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Guides YouTube

How to download YouTube videos on Mac or PC

Download YouTube videos on a Mac or Windows PC in your browser, with no software to install.

Updated

On a computer you don't need to install a program or a browser extension to download YouTube videos. Everything happens in the browser you already use, whether that's Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox.

Download the video

  1. Open the video on YouTube and copy the address from the address bar (Cmd+C on Mac, Ctrl+C on Windows).
  2. Open the YouTube downloader in a new tab.
  3. Paste the link (Cmd+V or Ctrl+V).
  4. Choose a format and press Download.

The file goes to your Downloads folder. In Chrome and Edge it appears in the downloads bubble at the top right. In Safari, click the arrow in the toolbar.

Which format on Mac

MP4 opens in QuickTime and plays in Safari, Keynote and iMovie. If you edit in Final Cut Pro, MOV is also a natural fit. Both are fine.

Which format on Windows

MP4 plays in the built-in Media Player and Movies & TV apps, and works in PowerPoint and most editors. If a video won't play on Windows and shows a codec message, the file may use HEVC. Our HEVC guide explains the fix. VLC plays MKV and WebM too, if you prefer those.

Not sure which to pick? See MP4, WebM, MOV or MKV.

Using the video in a presentation

A downloaded MP4 plays in PowerPoint and Keynote with no internet, which is safer than relying on venue Wi-Fi. Our guide to adding a video to PowerPoint or Google Slides has the steps.

Saving several videos

Paste one link at a time. If you download a lot, Pro gives you unlimited downloads for $5.99 a month (or $14 a quarter, $45 a year). Otherwise, A Little More is $2.50 for 20 downloads, paid once.

Tips

  • Long videos take a while to prepare. Keep the tab open until the file arrives.
  • Files are deleted from our server 15 minutes after they're ready, so save yours promptly.

Quick answers

Do I need an extension or program?

No. Everything happens on our site in your browser. Be wary of downloader extensions that ask for access to every site you visit.

Can I download a whole playlist?

Paste the link of each video you want, one at a time.

Does it work on Linux or a Chromebook?

Yes. Anything with a modern browser works.