Use free online tool to download videos on Mac This free Mac video downloader does not require any installations or registrations; you simply copy the video link and paste it into the URL field. After clicking 'Grab it', it will display video formats available for saving your videos in FLV, WebM, 3GP, MP4 and other formats depending on the website you are downloading from.

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.

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.

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.

PAGE CONTENT:
Download YouTube videos to Mac for Free
Save a Video from YouTube to Mac Online
Download Videos from YouTube to Mac with Chrome/Firefox
Get YouTube Videos on Mac with VLC Media Player
Save YouTube Videos to Mac via Screen Recording

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:

Download youtube videos to mac free onlineYoutube download for mac free
  • 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.

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.

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'.

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.

Download Youtube Video For Mac

  • 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 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?'

Youtube Download For Mac Free

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.

It is not possible for anyone to stay connected to either Wi-Fi or data connection, hence the YouTube videos cannot be accessed if in case the connection goes down. These days there is enough demand for converting the videos to downloadable videos in Mp4 format, to understand how to download YouTube videos mac.

For mobile phones, YouTube has made a way to get videos which makes it easy for YouTube videos on Mac. This means that one will have to go out of the way for downloading the video in a different method. Still thinking what may be at risk by standing against YouTube’s guidelines.

How the YouTube videos could be converted from the downloaded MP4 files on Apple Mac?

This is how to download a YouTube video mac.

The method of sidestepping YouTube’s rules and protocols are not very simple and specifically safe. Moreover, the best YouTube downloader which works on Mac is the one that runs on the website itself such as OnlineVideoConverter.

Let’s see how it’s done

1. First, you will have to copy the URL of the YouTube video.

2. Next step is opening onlinevideoconverter.com as there will be a need to reject an invocation for the notifications.

Here You can Get The List of Top 10 Best YouTube Downloaders for MAC

3. Get the copied YouTube URL pasted which was copied in step 1.

4.Next step is choosing the file format. As one can see it is set to default in MP4 format, the format may vary from user to user.

5. Get in the settings Tab to get the resolution options available.

6. Choose any resolution (Larger size means clearer picture quality).

7. Make sure to uncheck the convert from and convert to options if you wish to opt-out for the complete video.

8. Hit the start button

9. Press the download dialogue box.

10.Next step is to close down the popped up windows dialogue box which opens up. They may ask you to download the flash update, but it is nothing like that.

11.Click to leave, as the pop up is of no use at all.

There you go, the video has been downloaded to the Mac.

How to save the videos for Mac directly on a mac?

The videos can be saved from YouTube with the help of screen capture/record tools that are in-built on a Mac OS. On Mac OS Mojave, press Command + Shift5 to pull up the screen-section, drag and drop to choose the video. Press the record button and next click ok. After that press the play button and once done viewing you can press the stop button in the extreme right corner of the screen.

Which will be the best software for saving videos from YouTube on Mac?

According to the Mac users, it is best to opt for the most dependable and efficient application known by the name Parallels Toolbox. It is a premium version application which will cost annually 20 USD. The parallel toolbox is the most recommended option to go with. This app is believed to be the best free YouTube downloader for Mac.

Once this application is downloaded on the Mac, you need to access Toolbox (which is a complete plethora of extremely productive tools) by selecting the Toolbox Menu on the bar icon. After that proceed to click download which will trigger the download. As the Toolbox will ask you whether to install it and get the extension attached in the Safari web browser, however you can skip this part if you prefer Google Chrome which majority of the people opt to.

1. Get the URL of YouTube video copied you want to download.

2. Access the Toolbox menu which is at the Menu bar.

3. Select the download video dialogue button to trigger the download.

How To Download Youtube Videos Mac online, free Version

4. This is the safari plugin which we just discussed above. Just in case you have set the Safari as the default browser then there is nothing to be worried about anything else, so go ahead with the installdirections.

5. For more options, press the Settings icon.

6. Here you will get all of the options for choosing the video quality.

7.Next step is the option to select the download destination folder.

8. Finally, move the mouse cursor and hit the paste option to paste the copied URL inside the utility box and begin downloading.

Let’s discuss the free applications available for downloading YouTube videos on the Mac

One is always on the hunt for the free option. So the best choice for the perfect YouTube downloader application on Mac is Free YouTube Download. Said to be one of the best YouTube downloaders for Mac.

As this application works perfectly fine, there are some hindrances. Initially the standard application is free of cost, still, you need to pay up 20 USD annually. Same is applicable for the Parallels Toolbox which costs about USD 30 for lifetime validity. This will also allow you to download movies which have a duration of more than 180 seconds. As this application is flooded with several features there are some limitations though. This application is hence acclaimed as the best mac YouTube downloader.

Violating the terms of service: YouTube

As most want to download the YouTube videos, the only method to get it done by paying attention to the guidelines of YouTube on Android or iOS, one will need to pay 12 USD for the YouTube Premium version. Or else you are breaking the YouTube’s terms of service as described below:

You will be able to access the content for personal and information use entirely as supposed across the offered service functionality and is allowed only under such terms of service. You will not have any downloads concerning content until and unless you are looking at a download or same link which is shown via YouTube of service for the respective content. Just in case if you have violated the Terms of Service of YouTube, the organization has the full-fledged rights to delete or terminate the respective account who does so. It will be mentioned as “YouTube is blocking the service access for the user. And in any conditions, if the user is sure that he is again going to repeat the act of violating the Terms of service once again.

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