How to download youtube videos on pc for offline viewing?

Avoid using the online tools they are not safe. Instead, a desktop app is more recommended if you want to download youtube videos on your pc in a secure way.

You can use the Wgat/Curl Method, that relies on the classic command-line tools Wgat and curl. Modern YouTube videos don't have a single, simple URL you can download. They are served as separate video and audio streams (especially for HD quality) and require a complex process to decrypt, identify, and merge them.

The Wgat/Curl method bypasses this by manually finding a single, pre-processed stream URL that YouTube serves to older devices or browsers. This is why it's so limited.

How to download YouTube videos on PC? This method almost always finds the M3U8 playlist or a single MP4 file that contains both audio and video. On YouTube, such files are typically limited to 720p resolution or lower. You cannot get 1080p, 4K, or higher with this simple method. The URLs you copy are temporary and contain authentication tokens. They might expire in 15 minutes to an hour. If you try to download later, it will fail. You must repeat the entire Developer Tools process for every single video you want to download. There is no batch downloading.

Video Downloader Professional browser extension.

1. Open the Chrome Web Store (or the equivalent store for your browser, like the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store).

2. Search and install Video Downloader Professional browser extension.

3. Go to YouTube and open the video you wish to download.

4. You will often see a new "Download" button added below the video, next to the "Like," "Dislike," and "Share" buttons.

5. Click this button. A list of available video and audio quality formats will appear. Select your desired format (e.g., MP4 720p, MP3). The download will start immediately.

6. Your browser's downloads bar will appear at the bottom or top of the window. You can always access your downloads by pressing Ctrl + J on your keyboard. The video file will be in your default "Downloads" folder.

While "Video Downloader Professional" and similar extensions offer a seemingly convenient one-click solution, they are often the least reliable and least safe method to download YouTube videos on PC when comparing to a desktop app.

For offline viewing, consider YouTube Premium, which offers legal and safe downloads within their app. Emphasizes that the most legitimate and risk-free way for downloading YouTube videos for offline use is through YouTube Premium, which is a paid service provided by YouTube.

If you're planning to free download YouTube videos on PC, this sentence implies that doing so may not be legal or safe, especially if you do not have permission from the content owner or if you're using unofficial tools or methods. It highlights that YouTube Premium is the official and legal method, but it involves a subscription fee.

My advice:
If you want to stay within legal and safe boundaries, it's best to avoid free downloading methods that violate YouTube's policies.

A simple way to record the screen with OBS, which is completely free. Rather than "downloading" the video file directly, you are creating a perfect, high-quality copy by recording your screen and system audio as the video plays. It's a powerful technique favored by content creators for its reliability and control, turning your PC into a universal video capture tool.

How to download youtube videos on pc for free

Step 1: Download the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Run the installer and follow the setup wizard. The default settings are fine for most users.

Step 2: At the bottom of the OBS window, you'll see the "Sources" box. Click the "+" button. From the list, select "Window Capture." A dialog box will appear. Give this new source a name, like "YouTube Window," and click OK.

Step 3: To record the video's sound, you need to capture your system's audio, make sure the "Desktop Audio" is not muted.

Step 4: Open the YouTube video you want to "download." Press play. In the main OBS control window, click the "Start Recording" button.

Let the entire video play. You will see a timer in the controls indicating the recording is active. When the video is finished, click the "Stop Recording" button.

Step 5: By default, OBS saves your recordings in the Videos folder in your user directory. You can change this location by going to File > Settings > Output and looking at the "Recording Path" under the Recording section.

Pro Tip: Use a High-Quality Source. You'd better playing the YouTube video at the highest resolution (e.g., 1080p or 4K) for the best results.

You can download it on a smartphone with apps like Seal and transfer the videos to PC. This is currently the best-in-class for users who value safety, privacy, and a clean experience.

Why it's great for downloading youtube videos on pc:

Open Source: The code is publicly available, meaning it's transparent and doesn't hide malware or trackers.

Clean & Modern: Uses the Material You design language, making it look and feel like a native part of your Android system.

Powerful: Built on yt----dlp (the best command-line downloader), it can download videos, shorts, and audio from YouTube and many other sites.

No Ads: Completely free with no annoying ads.

Where to get it: Since it's not on the Google Play Store (for policy reasons), you download it from GitHub or F---Droid (a trusted repository for open-source apps). You'll need to enable "Install from Unknown Sources" for this.

One popular solution is to use the V1C media player to download YouTube video on PC. Most people don't know V1C can stream and save YouTube videos. It's already on many PCs and completely safe.

V1C doesn't "download" videos in the traditional sense. It accesses the raw video stream and records it to a file on your computer. Think of it like recording a live TV broadcast rather than downloading a file.

When Should You Use This Method?
For a single, short video when no other option is available.
As a last resort when online downloaders are blocked or you can't install software.
When you want to use a tool you already have and trust (V1C is very safe).

Step-by-Step Guide for "download YouTube videos on PC"
Step 1: Get the YouTube Video URL
Step 2: Open V1C's Network Stream
Step 3: Paste the URL and Access Hidden Menu
Step 4: Configure the Conversion/Saving Settings
Step 5: Let V1C "Record" the Video

Recommend the "Firefox with Video DownloadHelper" method if you are planning to download YouTube videos on PC.  This method actually records the video stream rather than "downloading" in the traditional sense. Video DownloadHelper can sometimes detect and download YouTube videos, but YouTube often updates its site to prevent this. As a result, the extension may not always work reliably.

Setup:

1. Install Firefox
2. Install Video DownloadHelper extension
3. Go to a YouTube video and play it
4. The extension icon will activate - click it and look for the highest quality stream
5. It will capture and save the video file