How to Download MP4 YouTube Videos on a Mac. Casey 05 May 2020. But you can skip that part if you live in Chrome — which most people do, by a wide margin. How to Download Music from YouTube on Chrome To download music from YouTube on Chrome using iTube HD Video Downloader for Mac or Windows PC, follow these simple steps.

After reading this article, you will know five easy and fast ways to download YouTube videos on Mac. Apply one of them to save YouTube videos to your Mac and then you can watch offline without an Internet connection.

Download YouTube videos and music right from your Google Chrome. The simplest way to save YouTube content without installing sketchy browser extensions. Pro–Tip: First and foremost, a video downloader must be simple and free from a cluttered interface. It should be fairly easy to navigate. It should seamlessly integrate with Chrome and be smart enough to identify videos to download without your command. Flash Video Downloader For Google Chrome Mac free download - Mac Video Downloader, Flash Downloader for Chrome, YTD Video Downloader, and many more programs. Chrome users are safely allowed to download YouTube videos in Chrome with high quality and fast speed, no matter they are music videos, funny clips, movies and whatever format they are in, including SD or HD videos in 720pm 1080P and 4K ultra HD.

As the biggest video site in the world, YouTube has a wide range of users who search, view and upload videos every day. However, unlike you can freely view and upload videos on YouTube, you can't download YouTube videos directly on the site. That's why so many users are looking for a way to download YouTube videos to iPhone/iPad, save videos from YouTube to PC, download YouTube videos on Mac, and more.

Download Vimeo Videos to Mac with Desktop Vimeo Downloader for Mac. From time to time. 1) Video Downloader for Chrome. Video Downloader for Chrome is a Google Chrome extension that allows you to save videos from numerous websites. It does not have any delay and ads in downloading clips. Features: Video Downloader for Chrome can detect more than.

Given that, here we provide five proven ways to download videos from YouTube to Mac, including using desktop software, online service, and other workable ways. Read on to learn how to download YouTube videos on Mac in different ways and carry out the one best suited to your needs.

How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac in 5 Ways

Some of the ways below need you to download and install the desktop software, while others may not. Learn them in detail and you will know which one is the best YouTube downloader for you.

Method 1. How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac for Free

100% free, no ads, and no plugins, EaseUS MobiMover is a YouTube downloader that you can use at no cost and without any worries about bothering ads or add-ons. With it, you can download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Twitter and other sites to your computer (PC/Mac) or mobiles devices (iPhone/iPad).

To download YouTube Videos on Mac for Free:

Step 1.Run EaseUS MobiMover > Go to choose the 'Video Downloader' option on the left side > Choose a location to house the videos you download.

Step 2. Copy the URL/link of the YouTube video you wish to download, paste it into the download bar of EaseUS MobiMover, then tap 'Download.'

Step 3. Wait for MobiMover to download YouTube videos to your Mac. When it has finished, you can go to your selected location to check the downloaded item.

In addition to video download, MobiMover also has other features that will help you transfer files between two iOS devices or between an iOS device and computer, which will do a great help if you are an iPhone or iPad user. It's a versatile tool that can work as an iOS content manager and free YouTube downloader at the same time. Don't miss it and make it your good helper.

Method 2. How to Save YouTube Videos on Mac Online

Don't want to install any software? If so, you may prefer online YouTube video downloaders compared with desktop software. Honestly speaking, although much convenient, an online YouTube downloader may cause more troubles than a desktop program. According to my own experience, there are some issues that may occur while using an online tool to save YouTube videos on a computer, including:

• Ads keep popping up
• The users are redirected to another shopping site
• The tool can't find the video according to the link

And more. Luckily, not all the online YouTube downloaders are that troubling. Here is Keepvid that works well to get videos from YouTube onto your Mac.

Keepvid is one of the most popular online video downloader that allows you to download YouTube videos on a computer by inserting the video link into the address bar. You will like it if downloading YouTube videos in different formats and quality is what you need. Besides, it also serves the function of an audio converter that will extract music or other audio files from a YouTube video for you.

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To download a YouTube video on Mac with Keepvid:

Step 1. Go to YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want to download.

Step 2. Visit https://keepv.id/ on your Mac and click the 'Download' button.

Step 3. After an analyzing process, you will see the download options available, including videos in different quality and audio in varying formats. Choose the format and click 'Download' to start downloading YouTube videos to your Mac.

