Have you ever encountered a fantastic YouTube video and worried it might disappear someday? Geobokseon, a fellow Reddit user, recently asked, "What is the best way to save a video from YouTube? I'm afraid the owner of the channel may remove the video in the future, and I want to save a copy on my computer for myself." If the same problem bothers you, you seek the right place.
In this post, we will walk you through the process to save YouTube videos to PC and ensure you can quickly select the one that best meets your needs. Let's now explore different methods to properly save YouTube videos to computer!
Save YouTube Videos to PC Free
In this article
Part 1. How to Save YouTube Videos to Computer Free with Software
This section will demonstrate how to save YouTube videos to a computer using a video downloading tool. Following the guidelines, you can save YouTube videos on your computer's hard drive for watching later. Before starting, remember that downloading videos without the creator's permission goes against YouTube's rules. Always respect copyright laws and only download videos for personal use or with permission.
1. UniConverter
UniConverter lets you save videos between 1000+ formats and devices at 30X faster speeds, including YouTube. Moreover, you can get perfect quality results even in Ultra HD, 3D, or VR without missing key frames or issues. You can save videos from popular sites like YouTube and watch them offline in just one-click. You can also convert them to a format suitable for your computer, TV, smartphone, or other devices.
How to save YouTube videos to PC (Mac/Windows):
Step 1. Visit and download UniConverter. After downloading, install UniConverter on your PC and launch it.
Step 2. The UniConverter platform will appear, go to the "Downloader."
Step 3. Click the URL + button, then paste the YouTube link you want to save.
Note: You can input multiple URLs if you have multiple videos to save. Also, Uniconverter provided steps to guide you in saving the video to make it easier for you.
Step 4. Paste the URL and choose the video format you want before selecting the "Download" button. Please have patience as UniConverter will analyze and save the video.
Note: UniConverter allows you to see how large the video is and how long it will take to get the video.
Step 5. Finally, open the file location and you will see the videos from YouTube are already saved.
2. ClipGrab
ClipGrab is a free app for saving YouTube videos on your computer, allowing you to choose your preferred resolution. With the search tab, finding a specific video to save is simple. You don't need to hunt for content in your web browser. However, the search function shows only 12 results simultaneously, which might be expanded in future updates.
Here’s how to use ClipGrab to save YouTube clips to computer:
Step 1. Download and install ClipGrab from its official website. During installation, you'll be prompted to install other apps like McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the "Skip All" button to avoid this.
Note: If prompted to get youtube-dlp, allow it. Then, go to the Downloads tab.
Step 2. Copy and paste the YouTube URL to save into the top text field. ClipGrab will take a few seconds to fetch available resolutions from YouTube.
Step 3. Select the format and resolution from the Format and Quality fields, or leave them in the default settings. If you leave the format as "original," most videos will download as MP4s.
Step 4. Click Grab this clip! And choose a file location. The download status will appear in the Current Downloads field. After the download finishes, the file will be located in the location you chose.
3. VLC Media Player
VLC is a free media player that lets you save any video on YouTube to your computer. To be sure, quite a several people use VLC; well, it is a media player able to play almost every video format without seeking additional codecs. Most people are surprised to learn that VLC can preserve videos, including YouTube videos.
Here's how to use VLC Media Player to save YouTube videos to your computer:
Step 1. Visit VLC Media Player and download.
Step 2. Once set up, copy the YouTube video URL you want to download.
Step 3. Open VLC and look for the Media menu. Select Open Network Stream.
Step 4. Paste the URL into the Network URL box and click Play. The video should start playing in VLC if everything is working correctly.
Step 5. Go to the Tools and select the “Codec Information” button.
Step 6. In the Codec section, copy the URL location.
Step 7. Lastly, paste the URL location to the browser to redirect to the video. Once redirected, right-click and choose the “Save Video As” option. You will be redirected to the link then hit “Save.”
Part 3. How to Save a YouTube Video on PC with Browser Extension
Using browser extensions is also a good option to save videos from YouTube to pc. These tools link directly to your web browser, adding convenient download options to the videos you want to save.
How you can use browser extensions to save YouTube clips to computer:
Step 1. Choose a reliable browser extension for video downloads, like YouTube Video Downloader.
Step 2. Install the extension in your browser then install it. Please follow the onscreen directions.
Step 3. Find the YouTube video you want to save. The extension usually adds a download button below or next to the video.
Step 4. Click the download button. A menu may appear with options for different video resolutions or formats. Select the one you want.
Step 5. Begin the download by selecting the "Download" button or an equivalent option.
After the download, the movie is normally located in your browser's download folder. Drag it out to your pc.
Part 4. How to Save Videos from YouTube to PC with Online Tools
Aside from softwares, using online tools to save YouTube videos to computer is quick and easy. These web-based services don't require software installation and let you download videos directly from your browser. But remember, be careful on any website you will use to save YouTube videos as they may contain some viruses. Here's how to do it.
1. Mediamister
Media Mister is a simple utility that allows you to instantly store films from YouTube. You can also select a resolution like HD, Full HD, 4K, etc. But take note that quality depends on the video. Let's observe how Media Mister preserves a video from YouTube.
Step 1. Go to the video you wish to save from YouTube and duplicate its URL.
Step 2. Paste the URL into the "Enter YouTube Video URL" field on Media Mister's website. Make sure the URL format is correct.
Step 3. Click "Find Video."
Step 4. Wait a few moments for the website to show different quality options for the video. This allows you to choose from all the available qualities for the original video.
Step 5. Click "Download" for your preferred quality option, and the download will start.
2. SSYouTube
SSSYouTube is an easy-to-use web solution for saving YouTube videos to your computer rapidly. This tool is free and does not require registration to preserve privacy. Here's a quick guide for using YouTube:
Step 1. Copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to download
Step 2. Please visit the YouTube website and insert the URL.
Step 3. Select your desired format (MP4, MP3, etc.) and quality. Lastly, click the download button.
Conclusion
Saving YouTube videos to your PC is easy with the methods mentioned in this article. All you need to do is follow the procedure provided to avoid mistakes. And, take note also the YouTube policies and use YouTube videos for personal use. Among all the methods mentioned above, UniConverter is definitely the best choice for you, since it enables to save high-quality YouTube videos with high speed. Enjoy your favorite videos offline anytime!
FAQs about Saving YouTube Videos to Computer
Is it legal to save YouTube videos?
Downloading videos without authorization violates YouTube's terms of service. Always adhere to copyright rules and only download videos for personal use or with the creator's consent.
Is it possible to save YouTube videos in different resolutions?
Some tools allow users to get videos in different high-definition formats like HD, Full HD, and 4K. However, the available quality depends on the original video.
Why can't I download some YouTube videos?
Some YouTube videos are copyright-protected or subject to uploader limitations. Ensure you have permission to save content and respect YouTube’s terms of service.
