Download YouTube Videos on Android, iPhone, and Desktop for Free

Do you wonder how to download YouTube videos and music?  Ever tried to do so but in vain? No worries! Now, you can learn to easily download any YouTube videos. You can learn about it in simple ways using your phone or laptops from this blog post.

YouTube is a video sharing platform and is the #1 popular video sharing site. YouTube had always become one of the best websites for video surfing. We can easily search for different videos, music, trending news, tutorials, and so on. And that too along with one’s creativity. Nowadays people are gaining popularity via YouTube by uploading records of their videos, shows, events, and other more.

It’s incredibly annoying when videos we like on YouTube gets removed. To avert such a condition you should better save a copy of it. What I mean is, simply, download it. Yes! from YouTube. Sometimes you may want to listen to any songs, watch videos and learn tutorials offline. We have a realistic solution for that. Download those YouTube videos.

You can download videos from YouTube on your phone or laptop. That also via apps or no apps. Read below to learn how.

Download YouTube Videos from Phone

Download YouTube videos on phone using an app.

Present days, more than 90% of people have got smartphones on their hands. Now you can enjoy watching YouTube videos offline on your smartphones. You can make up for it either by using apps or without using apps.

Download Without Using Apps

Is this possible? Check out the below methods.

Method 1: Download YouTube videos via ssyoutube.com 

Do you believe in downloading online videos without an add-on? Well, here we will make you learn how. You can easily download videos just by following these steps:

Step 1: Firstly, you should visit your YouTube app on your phone.

Step 2: Search for your video. Type the name/ title of videos on the search bar at the top. Then click the search icon. It will display related videos and contents. Tap to open the appropriate one.

Step 3: Play the selected video and check whether is it the same or not. After then look for the ‘Share’ button below the video.

Share option in YouTube
Tap on ‘Share’ option to explore sharing options on YouTube.

Step 4: Tap the ‘Share’ button below and you will see an option to copy the link.

Step 5:  Click the ‘Copy link’ option. It will copy the link to your video. After that, visit the Google Chrome browser on your phone.

Step 6: Open a new tab in chrome and just paste the copied link in the search box.

paste the copies URL on browser
Paste the copies URL on a web browser

Step 7: Now you will be able to see your video in the browser.

Step 8: After the video starts playing, tap on the video link at the URL. Move the cursor ahead the letter “y” of ‘youtube.com’.

Step 9: Add ‘ss’ to the video URL in the same place before ‘youtube.com’ and tap enter. It will launch a video downloading process. Here you will see the download options to download videos.

Did I confuse you? Here’s an example. Take a look.

Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKcmLlSbabg

URL with ‘ss’: https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=GKcmLlSbabg

Step 10: Select the format and quality and tap on ‘Download’. Your download will begin in a short time.

Note: This method is also applicable for laptops and desktops to download videos.

Method 2: Download Offline on YouTube

This method is quite easier than the first method. However, if you want to share the downloaded video with anybody else then you can’t do that. Using this method you can only watch your downloaded video up to 30 days. The available period will be extended to another 30 days if connected to the internet. Thus this method is appropriate only for a short period if you have no internet access later.

You can learn this method in 3 easy steps below:

Step 1: At first, visit your YouTube app on your phone. Then search for the videos you like to download. Click on the search icon and open the video.

Step 2: Play the selected video.

Offline download on YouTube
Tap on ‘Download’ to save the video offline on YouTube.

Step 3: Click the ‘Download’ option below the video. Then the video will be downloaded in a while.

Once the video has completed downloading, you can find it in ‘Downloads’. It is available in ‘Library’ on the YouTube phone app.

By this easy method, you can enjoy your favourite movies or videos later. Even without an internet connection. Indeed at any time and place. This option is available only on the YouTube app, usually pre-installed on your phone.

Download videos using the app

Some YouTube videos can’t be downloaded directly unless download button or link is shown by YouTube on particular service. Using third-party apps for downloading such videos is against YouTube’s terms of services. In spite of this, if you desire to download, then here is what you can do to satisfy your need at a reliable time.

Method 1. Using SaveFrom.net Downloader

The easiest and fastest way to download your videos and music from YouTube? It is possible with SaveFrom.net app.  For this, you just have to follow few steps as instructed below:

Step 1: Open Play Store on your phone and search for SaveFrom.net app.

Step 2: Confirm it and download the app. Wait till the install completes.

Step 3: Now open the YouTube app on your phone.

Step 4: Tap on the search bar and search for any video you want to download. Just play the selected video.

Step 5: Then tap on the ‘Share’ option below the video.

Step 6: There you can see various options. Select the ‘SaveFrom.net’ app.

Step 7: Click on the grey arrow on the right side of the download button to choose the preferred format.

Step 8: Choose the format (like MP3, MP4, WEBM, 3GP) in which you want to download the video.

Step 9: Finally, click the green download button. It will show the resolution, select the one in which quality you want to download.

Now enjoy your videos and songs offline anywhere and at any time you want, though offline.

Method 2. Using YouTube Downloader (YTD)

Downloading YouTube video using YouTube Downloader (shortly called YTD) allows faster downloading speed. It enables you to choose a download location and has a user-friendly interface. Not only that, but it also supports searching keywords. You just need to copy and paste the URLs of any videos, playlists, and channels then download them.

Initially, download and install ‘YouTube Downloader’ on your phone via Play Store. After the installation completes, simply follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open YouTube on your smartphone.

Step 2: Search for the video you wish to download and tap on it to play.

Step 3: Tap on the ‘Share’ icon and you will see ‘Copy link’ option. Just tap on it.

Step 4: Open the YouTube Downloader app and paste the video link there.

Step 5: Then, tap the enter button and choose a format to download it.

Step 6: Click on the ‘Download’ button.

