How to download music from youtube to computer for free?

I found this simple way one week ago and works great for downloading music from youtube. Tested on my Windows 11 PC and MacBook Pro M3 without any issue. Here is the quick tutorial:

https://www.safedowns.com/download-music-from-youtube

Please note that do not use any online software if you are going to download music from YouTube. Downloading music from YouTube online can pose several dangers and disadvantages, including:

* Some online downloaders may produce low-quality audio files or incomplete downloads, affecting your listening experience.
* Some sites may bombard you with intrusive ads or prompt you to install unwanted software that can compromise your privacy.
* Using untrustworthy online converters can risk your personal data, as some sites might track user activity or collect data without consent.
* Some sites may attempt to scam users through fake download links or phishing attempts.

To stay safe, to download music from YouTube, it's best to use legal and authorized platforms for music downloads or streaming, such as official music services.

The GitHub repo JunkFood02/Seal is an open-source video and audio downloader for Android, serving as a graphical interface on top of the powerful ybt-dlp tool. It's designed with Google's Material You design language and is implemented in pure Kotlin, using Jetpack Compose with UI and logic in one activity without fragments.

Steps to download music from youtube:

1. Download the latest stable APK from GitHub Releases or F-Droid.

2. Open the app after installation.

3. Go to the YouTube app or browser, open the video, and tap Share > Copy link.

4. Open Seal again.

5. Tap the "+" (plus) button at the bottom right.

6. Paste the YouTube link in the dialog box and confirm.

7. After parsing the link, Seal will show media options.

8. Tap the download icon beside the format you want.

9. To free download only music from youtube to computer, choose an audio-only format (m4a or webm.)

The download will start and appear in the queue. You can view progress and access completed downloads from the app.

OnlineVideoConvarter is a popular free online  tool that allows you to get videos into MP3 audio files for offline listening. Here's how you can use it to download music from YouTube:

1. Copy the video URL and open OnlineVideoConvarter.
3. Paste the copied the video link into the input box on the website.
4. Select MP3 format.
5. Click the "Start" button.
6. After processing, a download link will appear. Click it to save the MP3 file to your computer.

Important Tips & Considerations:

• Only download music from YouTube that you have the rights to or that is legally permissible to download.
• Downloading copyrighted material without permission may violate laws and YouTube's Terms of Service.
• Be cautious; some online converters may have intrusive ads or pop-ups. Use a reliable browser with ad-blockers if needed.
• Some converters may offer options for audio quality; choose higher quality if available.

No one mention YouTube Premium? It​​ is a paid subscription service offered by YouTube that provides an ad-free viewing experience across the platform, including YouTube Music, along with the ability to download videos and music for offline playback.

Subscribers also enjoy background play, which allows audio to continue playing even when the app is minimized or the screen is locked, and access to YouTube Originals exclusive shows and movies produced by YouTube. The service aims to enhance the user experience by removing interruptions and offering more control over how and when content is consumed.

You can follow the steps in below to download music from youtube to computer for free:

Step 1: Go to the youtube website on your computer.

Step 2: Sign up the premium account you have.

Step 3: Go to the video or music on youtube.

Step 4: Tap the three dots (⋯) next to any song, album, or playlist

Step 5: Select "Download" from the menu For playlists, you can download the entire list at once.

Step 6: Open the "Library" tab Tap "Downloads" to see all your saved music Content will be available offline for listening.

Tips:

• Offline Access Only​​: Downloads work only within the YouTube Music app
• ​​No MP3 Download​​: You cannot download files as MP3s
• ​​Subscription Required​​: Downloads require an active Premium subscription
• ​​Expiration​​: Downloaded content may expire if you cancel Premium
• ​​Legal Use​​: Only download content you have rights to access

You can download music from youtube to computer with the YouTube Music app.

YouTube Music​​ is a music streaming service developed by ​​Google​​, offering:

• ​​Ad-free music streaming​​ (with a Premium subscription)
• Offline downloads​​ (for Premium users)
• Background play​​ (music keeps playing even when the app is minimized)
• Personalized playlists & recommendations​​

It includes:

✔ Official songs, albums, and remixes

✔ User-uploaded music content (live performances, covers, etc.)

✔ Music videos (if you subscribe to ​​YouTube Premium​​)

How to download music from youtube to computer

1. Download the ​​YouTube Music app​​ (Android/iOS) or use the web version.

2. Search for a song, album, or playlist.

3. Tap the ​​three dots (⋯)​​ next to it.

4. Select ​​"Download"​​ (a downward arrow icon).

5. The song/playlist will be saved for offline listening.

6. Go to the ​​"Library"​​ tab → ​​"Downloads"​​ to play offline.

Important Notes:​​
⚠️ ​​Downloads are encrypted​​ and ​​only work in the YouTube Music app​​—you ​​can't download music MP3 files​​.

⚠️ ​​Downloads expire​​ if you cancel Premium.

Wanting to download some tunes for free. But honestly, downloading music from YouTube without permission is kinda shady and can land you in legal hot water. Plus, a lot of the free tools out there can mess up your PC with viruses or bad ads.

That said, if you're looking for legit ways to download music from YouTube for free on Windows, here are some safer options:

• Use YouTube's Offline feature: If you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you can download videos and music legally to watch offline. Not free forever, but it's legit.
• Free Music Platforms: Check out sites like Free Music Archive or S0undCloud — they have artists sharing tracks legally for free.
• Streaming Services with Free Tiers: Spotify, YouTube Music, and others have free versions with ads. You can listen offline if you upgrade, but even the free version is decent.
• Legal Download Sites: Some artists or labels offer free downloads directly from their websites or Bandcamp pages.

If you still want to do it with a tool, be super careful. Some people use programs like 4K Vide0 Downloader or ClipGreb, which are relatively safe if downloaded from official sites. But remember, even then, it’s best to stay within legal boundaries.

Downloading music from YouTube for free is a tricky situation.  Legally, it's a no-go.  YouTube creators put a lot of work into their music, and they deserve to get paid for it.  Downloading it without paying is like stealing, even if it's just a song.

My experience with trying to download music from YouTube?  It's usually a total pain.  You end up with a bunch of sketchy sites, or worse, files that are corrupted or have viruses attached.  Plus, you're basically relying on someone else to have already ripped the music, and they might not have done it properly.

Honestly, it's way easier and more satisfying to just use a legitimate music streaming service or buy the music.  You get better quality, you support the artists, and you don't have to worry about legal issues or bad files.  There are some sites that offer free music but it's often of questionable legality and quality.

So, instead of going down that rabbit hole, check out Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music Premium (if you can afford it).  You'll get a much better experience and avoid the hassle.  Or if you just want to listen to a song once, use the YouTube's built-in sharing and download features, which will often respect the rights of the artist.