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KaiSullivan's avatar
KaiSullivan
Iron Contributor
Dec 15, 2025

Look for a way for downloading youtube music playlist

Alright, I'll admit I've been out of the loop on this. Every site I click feels like an ad-filled minefield or requires some sketchy "converter" extension. Need to grab a few long playlists for offline project work and my usual methods are dead.

What's a good way to download youtube music playlist these days? Command-line is fine if it's straightforward, but a clean GUI is a plus. Hearing mixed things about some older tools being broken now. Hard requirement is that it doesn't come bundled with crap. Any recent successes would be a huge help. Bonus points if it handles higher quality audio/video. 

8 Replies

  • Qanuel's avatar
    Qanuel
    Iron Contributor

    For me, AlllClipDown is the best app I have ever used for downloading youtube playlists. You can try yourself.

  • AdrianPierce's avatar
    AdrianPierce
    Iron Contributor

    Using Browser Developer Tools for downloading YouTube music playlist on your PC is a very manual and technical process. It involves inspecting the webpage to find direct video or audio stream URLs and then downloading those files individually. Here's a general overview of how it works:

    How it Works for downloading YouTube music playlist on PC:

    1. Open the YouTube playlist in your browser.
    2. Open Developer Tools:
       On Chrome/Edge: Press F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I.
       On Firefox: Press F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I.
    3. Go to the Network Tab:
       This shows all network requests made by the webpage.
       Play the playlist or a specific video.
    4. Filter for media files:
       Look for requests with .mp.4, .webm, .m4.a, or similar audio/video formats.
    5. Identify the stream URL:
       Right-click the request, copy the URL.
    6. Download the stream:
       Paste the URL into a download manager or directly into your browser address bar to save the file.

  • MichaelMiller's avatar
    MichaelMiller
    Bronze Contributor

    Yes, JDownl0ader can download YouTube music playlists to your PC. It's one of the more popular and capable tools for this purpose. 

    How JDownl0ader Works for YouTube Playlists

      You can then download them all at once, with options to:
      Download the video files (MP.4, Web.M, etc.)
      Extract just the audio (as MP.3, AA.C, etc.) without keeping the video
      It handles everything: parallel downloads, resume capability, auto-retry on failures.

    Step-by-Step Setup for Downloading YouTube music Playlist
    1. Download JDownl0ader.
    2. Decline any optional/adware (common in free tools).
    3. After installation:
       Go Settings → Plugins & Add-ons
       Search for and install YouTube plugin if not already present
    4. In Settings → Advanced Settings:
       Search for "YouTube"
       Configure preferred audio format (e.g., MP.3, M.4A)
       Set download folder
    5. Downloading a playlist as audio:
       Copy the playlist URL
       Paste into Linkgrabber
       Right-click → Set download rules → Select "Audio" only format
       Start download

  • Leonardprio's avatar
    Leonardprio
    Iron Contributor

    Firefox has a very popular add-on for downloading youtube playlist, including the music playlist.

    YouTube Playlist Tools is a Firefox browser extension designed to make working with YouTube playlists easier directly inside the YouTube website. Instead of relying on external websites or standalone software, this add-on adds extra controls to playlist pages, allowing you to export, manage, and prepare playlists for downloading. It’s especially useful as a helper tool when you want a lightweight, browser-based solution without installing heavy desktop apps.

    1. Open the Firefox Add-ons page and install YouTube Playlist Tools. After installation, restart Firefox if prompted.
    2. Go to YouTube and open the (music) playlist you want to download. Make sure all videos are visible (scroll down if needed so the full playlist loads).
    3. The extension adds extra buttons or menu options on the playlist page. These tools usually appear near the playlist controls or as a small extension icon.
    4. Use the extension to export the playlist links, video IDs, or titles. Some options allow copying all video URLs at once or generating a formatted list.
    5. Paste the exported playlist URLs into a compatible downloader (such as a command-line tool or desktop app) that supports batch or playlist downloads. The extension acts as a bridge rather than a full downloader.
    6. Complete the download process in your chosen downloader and store the videos or audio files on your device for offline use.

    Disadvantage of YouTube Playlist Tools

    • No built-in downloader: The add-on does not directly download videos; it mainly helps extract playlist data.
    • Firefox only: Not available for Chrome or other browsers.
    • YouTube UI changes: Updates to YouTube may temporarily break some features.
    • Manual extra step: You still need another tool to actually download the playlist content.

    Overall, YouTube Playlist Tools is a handy companion extension for Firefox users who frequently want to download YouTube music playlists, but it works best when combined with a separate downloader rather than as a standalone solution.

     

  • MadisonClark's avatar
    MadisonClark
    Iron Contributor

    Using yt--d1p is one of the best options for free, reliable, and high-quality downloading YouTube music playlists. It's a powerful open-source command-line tool designed specifically for downloading videos and audio from YouTube and many other platforms.

