Best Ways to Download YouTube Videos (Legally)

Have you ever been on the go, wishing you could watch your favorite YouTube videos without a stable internet connection? I’ve certainly been there. The desire to save a video for offline viewing is common, but it opens up a can of worms regarding legality and YouTube’s rules. Let’s dive into how to download a YouTube video the right way and touch upon the methods you should probably avoid.

The Only Sanctioned Method: YouTube Premium

When it comes to downloading videos from YouTube, there’s one method that is unequivocally legal and endorsed by the platform itself: YouTube Premium.

I took the plunge and subscribed to Premium, and the convenience is undeniable. For a monthly fee, you get a handful of perks, but the most relevant here is the ability to download videos directly to your device for offline viewing.

How It Works:

• The Download Button: With a Premium subscription, a “Download” button appears directly below the video player in the YouTube app and on the desktop website (using supported browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox).
• Finding Your Videos: Downloaded content is neatly stored in the “Downloads” section of your YouTube account, accessible through the app.
• Quality and Storage: You can choose the download quality, which is great for managing your device’s storage space. For Android users with an SD card, you can even direct downloads there.

It’s important to know that this isn’t a free-for-all. The downloaded videos are only accessible through the YouTube app and you need to reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads active. This allows YouTube to verify your Premium subscription and update the video’s availability.

The Gray Area: Creative Commons and Fair Use

Beyond a Premium subscription, the legal landscape gets a bit murky. There are instances where you might be able to download a video, but it’s not as straightforward.

Creative Commons

Some creators license their work under Creative Commons (CC), which can grant you more permissions than standard copyright. YouTube has a filter in its search results to help you find these videos. Depending on the specific CC license, you might be able to legally download, remix, or share the content, as long as you provide proper attribution to the original creator.

However, be cautious. You need to verify that the person who uploaded the video and applied the CC license is the actual copyright holder.

Fair Use

The concept of “Fair Use” in copyright law allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, or research. While this might seem like a green light for downloading certain videos for personal projects, it’s a complex legal doctrine and not a blanket permission.

The catch? “Fair use” is a legal defense, not a right. It’s something you’d argue in court if you were sued for copyright infringement. For the average user, relying on fair use to download videos can be risky.

A Word on “Not-So-Legal” Methods

A quick search online will reveal a plethora of third-party websites and applications that promise to download any YouTube video for free. I’ve seen many of them, and while they might seem tempting, using them comes with significant risks.

Here’s the deal: Using these services is a direct violation of YouTube’s Terms of Service. Their terms explicitly state that you are not to download content unless you see a “download” or similar link provided by YouTube on the service for that content.

Why is this a big deal?

• It’s a Copyright Issue: When you use these tools, you’re making a copy of copyrighted material without the owner’s permission, which could be considered copyright infringement.
• Security Risks: Many of these free downloader sites are ad-laden and can be a gateway for malware or other security threats to your device.
• It Hurts Creators: Content creators often rely on ad revenue generated from views on YouTube. When you download and watch a video offline through unofficial means, the creator doesn’t get compensated for that view.

While the chances of an individual user facing legal action for personal downloads are slim, it’s not impossible, and using these services supports a shady ecosystem.

My Final Take

After looking at all the angles, my advice is straightforward. If you frequently need to watch YouTube videos offline, the safest, most reliable, and ethical way how to download a YouTube video is by subscribing to YouTube Premium. It’s designed for this exact purpose, supports the creators you love, and keeps you on the right side of YouTube’s rules.

While options like Creative Commons offer some flexibility, they require careful vetting. As for the myriad of free third-party downloaders, I’d steer clear. The convenience isn’t worth the potential risks to your device’s security or the ethical and legal quandaries they present.