YouTube is designed only to allow users to watch and view (stream) videos on their website. Many users want to download or save their favorite YouTube videos to their computer so they can be watched offline, viewed on other devices, or edit them.

YouTube does not allow you to download videos directly from their site. You need to use a third-party service, install software, or get a YouTube subscription service to download a YouTube video. Below are our recommendations for downloading and watching YouTube videos on your computer.

To download YouTube videos to your smartphone or tablet, see: How to download YouTube video on a smartphone or tablet.

Move the file to the computer where you want to install Chrome. Open the file, and follow the onscreen instructions to install. If you land on the regular download page, that’s normal. Even though the installers look similar, a special tag tells us which one is best for you. Once you download the file, you can send it to another computer. Bring your music to mobile and tablet, too. Listening on your phone or tablet is free, easy, and fun.

This page only provides recommendations for downloading or saving a video to your computer. For instructions for saving a video as audio, see: How can I record sound from YouTube videos?

Download a YouTube video using a website service

Most websites that offer a service of downloading a YouTube video for free are no longer safe to use. These websites often results in malware being downloaded to your computer, either from the website service itself or through one of their partner websites.

Websites that offered free YouTube video downloading services have now permanently shut down their sites (e.g., Savefrom.net), resorted to malware-related ads, or employ other deceptive tactics.

Due to these reasons, Computer Hope doesn't recommend the use of any website service offering free YouTube video downloads and no longer provides instructions for those websites.

Instead, we now recommend the use of youtube-dl, a screen recorder, or a YouTube Premium subscription. These are the best options to keep your computer free of malware.

Download a YouTube video using youtube-dl

One of the best ways, and our favorite method, to download a YouTube video is with the free program youtube-dl. It's capable of downloading any available YouTube video format to your computer, including the HD version.

However, using youtube-dl is a bit more complex and is designed for more experienced, and advanced, computer users. Youtube-dl utilizes the Windows command line for Windows computers, and the Terminal for macOS and Linux computers.

For help with installing and using youtube-dl on your computer, click the link below to review the instructions.

Saving a YouTube video using a screen recorder

Screen recorders are software programs designed to run on a computer, smartphone, or tablet and record anything on the screen. In addition to recording your screen, these programs can also be used to record a video or sections of a video.

Download a YouTube video using YouTube Premium

Another safe option for downloading YouTube videos is YouTube Premium, which is a user-friendly service designed for computer and mobile device users at any level of experience.

YouTube Premium requires a monthly subscription, but at $11.99 per month, you're allowed to download as many videos as you want, and watch them offline at any time. Additionally, you can listen to music offline using the YouTube Music app, as well. Similar to other video streaming services, YouTube Premium provides unlimited access to YouTube videos and music, at a price that's cheaper than other streaming services.

Unlike youtube-dl, however, YouTube Premium only allows users to view videos from in the app. After 48 hours in your downloads library, you can no longer access the videos offline until reconnecting to the Internet to prove the validity of your YouTube Premium subscription.

YouTube offers a one-month free trial for YouTube Premium, so you can try it out and decide if you like it before paying for the service.

What about a private video?

Services and programs designed to record YouTube videos don't have the same rights as your YouTube account, and therefore would not be able to record a private video. However, if you can view the private video, you can use a screen recorder to record anything shown on your screen.

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Related pages

• See the YouTube definition for further information and related links.

How to download photos and videos from iCloud.com

If you want to save copies of your photos and videos from iCloud.com to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or your Mac or PC, follow these steps.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

1. On iCloud.com, tap Photos.
2. Tap Select, then tap a photo or video. To select multiple photos or videos, tap more than one. To select your entire library, tap Select All.
3. Tap the more button .
4. Choose Download, then tap Download to confirm.

If your photos download as a ZIP archive, learn how to uncompress the folder on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

On your Mac or PC

1. On iCloud.com, click Photos and select a photo or video. Hold the command key on your Mac or control key on your PC to select multiple photos or videos.
2. Click and hold the download button in the upper corner of the window. If you want to download your photo or video as it was originally captured or imported, choose Unmodified Original. For JPEG or H.264 format — including edits, and even if it was originally in HEIF or HEVC format — choose Most Compatible.*
3. Click Download.

If your photos download as a ZIP archive, learn how to uncompress the folder on your Mac or your PC.

What happens when you delete photos or videos

Remember, when you delete a photo from iCloud Photos, it also deletes from iCloud and any other device where you're signed in with the same Apple ID — even if you turned on Download and Keep Originals or Download Originals to this Mac. If you choose to download your originals, this also impacts your device storage. Learn more about how to manage your device storage. You can also learn how to AirDrop your photos and videos to another device.

How to download photos and videos from the Photos app

If you want to download a full-size copy of your photos and videos from the Photos app to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 10.3 or later or iPadOS, or your Mac with OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 or later, follow these steps.

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On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

1. Go to Settings > [your name].
2. Tap iCloud, then tap Photos.
3. Select Download and Keep Originals.

On your Mac

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Choose Photos > Preferences.
3. Select iCloud, then click Download Originals to this Mac.

On your PC

If you're using a PC, you can set up iCloud for Windows and download a copy of your photos and videos from iCloud Photos.

Learn what happens when you delete a photo from iCloud Photos.

How to download photos and videos from Shared Albums

You can download copies of photos and videos in Shared Albums to your own library. Learn more about how to use Shared Albums.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

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1. Open the Photos app, then go to the Albums tab.
2. Scroll down to Shared Albums and select an album.
3. Tap the photo or video, then tap .
4. Choose Save Image or Save Video.

On your Mac

1. Open Photos, then select a Shared Album from the left-hand menu.
2. Select the photo or video.
3. Control-click a photo, then choose Import.

On your PC

In iCloud for Windows 11.1:

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1. Choose Start menu > iCloud Shared Albums.
2. Double-click the shared album that you want to download photos or videos from.
3. Double-click a photo or video, then copy it to another folder on your computer.

In iCloud for Windows 7.x:

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
2. Click iCloud Photos in the Navigation pane.
3. Double-click the Shared folder.
4. Double-click the shared album that you want to download photos or videos from.
5. Double-click a photo or video, then copy it to another folder on your computer.

To download the full album, open a File Explorer window or Windows Explorer window (Windows 7), open the Pictures folder, then open the iCloud Photos folder. Copy the Shared Album folder to another location on your computer.

If you need help downloading your photos or videos

• Make sure your device is not on Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode temporarily pauses iCloud Photos. Learn more about Low Power Mode.
• Depending on your internet connection and the number of photos you're downloading, it may take some time for your download to complete.
• Want to make a backup of your photos? Learn how to archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud.
• See how to transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or PC.
• Learn how to manage your iCloud storage.