Method 3. Download YouTube Videos for Mac with Chrome/Firefox

Want to download a YouTube video with the browser? If that's exactly what you want, you can't miss the helpful browser extensions shown below, which allow you to save YouTube videos on Mac using Chrome or Firefox for free.

To download videos from YouTube with Chrome:

Step 1. Go to visit YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader.

Step 2. The webpage will detect your browser automatically. Confirm your browser and click 'INSTALL VIA CROSSPILOT'.

Step 3. Download and install the extension. Afterward, restart the browser.

Step 4. Go to YouTube and play the video you want to download.

How To Download Youtube Videos In Mac Chrome

Step 5. Now you should see there is a Download button under the video. Click the Download button to save the YouTube video to your laptop directly or click the three dots next to it to choose other qualities available. (If you don't see the download button, click the icon of the YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader from the menu bar of the browser to download the video.)

To save a YouTube video on Mac with Firefox:

Step 1. Go to add the extension - Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express to Firefox.

Step 2. Restart Firefox.

Step 3. Go to YouTube and play the video you intend to download.

Step 4. Under the video, click the 'Download' button and choose one of the versions (MP4 360p, MP4 720p, MP4 1080p, MP3..) to download.

Of course, there are video download tools for Safari. You can search on the Internet and choose the one you like.

Method 4. Save YouTube Videos to Mac with VLC Media Player

How can you download YouTube videos on your Mac for free? One of the answers is to use the VLC media player. VLC is known as a free and open-source portable cross-platform media player software and streaming media. It also enables you to download a YouTube video on your computer, be it Mac, PC, or laptop.

Step 1. Download and install VLC media player on your Mac and launch the program.

Step 2. Go to YouTube and copy the link of the video you attempt to download.

Step 3. In VLC, choose 'File' > 'Open Network'. In the 'Open Source' window, paste the video URL in the address bar and click 'Open'.

Step 4. Right-click the video and select 'Media Information'.

Download Google Chrome To Mac

Step 5. Copy the content in the 'Location' bar and paste the copied URL into the address bar. Then press 'return' to begin to play on your browser.

Step 7. Right-click the video and select 'Save Video as.' to start downloading videos from YouTube to your Mac.

Method 5. Grab Videos from YouTube to Mac with Screen Recording Features

Other than downloading videos from YouTube, you can choose to record the video and save it on your Mac. This method works best when you can't download a YouTube video due to copyright issues or other problems.

To capture the screen, you can either use the built-in screen recording feature in macOS or QuickTime Player.

How To Download Youtube In Chrome Mac Browser

• To use the built-in screen recording feature: Press Command + Shift + 5.
• To use QuickTime: Choose 'File' in QuickTime and select 'New Screen Recording'.

Common Issues Related to YouTube Video Download

There are some frequently asked questions from users about YouTube video download:

How To Download Youtube In Chrome Macbook Pro

'How do I download YouTube videos to my Mac for free?'

If you have read this article, you know now that all the five methods detailed in this guide enable you to save YouTube videos to Mac for free.

'Can I download a video from YouTube with YouTube Premium?'

The YouTube Premium subscription allows you to download videos from YouTube, but only to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Thus, if you attempt to save a YouTube video to Mac, it won't help.

'Why can't I download YouTube videos?'

If you are going to download a private video or a video containing music, you may fail since these videos may give rise to copyright issues.

The Bottom Line

Among all the video download apps, which is the best YouTube downloader for you? Choose the one that fits your needs best to apply.

Sep 19,2019 • Filed to: YouTube Downloader • Proven solutions

If you have a Chrome browser in your computer, you most likely want to find the best YouTube music downloader for Chrome. Many YouTube fans want to know how they can download YouTube music through Chrome browser into their devices legally and easily. Although there are many YouTube music downloader options, some are better than others. If you use Chrome in streaming videos, you can now download videos directly from your browser into your device and convert them into your preferred formats using a single application. This gives you the freedom to enjoy listening or watching your favorite music from any location even without an internet connection.

