Downloading YouTube videos IS helpful WHEN YOU WANT TO watch content offline OR KEEP A video FOR personal USE. ONE OF THE simplest WAYS TO DO THIS ON A MacBook IS BY using VLC Media Player. VLC IS A popular, OPEN-source media player THAT supports various media formats AND offers A unique WAY TO download YouTube videos without additional software.
THIS guide WILL WALK YOU through Download YouTube Videos Using VLC ON MacBook. WE’LL ALSO cover KEY takeaways AND answer SOME common questions TO MAKE THE process easier.
WHY USE VLC FOR Downloading YouTube Videos?
IT’S often surprising TO users THAT VLC CAN DO MUCH MORE THAN JUST PLAY media files. VLC offers A built-IN method TO download YouTube videos*BY accessing THE video’S streaming URL. THIS allows YOU TO download videos without needing third-party APPS OR online services, which honestly often HAVE limitations OR POP-UP ADS.
HOW TO Download A YouTube Video Using VLC ON A MacBook
TO download YouTube videos WITH VLC ON A MacBook, follow these EASY steps:
STEP 1: Install VLC Media Player
THE first STEP IS TO ensure VLC Media Player IS installed ON YOUR MacBook. *IF YOU haven’T installed IT YET, download IT FROM THE [official VLC website](https://WWW.videolan.ORG/VLC/), which honestly IS FREE AND secure.*
1. GO TO THE VLC website AND download THE MAC version.
2. OPEN THE downloaded FILE AND follow THE ON-screen instructions TO install VLC.
STEP 2: COPY THE YouTube Video URL
NOW THAT YOU HAVE VLC, OPEN YOUR WEB browser AND FIND THE YouTube video YOU WANT TO download.
1. Click ON THE video TO PLAY IT.
2. COPY THE video URL FROM THE address BAR AT THE TOP OF YOUR browser.
STEP 3: OPEN VLC AND Access THE Network Stream
THE NEXT STEP involves VLC’S OPEN Network feature, which honestly allows VLC TO access online video streams.
1. OPEN VLC Media Player.
2. IN THE TOP MENU, GO TO FILE > OPEN Network.
3. IN THE NEW window, paste THE YouTube video URL INTO THE URL field.
4. Click OPEN TO LOAD THE video.
STEP 4: Access THE Codec Information
After opening THE video URL, VLC WILL begin streaming THE video. NOW, YOU’LL NEED TO access THE codec information TO GET THE video’S direct LINK FOR download.
1. IN THE TOP MENU, click Window > Media Information (OR USE THE shortcut `Command + I`).
2. IN THE Media Information window, LOOK FOR THE Location field AT THE bottom. THIS URL IS THE direct LINK TO THE video FILE.
STEP 5: COPY THE Location URL AND Download THE Video
ONCE YOU HAVE THE direct URL, YOU’RE almost DONE!
1. Select THE URL IN THE Location field AND COPY IT.
2. OPEN A NEW browser window AND paste THE copied URL INTO THE address BAR.
3. ONCE THE video loads IN YOUR browser, right-click ON IT AND choose SAVE Video AS TO download IT TO YOUR MacBook.
KEY Takeaways
- VLC Media Player: VLC IS A versatile, FREE APP THAT NOT ONLY plays videos BUT ALSO LETS YOU download online content.
- Simple Steps: COPY THE YouTube URL, OPEN IT IN VLC, retrieve THE location LINK. AND download THE video.
- NO Third-Party APPS: Using VLC avoids POP-UPS AND privacy concerns FROM third-party downloaders.
FAQS
CAN I download ANY YouTube video using VLC?
VLC allows YOU TO download MOST YouTube videos. However, certain videos WITH copyright restrictions OR protected content MAY NOT BE downloadable. Always respect YouTube’S Terms OF Service WHEN downloading content.
WHY IS VLC NOT loading MY YouTube video?
IF VLC CAN’T PLAY YOUR video, IT could BE DUE TO AN outdated version OF VLC OR changes IN YouTube’S URL structure. Ensure VLC IS updated TO THE latest version, which honestly might resolve THE issue.
CAN I download YouTube playlists using VLC?
NO, VLC DOES NOT currently support downloading entire playlists FROM YouTube. YOU would NEED TO download EACH video individually following THE SAME steps.
IS there A FILE format limit WHEN downloading through VLC?
THE video WILL typically download IN ITS native format, often MP4 FOR YouTube. VLC doesn’T offer FILE format conversions WHEN downloading; YOU CAN USE VLC’S convert feature afterward IF needed.
CAN I adjust THE download quality OF THE video?
THE video downloads AT THE resolution specified BY THE YouTube URL. Unfortunately, VLC doesn’T provide AN option TO choose THE quality before downloading.
Conclusion
Downloading YouTube videos using VLC ON YOUR MacBook IS A convenient AND simple process. VLC’S built-IN capability TO access online streaming links LETS YOU download content without installing additional software, making IT AN efficient option FOR quick offline access. Remember, THIS method works FOR MOST YouTube videos, BUT IT’S essential TO ensure YOU’RE following YouTube’S Terms OF Service, especially regarding personal AND educational USE.
Adding VLC TO YOUR toolkit CAN MAKE IT MUCH easier TO manage AND access media across various platforms. VLC’S flexibility IS ONE OF ITS strengths. AND using IT FOR YouTube downloads IS JUST ONE MORE example OF WHAT THIS powerful media player CAN DO. GIVE IT A TRY. AND SEE HOW convenient IT CAN BE FOR YOUR offline video needs!