Sign in
Use the matching tool to start straight away. The download begins in your browser and shows its size and progress on the page.
YouTube stores high-resolution video and audio as separate streams. For 720p and below there is usually a single combined file, which is quick to fetch. For 1080p, 1440p and 4K the downloader joins the picture and sound for you on the fly, so you still receive one ordinary MP4 or WebM file. Choose 1080p for a laptop or TV, 720p for a phone, and 4K only when the source video really is 4K and you have the storage, because those files can run to several gigabytes for a long upload.
Shorts use a different link format, but the downloader accepts it exactly like a normal video link. Shorts are vertical, so they usually top out at 1080 x 1920. If you mainly want clips from Shorts, the dedicated YouTube Shorts downloader page explains the format in more detail.
Music videos, podcasts, lectures and talks are often better as audio. The Audio (MP3) row converts the soundtrack to a 192 kbps MP3 on the way to your device, and the size shown beside it is an estimate based on the video length. If audio is all you need, the YouTube to MP3 tool skips the video list entirely.
On a computer the download lands in your Downloads folder automatically. On Android, Chrome and Firefox behave the same way. On iPhone and iPad, Safari saves into the Files app under Downloads and you can then move it into Photos or share it onward. If a download seems to do nothing on mobile, check the downloads icon in the browser toolbar, because the file may already be saving in the background.
Private, unlisted-to-members, age-restricted and region-locked videos cannot be fetched without signing in, and live streams are only available once the broadcast has finished and been processed. Playlists and channel pages are not accepted, so paste one video link at a time. If a normal public video fails, wait a minute and try again, since fair-use limits keep the service fast for everyone.
Download only what you have the right to keep: your own uploads, videos under a Creative Commons licence, public-domain material, or content the owner has allowed you to save. Downloading for offline viewing may still breach a platform's terms or local copyright law, so you are responsible for how you use the file. Re-uploading someone else's work without permission is never covered.