    • Pros: Active fork of youtube--d1, supports playlists, high-quality audio/video, customizable.
    • Cons: Requires familiarity with command-line.

     

    How to download YouTube Music Playlist:

    1. Download yt--d1p from GitHub releases.
    2. Install Python if needed.
    3. Run a command like:

    yt---d1p -f 'bestaudio/best' --yes-playlist "https/youtube-com/playlist?list=YOUR_PLAYLIST_ID"

    4. To download in higher quality, specify formats or quality settings.
    5. You can also set output formats, directories, etc.

    Important notes
    Legal considerations: Download content only if you have rights or permission, respecting YouTube's terms of service.
    Dependencies: You might need to install ffmmpppeg for audio conversion, which yt--d1p uses.
    Batch processing: yt--d1p handles large playlists efficiently.

  • Angelinalie's avatar
    Angelinalie
    Iron Contributor

    There is a free and open source youtube playlist downloader available on GitHub. It it named YouTubePlaylistDownloader,  focusing specifically on downloading entire YouTube music playlists instead of single videos. Because it is community-maintained and script-based, it appeals mainly to technical users who prefer free, transparent tools over online services. The project usually relies on well-known backends to fetch videos efficiently while keeping everything local on your computer.

    1. Visit the GitHub repository and either clone it using Git or download the ZIP file. Extract the files to a folder on your computer.

    2. Follow the instructions in the README file to install any required Python packages or libraries. This usually involves running a simple command in the terminal.

    3. Open YouTube, go to the music playlist you want to download, and copy the full playlist link.

    4. Open a terminal or command prompt in the project folder and run the script, pasting the playlist URL when prompted or passing it as a parameter. The tool will start downloading youtube music playlist automatically.

    5. Once the process finishes, the downloaded videos (or audio files, depending on configuration) will be saved locally, typically organized by playlist title.

    Cons of Using YouTubePlaylistDownloader

    • Not beginner-friendly: Requires basic command-line knowledge and manual setup.
    • No graphical interface: Everything is done via terminal commands.
    • Dependency issues: Updates to YouTube or missing libraries can break the tool until it is updated.
    • Manual maintenance: Users must keep the backend downloader up to date for best results.

    In summary, YouTubePlaylistDownloader is a powerful free solution to download YouTube playlists if you are comfortable with technical setup, but casual users may prefer GUI-based or online alternatives.

  • Princellcp's avatar
    Princellcp
    Iron Contributor

    OnlineVide0Converter (OVC) is a popular online service that allows you to convert YouTube videos as MP3 or MP4 files, and it does support playlist conversions to some extent. However, there are some important caveats to consider.

    Pros:

    • Free and Easy to Use: No installation needed, just paste the playlist URL.
    • Supports multiple formats: MP3, MP4, etc.
    • Quick conversions: Suitable for small playlists or individual videos.

     

    How to Use OnlineVide0Converter for downloading YouTube music playlists?

    1. Copy the YouTube playlist URL.
    2. Visit OnlineVide0Converter.
    3. Paste the playlist URL into the input box.
    4. Choose your preferred format (e.g., MP3).
    5. Click "Start" or "Convert".
    6. Download YouTube music playlists once the conversion completes.

     

    For large playlists, this process may be slow, or the site might not handle the entire playlist well. You might need to do it for individual videos if the playlist is too big.

     

     

  • Tiger00ds's avatar
    Tiger00ds
    Iron Contributor

    postly.ai, one of the most popular online tools for download youtube music playlist these days. It works directly in your browser, with no software installation required. Besides single videos, it can also handle YouTube playlists, which makes it useful when you want to save multiple videos quickly for offline viewing or extract audio tracks. Since it runs online, it’s especially convenient for users who are on a shared computer or don’t want to use command-line tools or desktop apps.

    How to download youtube music playlist for free

    Step 1: Go to the YouTube Video Downloader page on Postly.ai using your web browser.

    Step 2: Open YouTube, navigate to the playlist you want to download, and copy the full playlist link from the address bar or the “Share” option.

    Step 3: Paste the copied playlist URL into the input box on the Postly.ai page. The tool will analyze the playlist automatically.

    Step 4 :Select your preferred output format, such as MP4 for video or MP3 for audio. If available, choose the video resolution or audio quality for the downloads.

    Step 5: Click the download button. Postly.ai will process the playlist and provide download links for the videos or audio files, usually one by one.

    Step 6: Download each file to your computer or mobile device and store them locally for offline use.

    Note: It requires a stable internet connection, and large playlists may take time to process. In addition, Very long playlists may not load completely or may require downloading videos individually.

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