Download YouTube Videos as MP4: Simple Guide for Any DeviceDownloading YouTube videos as MP4 files can be handy for offline viewing, classroom use, travel, or archiving content you own or have permission to keep. This guide walks through safe, legal, and practical methods for saving YouTube videos in MP4 format on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iPhone — plus tips for quality, metadata, and troubleshooting.
Is it legal to download YouTube videos?
Short answer: It depends.
YouTube’s Terms of Service generally prohibit downloading unless a download button or link is provided by YouTube (for example, via YouTube Premium or the official download button in the mobile app). Downloading videos without permission may infringe copyright. Always get permission from the content owner or rely on videos in the public domain or licensed for reuse.
Choosing a safe method
Use official features (YouTube Premium) when possible. If you use third-party tools, prefer reputable, up-to-date software that doesn’t bundle malware. Avoid sites or apps that request excessive permissions or force downloads of unrelated software.
Quick overview of available methods
- YouTube Premium — Official, highest safety and legality for offline viewing inside the YouTube app (not a true MP4 file accessible by other apps).
- Desktop software (Windows/macOS/Linux) — Dedicated apps that download and convert YouTube videos to MP4 (examples include yt-dlp or 4K Video Downloader).
- Browser extensions — Can add “download” buttons to YouTube pages; often limited by browser store policies and can be risky.
- Web-based converters — Websites that let you paste a YouTube link and download MP4s; convenient but privacy and malware risks.
- Mobile apps — Android apps with download capabilities (often sideloaded) or iPhone workflows using Shortcuts; availability varies by platform policies.
Recommended tools (general guidance)
- For advanced users and scripting: yt-dlp (a maintained fork of youtube-dl) — powerful, fast, and scriptable.
- For casual desktop use with GUI: 4K Video Downloader — simple interface, supports playlists and subtitles.
- For Android: use reputable file-manager apps with built-in downloaders or use yt-dlp via Termux if comfortable with command line.
- For iPhone/iPad: use Apple Shortcuts (download workflows) or record screen for personal offline use; iOS restrictions limit direct MP4 saving.
Step-by-step: Using yt-dlp (cross-platform, recommended)
yt-dlp is a command-line program that downloads and converts videos from YouTube and many other sites. It’s actively maintained and supports many options.
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Install:
- Windows: download the executable from the official repository and place it in a folder on PATH.
- macOS: use Homebrew —
brew install yt-dlp - Linux: use package manager or download the binary; or
pip install -U yt-dlp
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Basic command to download the best MP4:
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]/best" -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" <YouTube-URL> -
Download with subtitles (if available):
yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang en --convert-subs srt -f bestvideo+bestaudio <YouTube-URL> -
Download an entire playlist:
yt-dlp -o "%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" -f bestvideo+bestaudio <Playlist-URL>
Notes:
- The format selector ensures MP4-compatible streams or merges best video and audio into an MP4 container.
- yt-dlp may require ffmpeg installed for merging and conversions.
Step-by-step: 4K Video Downloader (GUI)
- Download and install from the official site.
- Copy the YouTube video or playlist URL.
- Click “Paste Link” in the app.
- Choose MP4 as the format and pick resolution/quality.
- Click “Download.”
Pros: easy GUI, supports playlists and subtitles. Cons: free tier has some limits; consider paid version for full features.
Mobile: Android (simple method)
Option A — Termux + yt-dlp (advanced):
- Install Termux from an official source.
- In Termux:
pkg install python ffmpeg pip install -U yt-dlp yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]" -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" <YouTube-URL>
Option B — Use a trusted downloader app from F-Droid or Google Play (be cautious; many apps are removed or risky).
Mobile: iPhone/iPad
iOS restricts direct downloading. Two common approaches:
- Use Apple Shortcuts: create or import a shortcut that fetches the MP4 and saves it to Files. Shortcuts often rely on third-party conversion services and may break.
- Use screen recording for personal offline viewing. For transferring files, use AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or other cloud storage.
Tips for quality and format
- YouTube stores video and audio separately for higher resolutions (DASH). To get the best quality, download video and audio streams and merge them (yt-dlp + ffmpeg does this automatically).
- Use MP4 if you need wide device compatibility. For smallest files, lower resolution (720p or 480p) and H.264 encoding are common.
- For archival: keep original highest quality (often WebM/VP9 or AV1); convert to MP4 only if needed for compatibility.
Metadata, subtitles, and chapters
- Many tools can download subtitles and convert them to SRT. Store them alongside the MP4 with the same filename for automatic association.
- yt-dlp supports embedding thumbnails, chapters, and metadata into output files.
- Example to embed metadata and thumbnail:
yt-dlp --embed-thumbnail --add-metadata -f bestvideo+bestaudio <YouTube-URL>
Troubleshooting
- “No such format”: try a simpler format selector like
-f best. - Merged output missing audio: ensure ffmpeg is installed.
- Download blocked or rate-limited: try again later, use a VPN cautiously, or download smaller batches for playlists.
- Subtitles not available: some videos don’t provide captions or auto-captions may be unavailable for download.
Safety and privacy considerations
- Avoid sites that require installing unknown executables or browser extensions from untrusted sources.
- Watch out for sites that display misleading ads or force browser pop-ups.
- When using command-line tools, check official repositories for releases and verify checksums when possible.
Alternatives for lawful offline access
- YouTube Premium — download within the official app for offline playback.
- Contact the content creator for a copy or license.
- Use Creative Commons–licensed videos or public domain content.
Example workflows
- Classroom: Ask creators for permission; use yt-dlp to batch-download lectures with subtitles, then copy to a USB or LMS.
- Travel: Use 4K Video Downloader to fetch playlists and transfer MP4s to a tablet.
- Backup: Use yt-dlp to archive your own uploads with
--download-archiveto avoid duplicates.
Final notes
Downloading YouTube videos as MP4 is straightforward with the right tools, but always respect copyright and platform terms. For reliability and legality, prefer official options (YouTube Premium or direct permission) and use reputable tools like yt-dlp or established GUI apps when needed.
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