How to Download YouTube Videos on a Windows PC

For many people, YouTube has become their primary source of entertainment. The platform usually works without issue, but a weak internet connection can negatively impact your viewing experience. Unfortunately, YouTube’s more advanced perks, including video downloading, are reserved for Premium users. Those who prefer consuming content on their PC have difficulty finding an effective way of saving videos to their local storage.

The good news is that there are several methods to resolve the issue and download YouTube videos on a Windows PC.

Read on to learn more.

ByClick Downloader

To start, we’ll cover the easiest method to download videos from YouTube on your PC. The ByClick Downloader is a trusted third-party source that lets users download YouTube videos, playlists, and Live videos with just a few clicks.

Here’s how to download YouTube videos:

1. Download the ByClick Downloader here.
   
2. Open YouTube and select the video you’d like to download.
   
3. A pop-up window will appear in the lower-left corner of your computer’s screen. Click Download video.
   
4. Open the ByClick Downloader and wait for your video to complete.
   
5. After the download completes, you will find your YouTube video in the folder listed under Choose folder in the ByClick Downloader.

If the pop-up window in step three doesn’t appear, copy the YouTube video’s URL in the address bar. Then, open the ByClick Downloader, and select your download location and quality. Then, select Paste URL. The video will begin downloading automatically.

Use Open Video Downloader

Open Video Downloader is a free tool that works well with Windows operating systems, so it will allow you to save videos to your PC quickly. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Head to the Video Downloader Github and click on the Get button to download and install the software from the Microsoft Store.
   
2. Open YouTube, find the video you wish to save, and open it.
   
3. Navigate to the address bar, highlight it, right-click, and tap the Copy option to copy the video link.
   
4. Launch the Open Video Downloader program from the Windows Start menu.
   
5. Over the cursor over the address bar, right-click, and choose Paste to insert the video link into the field.
   
6. Click on the + button. It will analyze the YouTube video and generate several download options.
   
7. Go through the list of options and select the desired video quality. The program’s default setting is Video + Audio, which ensures the downloaded video contains the audio. You’ll find the resolution options in the second drop-down menu.
   
8. Press the Download button in the lower-right corner of the desktop.
   

Depending on the size of the file and the strength of your internet connection, it may take the software several minutes to complete the download. The progress tab will alert you when the process is finished.

Your PC will store the video in the Downloads folder. To view the video immediately, press the small arrow next to the downloaded file and click on Show file in folder.

Use VLC Media Player

Many people have set the user-friendly VLC tool as their default media player, but you can also use the program to download YouTube videos. If you haven’t installed the program, you can get it on the VLC website for free.

Saving a video on your PC with VLC Player is relatively straightforward. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open YouTube and select the video you want to download.
   
2. Highlight and copy the URL from the address bar.
   
3. Launch VLC Media Player from the Windows Start menu.
   
4. Click on Media and choose Open Network Stream. Network streams let VLC play content you’ve opened in your web browser.
   
5. Paste the video’s URL into the Please enter a network URL field.
   
6. Tap the Play button to open the video in the media player.
   
7. Press the Tools tab and select the Codec Information option.
   
8. Navigate to the Location box and copy the address.
   
9. Paste the address into your browser and hit Enter.
   
10. Hold the cursor over the video, right-click, and click on Save video as to launch the Save dialogue.
    
11. Select the location where the PC will store the video.
    

Your PC will begin downloading the MP4 file and save it as “videoplayback.” If you’re downloading a larger file, you might need to wait a few minutes until the PC completes the process. You can double-click the file to open it immediately.

Use 4K Video Downloader

Another excellent option to consider is the 4K Video Downloader. The tool features an easy-to-use interface that makes it stand out among its competitors. To download videos with the program:

1. Download the setup file from the 4K Video Downloader web page and install the software. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the process.
   
2. Open YouTube in your internet browser and play the video you want to download.
   
3. Copy the link from the address bar at the top of the browser.
   
4. Launch the 4K Video Downloader from the Windows Start menu.
   
5. Navigate to the upper-left part of the program and click on Paste Link to paste the URL in the appropriate field.
   
6. Go to the Format menu and select the desired video format.
   
7. Select the video quality supported by your PC.
   
8. Click on the Download button on the lower portion of the screen.
   

When your PC downloads the file, right-click the video and select the Show in folder option from the drop-down menu. The video will appear in the File Explorer window, and you can double-tap it to stream it in your default media player.

Use an Online Converter

Many web-based converters allow users to save YouTube videos on their computers. One popular option is 9xBuddy, which has no difficulty downloading longer videos.

1. Go to YouTube and play the video you wish to download.
   
2. Highlight the link in the address bar, right-click, and tap Copy.
   
3. Open the 9xBuddy web page in a new tab.
   
4. Paste the URL into the appropriate field.
   
5. Click on the Download button. The website will scan the YouTube video and generate several format and quality options.
   
6. Tap the Video button to view the video results.
   
7. Press Download Now beside the desired video format and quality. The website will convert the video.
   
8. Tap Download Now again to save the file to your PC’s local storage.
   

Once the PC downloads the file, press the video to view it in your default media player.

Note that some online converters are full of ads and pop-up windows. Avoid clicking on the ads since they might contain viruses that could compromise your data and PC. If the browser opens new windows, close them immediately. These sites might also contain malware and stop your computer from working correctly.

Although online tools help users save storage space, using them is potentially dangerous. Make sure to practice online safety measures and remain vigilant.

It’s best to use an ad-blocker to protect your information and devices when visiting unfamiliar web pages.

Use iTubeGo Video Downloader

iTubeGo is another excellent tool that supports downloading videos from over 10,000 websites, including YouTube. Here’s how to use the program to save videos on your PC:

1. Go to the iTubeGo official webpage to download and install the software.
   
2. Head to YouTube and open the video you wish to download.
   
3. Highlight the link in the address bar, right-click, and select the Copy option.
   
4. Launch the iTubeGo program using the desktop shortcut.
   
5. Click on Paste URL at the top of the interface. The action will generate a new window.
   
6. Paste the URL into the appropriate field and click on the Download button at the bottom of the window.
   

Use a Browser Extension

If you don’t want to download additional software or visit multiple sites to download a single video, you can install a browser extension. For example, Video DownloadHelper is a Firefox extension that allows users to download videos directly from the YouTube page. To use the extension:

1. Open the Firefox browser and visit the Firefox Add-Ons page to install the extension.
   
2. Head to YouTube, open the video you want to download, and stream it for approximately one minute.
   
3. Double-tap the Video DownloadHelper icon at the top of the browser to view the different format options.
   
4. Press the desired option.
   

Depending on the size of the video, your PC may take several minutes to complete the download.

Take Your Favorite Videos Offline

Although YouTube is mostly a glitch-free platform, a weak internet connection is enough to prevent you from enjoying your favorite content. Fortunately, you don’t need a Premium subscription to download videos. Until YouTube introduces a built-in solution, you can download videos using software like VLC Media Player, Open Video Downloader, and 4K Video Downloader. Or you might prefer working with web-based converters like 9xBuddy. Firefox users can install the Video DownloadHelper extension.

Do you often download YouTube videos on your Windows PC? Which of the above methods is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.