Finally, wait till the download completes. It will take time according to network stability and video size.

Some of the best YouTube downloader apps for smartphones are listed below. However, these are not the only apps available.

  • Youtube Go
  • Vidmate
  • Tubemate
  • Keepvid
  • YT3 You tube Downloader
  • Videoder

Download YouTube Videos from PC

We totally understand if you want to learn to download YouTube videos on your computers. Well, it is not any difficult task at all. You can learn different methods below.

Method 1: Using YouTube Downloader

For this method, you will require to download an application on your PC (desktop or laptop). Follow the below instructions to download YouTube videos easily.

Step 1: Download a YouTube Downloader:

  • At first, you need to download YTD video downloader.
  • Download and install the downloader. And navigate to the video you want to download using a browser.
  • If YTD video downloader is not running, launch it.

You need not follow this step 1 every time. Once installed, you may skip this step for the next time to download the videos. Jump straight to step 2 in such a case.

Step 2: Start downloading the video:

  •  Copy the youtube URL address or link of the video. And paste it into the YTD’s URL field.
  • Finally, set your desire video format and click the ‘Download’ button.

Eventually, the download will start. Before you hit the download button, you can choose the file location to save the download video.

Method 2. Using VLC Media Player

You can even use VLC Media Player to download videos from YouTube to your PCs for offline viewing. The VLC media player is usually pre-installed on PCs.

Follow the below steps to save video file:

Step 1: Download VLC media player and install it on your PC (In case you don’t have the VLC media player installed yet).

Step 2: Open VLC media player and click on ‘Media’ at the menu bar. Select ‘Open network stream’ from the menu.

Step 3: Navigate to youtube and copy the URL of the video.

Step 4: On the pop-up window of VLC player, paste URL of the video in the box at the bottom. Now click on ‘Play’.

Step 4: Click on ‘Tools’ on the menu bar. And select ‘Codec Information’ to copy the full URL shown at the bottom in the location section.

copy the location from Codec info in VLC
Copy the location from ‘Codec information’ within Tools menu in VLC media player.

Step 5: Copy the content of the location section and paste it into an address bar of a web browser.

Step 6: Finally, click ‘More’ (three dots) and ‘Download’ to save the video to your PC.

Method 3. Online Download Using Chrome

Here are the guides to download videos from Chrome using YouTube Downloader plugins. As the name suggests, you have to download a plugin or extension on your browser.

How to download and install a Chrome extension for downloading? If this is a query of yours, no worries. We have mentioned it as well below.

Step 1: Open a web browser on your desktop or laptop and visit addoncrop.com.

homepage addoncrop extension for downloading youtube videos
The homepage ‘addoncrop.com’ to get the extension for downloading YouTube videos.

Step 2: Click to select ‘YouTube Video Downloader’. This will redirect you to a new page.

Step 3: On the centre of the page, you will find a button ‘Install Via Crosspilot’ on the right side. Click on it to continue.

Step 4: This will open a new tab. Click on ‘Add to Chrome’. Again click on ‘Add Extension’ on the pop-up notification.

add extension permit to download videos online
Grant permission to add the extension to download videos online.

Step 5: The above like page will appear on your monitor. Select ‘Grant Permissions’. After installation, the ‘Download’ button will be automatically added below the playing video.

Note: Try refreshing the youtube page if the download option doesn't appear.

Step 6: Select the required formats and resolution, and click on the download button.

The downloaded video will be saved directly to ‘Downloads’ on your PC.

Download YouTube Videos to iPad and iPhone

Are you an iPhone user and want to save an online video for offline viewing. For this, you have two methods depending on which Apple OS you use.

Method 1. For iOS on iPhone

You need to use a different approach i.e using a general file management app called Documents. This method works on every version of iOS from 8 to 12.

You can even record your iPhone screen playing any videos or anything from iOS 11. For that, you need to learn the steps below:

You need SaveFrom.net website and the Documents app to download and share videos.

  • Download and install Documents from the App Store.
  • After installing, open the app. Click on browser icon at the bottom right corner in iPad and at the lefthand menu at iPad.
  • At the top in the address type ‘savefrom.net’ and open a website.
  • Copy the correct video URL from YouTube clip.
  • Enter Documents and paste URL into the white rectangular input box at the top of SaveFrom.net by tapping in it.
  •  You’ll see a thumbnail of video format and quality options. Select one and finally, click on the ‘Download’ button.

Method 2. For Mac OS on iPhone

You can download YouTube videos to a Mac with MacX YouTube Downloader easily. There are stacks of options on a Mac. All you need to do is to add a link of the video. And choose the formats and quality options to download multiple clips at a time.

How to see the downloaded video?

You’ll see a save dialogue box, downloads or library where you can rename the files. Once done, it’ll appear in the Documents downloads section. If you open the downloads section of the app, you can see the video downloading.

Which video formats you can download YouTube videos in?

While downloading videos you are provided with a choice of file formats like MP4, MP3, 3GP, AVI and MOV. The good quality of the video will depend on those formats.

  • 3GP is the file format perfect for small-screened old mobile phones. Since they usually have less memory expansion capabilities.
  • MOV is Apple’s video format and works on every Mac and PCs.
  • MP4 is the video equivalent of MP3 and works on any device. You should use this format for maximum compatibility. If you want to download a video in high quality then download in MP4.
  • But if you need only audio or songs then select the MP3 and download it.

How about video quality?

In order to download videos in good quality, you should choose a maximum resolution. YouTube streams in multiple qualities ranging from 3Gp for small phones to 1080p or more.

You have other options like 360p, 480p, 720p and 1080p for your computers or other devices. The higher the quality the bigger the file size so you need to balance the quality and size. If you use a big screen or HD displays then use 1080p otherwise you can use any as you like.