YouTube Download - The Complete Guide

Downloading YouTube videos is a legally complex area.

[Legal Cases]

1. Official YouTube Premium Downloads

• Completely legal and safe

• Playback only within the app

2. Creative Commons Videos

• Allowed by the copyright holder

• Can be downloaded and reused

3. Videos You Uploaded Yourself

• Download originals via YouTube Studio

[Legal Gray Areas]

• Downloading for personal storage

• Korean copyright law: personal use is partially permitted

• However, it still violates YouTube’s Terms of Service

[Clearly Illegal]

• Downloading and redistributing for commercial purposes

• Uploading to other platforms without authorization

• Commercial use

• Unauthorized download of paid content

The safest approach is to subscribe to YouTube Premium.

YouTube Premium offers a legitimate offline download feature.

[Benefits]

• Ad-free viewing

• Background playback

• Offline downloads

• YouTube Music Premium included

• YouTube Originals

[Pricing]

• Individual: $13.99/month

• Family: $22.99/month (up to 5 members)

• Student: $7.99/month

• 1-month free trial available

[How to Download]

1. Subscribe to Premium

2. Open the YouTube app (iOS/Android)

3. Play a video

4. Tap the ‘Download’ button

5. Select video quality

6. Download begins

[Limitations]

• Playback only within the app

• Must renew every 30 days

• Content becomes inaccessible if you cancel your subscription

• Cannot be copied to other devices

**Warning: Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service. Use for personal storage only.**

[Chrome/Firefox Extensions]

• Video DownloadHelper (Firefox)

• SaveFrom.net Helper

• Easy Video Downloader

Google removes YouTube download extensions from the Chrome Web Store, so Firefox may be necessary.

[How to Use]

1. Search in the extension store

2. Install the extension

3. Visit YouTube

4. A download button will appear

5. Select quality and download

[Cautions]

• Watch out for malicious extensions (check reviews)

• Privacy data collection concerns

• Choose only highly rated extensions

• Check for regular updates

**Warning: Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service. Beware of malicious ads.**

[How to Use]

1. Copy the YouTube URL

2. Go to a download site

3. Paste the URL

4. Click download

5. Select quality/format

6. Start the download

[Cautions]

• Malicious ad pop-ups (never click them)

• Watch for fake download buttons

• Use an ad blocker

• Close the page if personal information is requested

• Refuse any requests to install programs

• Keep real-time antivirus protection on

[Safety Tips]

• Use only HTTPS sites

• Check reviews

• Avoid sites with excessive ads

• Scan downloaded files with antivirus software

• Avoid using public computers

**Warning: Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service. For personal use only.**

[Popular Programs]

1. 4K Video Downloader

• Free and paid versions

• Supports up to 8K

• Playlist downloads

• Subtitle downloads

• Official site: 4kdownload.com

2. YTD Video Downloader

• Free

• Simple interface

3. Free YouTube Download

• Free

• Fast download speeds

[How to Use]

1. Download from the official site

2. Install (watch out for bundled software)

3. Launch the program

4. Copy the YouTube URL

5. Click ‘Paste Link’

6. Select quality/format

7. Download

[Cautions]

• Only download from official sites

• Decline bundled installations

• Keep the program updated regularly

**Warning: Possible music copyright infringement. For personal listening only.**

[Online Conversion]

• Paste URL > Convert to MP3

• Watch out for ad pop-ups and malware

[Using a Program]

• Select MP3 output in tools like 4K Video Downloader

• Choose audio quality (128/256/320kbps)

[Legal Alternatives]

• YouTube Music Premium

• Spotify, Apple Music

• Purchase music from digital stores

[Free Music Resources]

• YouTube Audio Library

• Free Music Archive

• Creative Commons licensed music

[Copyright Law]

• Personal copying is partially allowed

• Violates YouTube’s Terms of Service

• Commercial use is illegal

• Criminal penalties possible (up to 5 years imprisonment)

[Using Safely]

1. Subscribe to YouTube Premium (best option)

2. Only download Creative Commons videos

3. Obtain permission from the copyright holder

4. Only download your own videos

[Prohibited Actions]

• Uploading to other platforms

• Using for commercial purposes

• Editing and posting as your own creation

• Downloading heavily copyrighted content

• Selling or distributing files

[Final Recommendation]

Subscribing to YouTube Premium is the safest and most legal option. For around $14/month, you can enjoy offline viewing without any legal concerns while also supporting creators.

[Alternatives to Premium]

• Watch on Wi-Fi instead of downloading for offline use

• Save data by lowering video quality

• Use playback speed: watch at 1.5x or 2x to save time

[Playlists]

• Add videos to Watch Later

• Organize content with playlists

[Free Legal Viewing]

• YouTube is already a free service

• Sit through 15-second ads

• Support your favorite creators

Streaming instead of downloading avoids copyright issues, ensures you always watch the latest version, and sends revenue back to the creators.