YouTube is an online video-sharing platform that allows users to upload, watch, and interact with the videos. With 500 hours of video uploaded every minute and almost 2 billion users, it’s the world’s second most popular social media platform. With so many hours of content, some of it good, and some of it bad, it challenges the idea of traditional television, especially among younger generations.
Many people are tempted to save YouTube for a number of reasons. Some of them want to watch videos later on, when they don’t have access to the internet while traveling and want to keep themselves entertained. Others may want to use these videos to create their own. You probably have your favorite videos that you’d like to keep. So, have you ever wanted to download a video from YouTube? If yes, do you know how you can do it? If you want to find out, keep on reading!
IS IT LEGAL?
YouTube’s terms of service state that you can only stream videos directly from its servers. As such, using third-party apps or websites to download YouTube videos is against these terms. It would be best if you also remembered that whenever you download a YouTube video, you’re at risk of potential copyright infringement unless you’re the owner of the video, you have permission from the copyright holder, or the video is in the public domain. That being said, YouTube offers some ways in which you can download videos, mainly through its own apps and web service.
USING A FREE YOUTUBE VIDEO CONVERTER
You can start by looking for a YouTube video converter. There are numerous services like this online, and many of them are completely free! For example, BitDownloader is free software you can use to download videos from YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and many more. If you want to save a YouTube video, copy the link first. Then, paste the link to the video in the search box provided and click “Download” or the Enter key. The available downloads will be displayed to you. If you find the one you’re looking for, you can click the Download link and choose Download/Save as in order to save the video on your device.
As you can see, the process is very straightforward. However, remember to use reputable sites like BitDownloader. Otherwise, instead of downloading a YouTube video, all you can get is malware.
DOWNLOADING A YOUTUBE VIDEO WITH YOUTUBE PREMIUM
YouTube Premium is a safe option for downloading YouTube videos. It’s a paid service designed for computer and mobile devices. It’s known to be easy to use, and it’s available for users at any level of experience.
This service requires a monthly subscription. However, during this time, you can download as many videos as you’d like and you can watch them offline. What’s more, you can use the YouTube Music app and listen to music offline as well. Keep in mind that YouTube Premium only allows you to watch videos from within the app. Moreover, you’ll need to confirm that your subscription is valid every time after 48 hours. You won’t have access to videos in your downloads library offline unless you reconnect to the internet. Fortunately, YouTube offers a 1-month free trial period, so you can decide for yourself whether or not you like this service.
SAVING A YOUTUBE VIDEO USING A SCREEN RECORDER
Another way that can help you save a video from YouTube is by using a screen recorder. Screen recorders are designed to record anything on the screen of your device. These software programs are available on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, and are often installed by default, so you don’t have to look for additional software. As such, you can record your screen whenever you watch a YouTube video.
Major operating systems such as macOS, Windows, or Linux, have their own screen recorders. Even though their instructions are different for obvious reasons, the purpose remains the same. Feel free to look for specific instructions depending on your operating system. If you don’t want to try an online video converter or buy YouTube Premium, this method may be right for you.
When there’s a will, there’s a way! Even though you can’t download YouTube videos directly from the platform, there are other options that can help you save your favourite videos. Feel free to use any of the aforementioned methods and see which one you prefer the most. Remember to use reputable software and never use a video for commercial purposes without permission. That being said, enjoy!