Watching videos on YouTube is fun, but what if you want to watch them later when you're not online, or you want to transfer them to your phone? You have to download the video to do this. Follow this guide to learn how to download videos and watch them later.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Downloading Videos
Step 1. Find the video you want to download
To download a video in high definition, the video must be available as a stream in high definition. Click the gear icon at the bottom of the video. If the available options are 720p or 1080p, then you can download videos in high definition.
Step 2. Visit the download site
This site will take the URL of the video you want to download, and give you the download link. Many of these sites can be used for youtube and other video sites.
In an open browser, type "download youtube videos free" and click on the link in the search results. There will be several sites that you can choose from
Step 3. Enter the YouTube link you want to download. Copy the full URL from your browser's address field and paste it into the provided field. Make sure to include "http:". Click the download button.
Step 4. Run the Java applet
To convert the file, KeepVid must be running a Java applet on your computer. This is a web-based program, and you will need to confirm before you can proceed. Confirm if you really believe that you trust the site. Read user reviews before allowing any program to run on your computer.
Step 5. Download the file
You will be given a list of video files to download. High-definition files will be placed at the bottom of the list, and have the largest file size. They have the MP4 format, and require special software to view on Windows. Mac OS X supports the MP4 format by default.
Part 2 of 2: Viewing High Definition Videos on Windows
Step 1. Download universal media player
There are several free and open-source media players available on the internet. VLC Player and Media Player Classic are two of the most popular choices.
Step 2. Select the video you want to view
Right-click the video and select Open With… From the list of programs, select the media player you just installed. Check the box that says “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file”. This allows you to simply double-click on the MP4 file next time and the video will play automatically.
Step 3. Download the right quality
Some older computers may have difficulty running high definition videos smoothly. If VLC or Media Player Classic always stutters when playing videos, you may need to download a lower quality version of the video for comfortable viewing.
Tips
Not every video is available in high definition
Warning
- Downloading videos is against YouTube's Terms of Service.
- Sometimes the company that provides software for downloading videos will also install malware on your computer. Be careful when installing anything on your computer.