The Best YouTube Music Downloader for Chrome

iTube HD Video Downloader is the best application for downloading YouTube music on Chrome. This software enables you to download HD videos as well as 4K UHD videos from YouTube and more than 10,000 video sharing websites. Such sites include Crunchyroll, Lynda, Facebook, Dailymotion, Niconico, Bilibili, Metacafe, Vevo and FC2 among others. Additionally, this software enables you to convert YouTube videos to MP4 and MP3, WebM and FLV videos. This YouTube music downloader Chrome enables you to create a masterpiece of your own. Ideally, you can optimize the software to download then convert videos for different devices including iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPod, Android and iPad among other handheld devices.

iTube HD Video Downloader - The Best Chrome YouTube Music Downloader

• Automatically detect the video when it starts to load on Chrome Browser.
• Determine the optimized format, resolution and bit rate of the target device like iPhone, Android devices.
• Support file downloads for multiple videos from a queue in a batch or YouTube playlist downloads.
• Convert downloaded or converted YouTube music to other 150+ media formats.
• Download online videos from 10,000+ video sharing sites with ease.

How to Download Music from YouTube on Chrome

To download music from YouTube on Chrome using iTube HD Video Downloader for Mac or Windows PC, follow these simple steps. Here we take Mac version as example.

Step 1. Download and Install the YouTube Music Downloader for Chrome

How To Download Youtube In Chrome Mac Os

First download and install the YouTube music downloader Chrome. The software has a simple installation process. You cam simply drag the downloaded program file to the 'Applications' to install it. After that, double click on the program icon to launch the Chrome YouTube Music Downloader.

Step 2. Download YouTube Music in Chrome

Simply play the video that you want to download with your Chrome, Firefox or Safari browser. Click the “Download” button on the video window. From the drop-down list that opens, select the resolution that you want. The program will start downloading music automatically.

Alternatively, you can copy the URL of the YouTube video that you want to download. Paste it on the program and start downloading the video. Or you can drag and drop the URL of the YouTube video to the downloader’s dock icon.

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You can also directly download YouTube music to MP3. Just copy the URL of the video in the browser’s address bar. Open the program and click “Download MP3” button on the primary window at the top left corner. And the program will start downloading YouTube to MP3 format for you.

Optional. Convert YouTube Music to Other Format

If you need to play the YouTube music on any devices or platforms that do not support YouTube format, you can use iTube HD Video Downloader to convert the format. To do so, you can click the 'Convert' button from the 'Downloaded' tab. And select the output format you, and then click 'OK' to start to convert the music.

Chrome Download Youtube Videos Mac Free

Superpowers for your Mac

You may hate funny cat videos or game reviews, but the chances are you still use YouTube. A mammoth of video content, YouTube is a go-to spot for many. In fact, the platform has over 1 billion users which is one-third of all internet users. Huge.

Or, maybe your daily companions are Vimeo and Twitch. One way or another, video content is a part of your digital life. The question is how to make the best use of it.

In this article, we compare top YouTube downloaders for Mac and explain how you can legally download video from YouTube (or any other video platform) to watch it anytime and anywhere.

Best YouTube downloaders

Get a huge set of top tools to download videos from Youtube. Most helpful utilities in one pack, give it a go!

Let us warn you in advance, all YouTube download tools reviewed in this article are worth a try. To help you narrow down the choice, here are the nice-to-have:

• Works with all major video streaming platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion.
• Allows to save mp4 content and, optionally, convert to different formats.
• Has support for audio output — allowing you to save music from videos.
• Can download playlists or channels in batch.
• Caters for both professional and everyday use.
• Guarantees privacy and does not collect any of your personal information.

For sure, these are not one-size-fits-alls. Maybe batch downloading playlists is totally useless for you. We made sure the reviewed tools satisfy the key needs — like security and integration with video streaming platforms. The rest is up to you.

Quick navigation:

It’s not easy to step into the jungle of video downloaders and instantly pick the right fit. Impossible if you’re new to Mac. There’s help, though.

How to download from YouTube

Whether to capture a few movies for an upcoming flight or save favorite clips to rewatch, many Mac owners want to know how to download a YouTube video. The problem is that it’s complicated to find an efficient free YouTube downloader. Not to mention they could be used for copyright infringement.

To legally save content from YouTube and video streaming services to Mac, as well as download music from videos, you can use third-party apps. As long as you’re not earning money from downloads or breaching any copyright agreements, they are safe to use.

How to save YouTube videos on Mac using native tools

YouTube used to allow direct video downloads. But well...no more. That’s because there’s now a native tool for the job. If you ask YouTube for the best YouTube downloader, it will probably suggest you use YouTube Premium, a native paid subscription service that allows you to save content for offline watching. For the monthly cost of $11.99, you can keep YouTube videos on iPhone and Android devices. Here’s how it works:

1. Open the video in your YouTube mobile app.
2. Click on the download button below the video player.
3. Customize the quality of the output.
4. Once the video is downloaded, you’ll see the “download complete” icon below the player.

