How to Download YouTube Videos Legally

Step by step

1. 2 min

   Subscribe to YouTube Premium

   Open YouTube and click your profile icon in the top right. Select 'Purchases and memberships' then 'YouTube Premium.' Choose your subscription plan and complete payment. Premium allows offline downloads within the YouTube app for personal use only.

   Note: YouTube Premium includes ad-free viewing and background play in addition to download features.
2. 1 min

   Download videos through YouTube Premium

   Navigate to any video while signed into your Premium account. Tap the download button below the video player. Choose your preferred quality setting from the dropdown menu. The video saves to your device's YouTube app for offline viewing.

   Note: Downloaded videos expire after 30 days offline or when your Premium subscription ends.
3. 5 min

   Contact creators for permission

   Visit the creator's channel page and look for business contact information in the About section. Send a professional email explaining your intended use and requesting written permission to download their content. Wait for explicit written consent before proceeding.

   Note: Many creators are willing to share content for educational or non-commercial purposes when asked respectfully.
4. 2 min

   Use Creative Commons licensed content

   Search YouTube using the filter Tools > Type > Creative Commons. These videos can be legally downloaded and reused according to their specific license terms. Verify the exact Creative Commons license by clicking 'Show more' in the video description.

   Note: Always check the specific CC license requirements - some require attribution or prohibit commercial use.
5. 1 min

   Download your own uploaded content

   Sign into YouTube Studio at studio.youtube.com. Navigate to Content in the left sidebar. Find your video and click the three dots menu. Select 'Download' to save your original uploaded file to your computer.

   Note: This downloads the original file quality, not the compressed YouTube version.
6. 1 min

   Use YouTube's official download features

   Access YouTube Go (in select regions) or YouTube Premium's offline feature for mobile downloading. These official apps provide the only legitimate ways to download content for offline viewing while respecting copyright and terms of service.

   Note: Third-party download tools typically violate YouTube's Terms of Service and may pose security risks.