” key press.

    continue by adding YouTube music link

    Step 6. Different links to download the video will be generated within the terminal. To save the audio of the specific video, enter the respective command with the video link. The audio download will start in the background as soon as you press the “Enter” key.

    youtube music mp3 download mac terminal

    Pros
    • The utility is completely free and open-source, allowing users to download music without a paid subscription.
    • Unlike bulky applications, this command-line tool consumes minimal system resources, enabling quick and efficient audio downloads.
    Cons
    • This tool operates through the terminal, which may be challenging for users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces.
    • The utility only downloads audio files but does not provide an integrated music player.

    Part 4. Download Song From YouTube to Mac Online

    To make the download process more instant, utilize a YouTube song downloader Mac online such as YTMP3 using the Mac browser. This online platform allows users to convert YouTube videos into MP3 or MP4 files quickly and efficiently. Whether you want to extract music, save podcasts, or download audio for offline listening, it provides a straightforward solution. Users can download music from lengthy videos having a duration of up to 60 minutes through this utility.

    Tutorial for Downloading Music from YouTube Online Using YTMP3

    This tool processes conversions in just a few seconds, allowing users to download their desired audio files almost instantly. Provided below are the steps for downloading audio from online videos using this platform:

    Step 1. To initiate the process, head to its official site and access its homepage. Copy the video link from YouTube and paste it into the text box located within the platform’s interface. Select the format as MP3 and press the “Convert” button to begin the process.

    add link and convert through ytmp3

    Step 2. Once the conversion is processed successfully, press the “Download” button to save the output to your device.

    youtube song download mac online ytmp3

    Pros
    • The platform features an intuitive interface for conversion, making it easy for beginners to extract audio.
    • It provides unlimited music conversions at no cost, making it an accessible and budget-friendly utility.
    Cons
    • It contains advertisements and occasional pop-ups, which can disrupt the user’s experience.
    • Unlike advanced downloaders, it limits users to basic conversions without customizable bitrate options.

    Part 5. Download Music From YouTube for Mac Via Browser Extension

    Accessing the audio from a YouTube video can be a challenging process as some platforms have limitations and restrictions. While browser extension could be a convenient way to save media, Chrome Web Store no longer supports direct YouTube downloads due to policy changes. This makes it difficult for users who prefer quick, browser-based solutions.

    As a result, third-party websites and dedicated software such as UniConverter have become the best alternatives for YouTube downloading music on Mac.

    FAQs about YouTube Music Download Mac

    1. How do I put music from YouTube on Mac desktop?

    To download music from this site, you can use online converters and third-party software for reliable and efficient audio saving.

    2. How do I convert YouTube videos to MP3 on Mac?

    You can convert YouTube videos to MP3 on Mac using a dedicated downloader or converter. Wondershare UniConverter is a reliable tool that supports high-speed YouTube-to-MP3 conversion.

    3. Is there a free YouTube MP3 downloader for Mac?

    Yes, several free YouTube MP3 downloaders are available for Mac, including online converters and software tools. You should try Wondershare UniConverter, which offers a free trial version to convert YouTube videos to MP3 efficiently.

    Conclusion

    To wrap it up, this article discussed how YouTube Premium allows you to download music while refraining from copyright infringement. It also discussed various methods to download music from YouTube to Mac through which you can easily save audio from online videos. When downloading media from YouTube, it’s essential to respect copyright laws and support artists.

    Overall, Wondershare UniConverter stands out as one of the safest and most efficient options, offering a wide range of features for seamless audio and video downloads. Its versatility ensures high-quality results while maintaining compliance with digital content policies. You are suggested to try the above-discussed method as per your needs and share your experience with us by commenting below.

    Julia Becker
    Julia Becker Feb 21, 25
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