Free Youtube Downloader For Chromebook

The app will automatically save YouTube videos you download to the Library or Account tab. Note that a YouTube Premium subscription allows you to save videos only to mobile devices. Thus, if you want to download a YouTube video to Mac, it won't help.

Save YouTube videos on iPhone and iPad

If you want to download video from YouTube on your iOS device, there’s a way to do it with Shortcuts, a native utility that helps solve tasks faster with your iOS apps (by the way, Shortcuts are coming to macOS Monterey! This means shortcuts for video download on Mac could become available in the future). For now, let’s focus on iOS:

• Add the “Download YouTube” shortcut to your Gallery (open this link on your iOS device)
• Open the YouTube video you want to download in the YouTube app > Share button > More > Shortcuts
• On the Run Shortcut screen, tap your shortcut — it will prompt the download process
• Once the video is downloaded, you can choose to save it to camera roll or share.

Unfortunately, many people have been reporting errors with this shortcut method recently. If you, too, can’t get it to work, here’s a workaround: download video on your Mac and then transfer it to iPhone or iPad with AnyTrans. Sounds like an overkill, but AnyTrans actually makes the whole process really smooth.

AnyTrans for iOS is a file transfer and backup app that lets you manage your content across devices. And guess what, it also has a YouTube download feature! So you can literally do it all in one app: 1) download video from YouTube; 2) connect your iPhone or iPad; 3) move the video from Mac to iOS in one click. Works like magic.

Save YouTube videos on Android

One option is to use YouTube Go, an alternative version of YouTube for Android that wastes less network data but also, naturally, works much slower. If you’re ok with spending more time than usual waiting for your download to finish, you can try it out:

1. Find YouTube Go on Google Play and download it on your phone
2. Search for the video
3. Tap on the video you want to download > select quality > Download.

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If you have a Mac, we recommend AnyDroid, an app that downloads and sends your videos directly to your Android phone. It’s faster and requires minimum effort:

• Open AnyDroid on Mac
• Navigate to Media Downloader > YouTube
• Find the video you want to download > select quality > Download
• Click on Device Manager, connect your Android phone to Mac, and move the video.

So that’s how to save YouTube videos on Mac without software that needs installing (for AnyTrans and AnyDroid, you’ll need a Setapp membership). Now let’s talk about third-party tools that not only answer the question of how to download a YouTube video, they are packed with extra perks like trimming, converting, and sharing your videos flexibly.

How to download YouTube videos with a YouTube downloader

If you download media files often, you don’t want any extra fuss. Ideally, you want to just grab the video from YouTube in one click. With browser extensions, you can! Get an app that supports extensions and craft your ideal workflow. Here are our favorite options:

• Downie, a video downloader with built-in search and browser extensions, capable of saving videos from 1200+ websites. Want to download YouTube videos Mac Chrome? Just pick Chrome from the available extensions and give it a go.
  
• Folx is the fastest video and torrent downloader with extension support we’ve seen. It can split your downloads in up to 20 streams to speed up the process — so if you have a particularly large file to download, you can get it 20x times faster than usual. In Preferences, you can enable an extension for one of the most popular browsers.
  
• Pulltube supports extensions for only three browsers — Safari, Chrome, and Firefox — but there’s a lot more to love Pulltube for. We love it for the trimming tool and built-in file converter. If you want to know how to save a YouTube video as a file of any quality and size, look no further.
  

Save video from YouTube in mp3, mp4, and other formats

Whether it’s native YouTube Premium or a third-party application, most of the tools you use to download content from YouTube will by default save video files in mp4. There are different options to tweak the format:

• Retrieve only audio from your video file — it’s possible with apps like Downie and Folx.

• Use Downie + Permute to download and convert to different formats — from FLV to MKV to AVI. The two work well together and are both available with Setapp subscription.

• If you use AnyTrans or AnyDroid to transfer downloaded videos to your phone, there’s an option to change the format in Media Downloader.

How to save streaming video

Streaming content is a huge chunk of your internet traffic. Think Vimeo, Twitch, YouTube, Dailymotion, and other platforms where you can watch live content. Relying on online streaming stymies your watching experience in many ways – from limited data usage to network issues. Plus Wi-Fi often fails you at the most crucial moments. Therefore, you need a reliable tool that helps you capture YouTube videos.

If you’re wondering how to watch favorite YouTube videos without downloading, try Elmedia Player — it disables ads in YouTube videos. Yes, it’s actually possible! Just open Elmedia > menu > Open Online Video > paste the link > Play.

If you want more than just removing ads from a streaming video — maybe you need to extract music from it, add/remove subtitles, trim the video, or just keep it on your Mac — a downloader like Pulltube will work better here. It works with over 1000 websites, including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and so on. Its best feature, in our opinion, is the trimming tool. Instead of downloading the whole video, you can just extract a specific scene and save lots of space on your Mac. To start downloading, just drag or paste the video link in Pulltube.

Finally, if you need to capture a live stream that can’t be downloaded, use a screen recording tool like Capto. It lets you record the whole screen, a specific window, or area — save the recording on your Mac, and even edit it if you like.

How to save YouTube videos on Mac FAQ

Any questions left? Hopefully, we’ve covered them in this FAQ.

• How do I download YouTube videos on my Mac for free?

  >With a Setapp subscription, you can try all the trusted downloaders we’ve mentioned — AnyTrans, AnyDroid, Folx, Pulltube, and Downie – for free with a 7-day trial. We don’t recommend using free online services to download videos, because you can accidentally download malware.
• Can I download a video from YouTube with YouTube Premium?

  Yes, you can download a video on your mobile device with YouTube Premium. This option doesn’t work on Mac.
• Why do my YouTube videos keep saying an error occurred?

  It could be that you need to update your browser, clear cache and cookies, or just refresh the page. Check out the most common video download issues below.
• Why are my YouTube videos not downloading?

  In some work spaces, it’s prohibited to download YouTube videos, so there might be a firewall blocking your downloads. Also, some copyright holders block video downloaders.

Common YouTube video download issues and how to fix them

Got your ideal video downloader, but keep having issues? Well, maybe the downloader itself is not an issue. There are different factors, from your Mac’s performance to YouTube’s geo-restrictions, that might prevent you from downloading videos. Here are the ways to fix them.

How to unblock geo-restricted YouTube content?

Some videos may not be available in your location, but there are still ways to access them. Get a good VPN app that can unblock geo-restricted content.

The absolute best is ClearVPN with its shortcuts. Unlike traditional VPNs that just switch locations, ClearVPN has one-click options to unlock American Netflix, Australian HBO, or Norwegian YouTube — you name it. It’s all geared towards your needs.

You can also use ClearVPN to unlock games, toggle anonymous browsing, change your IP, and all the usual things you can expect from a high-end VPN.

Fix the “video download failed” issue

If your video downloader suddenly freezes and shows the “download failed” error, the first thing to try is to simply quit and reopen the app. Doesn’t work? In this case, check whether there’s a copyright issue involved — make sure you have the copyright holder’s permission to download the video.

Why is YouTube not working?

Here are a few things to try if you can’t play video in YouTube:

• Check your network connection. Even if it looks like you’re connected, there might be a problem that’s hard to spot. Tools like NetSpot and WiFi Explorer will help scan your network environment and identify possible issues. You can then use one of these tools to try and fix the issue or simply connect to a different network.
• Play the video in Elmedia Player. Elmedia can play YouTube videos without ads on Mac — and this is a great way to check if the video is even available. So if you can play video in Elmedia, there’s a YouTube issue. If not, probably the video is just unavailable.
• Restart your Mac — sometimes it helps, for no reason.

Downloading from YouTube is very slow — what to do?

First of all, it should be said that if you download large files (like a high-resolution movie), it’s ok that it takes much time to download it. If you want to get the best speed possible, Folx to the rescue.

If you notice that your downloader works much slower than before, there could be a problem with your Mac performance. CleanMyMac X is a wonderful tool to diagnose such problems. Just run a Smart Scan to see whether there’s some kind of malware or performance issue that you can fix. Or, maybe your Mac is just very cluttered and needs a cleanup to free up storage space.

It’s ok if you have a hard time choosing your favorite. Some of the apps complement each other – like you could use Folx to capture large videos and transfer them with AnyTrans. With Setapp subscription, you can try every mentioned YouTube downloader (as well as other apps such as WiFi Explorer, ClearVPN, and CleanMyMac X) for free, and choose what suits your flow. Or, don’t choose. Your Mac deserves all of them.