An arrow will indicate that the video is downloading and a box will pop up with the details, e.g. Downloading 'Peppa Pig.mp4' and you can watch as the download happens. In order to use our tool to download and convert youtube videos to mp4, users do not have to be computer geeks. It is a really user-friendly converter and any user will be able to convert a video from Youtube into mp4 format and at high-quality resolution. Take your chance now and see it for yourself. To insert a video URL is all that you need!
After reading this article, you will know five easy and fast ways to download YouTube videos on Mac. Apply one of them to save YouTube videos to your Mac and then you can watch offline without an Internet connection.
As the biggest video site in the world, YouTube has a wide range of users who search, view and upload videos every day. However, unlike you can freely view and upload videos on YouTube, you can't download YouTube videos directly on the site. That's why so many users are looking for a way to download YouTube videos to iPhone/iPad, save videos from YouTube to PC, download YouTube videos on Mac, and more.
Given that, here we provide five proven ways to download videos from YouTube to Mac, including using desktop software, online service, and other workable ways. Read on to learn how to download YouTube videos on Mac in different ways and carry out the one best suited to your needs.
PAGE CONTENT:
- Download YouTube videos to Mac for Free
- Save a Video from YouTube to Mac Online
- Download Videos from YouTube to Mac with Chrome/Firefox
- Get YouTube Videos on Mac with VLC Media Player
- Save YouTube Videos to Mac via Screen Recording
How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac in 5 Ways
Some of the ways below need you to download and install the desktop software, while others may not. Learn them in detail and you will know which one is the best YouTube downloader for you.
Method 1. How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac for Free
100% free, no ads, and no plugins, EaseUS MobiMover is a YouTube downloader that you can use at no cost and without any worries about bothering ads or add-ons. With it, you can download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Twitter and other sites to your computer (PC/Mac) or mobiles devices (iPhone/iPad).
To download YouTube Videos on Mac for Free:
Step 1.Run EaseUS MobiMover > Go to choose the 'Video Downloader' option on the left side > Choose a location to house the videos you download.
Step 2. Copy the URL/link of the YouTube video you wish to download, paste it into the download bar of EaseUS MobiMover, then tap 'Download.'
Step 3. Wait for MobiMover to download YouTube videos to your Mac. When it has finished, you can go to your selected location to check the downloaded item.
In addition to video download, MobiMover also has other features that will help you transfer files between two iOS devices or between an iOS device and computer, which will do a great help if you are an iPhone or iPad user. It's a versatile tool that can work as an iOS content manager and free YouTube downloader at the same time. Don't miss it and make it your good helper.
Method 2. How to Save YouTube Videos on Mac Online
Don't want to install any software? If so, you may prefer online YouTube video downloaders compared with desktop software. Honestly speaking, although much convenient, an online YouTube downloader may cause more troubles than a desktop program. According to my own experience, there are some issues that may occur while using an online tool to save YouTube videos on a computer, including:
- Ads keep popping up
- The users are redirected to another shopping site
- The tool can't find the video according to the link
And more. Luckily, not all the online YouTube downloaders are that troubling. Here is Keepvid that works well to get videos from YouTube onto your Mac.
Keepvid is one of the most popular online video downloader that allows you to download YouTube videos on a computer by inserting the video link into the address bar. You will like it if downloading YouTube videos in different formats and quality is what you need. Besides, it also serves the function of an audio converter that will extract music or other audio files from a YouTube video for you.
To download a YouTube video on Mac with Keepvid:
Step 1. Go to YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want to download.
Step 2. Visit https://keepv.id/ on your Mac and click the 'Download' button.
Step 3. After an analyzing process, you will see the download options available, including videos in different quality and audio in varying formats. Choose the format and click 'Download' to start downloading YouTube videos to your Mac.
Method 3. Download YouTube Videos for Mac with Chrome/Firefox
Want to download a YouTube video with the browser? If that's exactly what you want, you can't miss the helpful browser extensions shown below, which allow you to save YouTube videos on Mac using Chrome or Firefox for free.
To download videos from YouTube with Chrome:
Step 1. Go to visit YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader.
Step 2. The webpage will detect your browser automatically. Confirm your browser and click 'INSTALL VIA CROSSPILOT'.
Step 3. Download and install the extension. Afterward, restart the browser.
Download Youtube Videos Mp4 Mac Os X
Step 4. Go to YouTube and play the video you want to download.
Step 5. Now you should see there is a Download button under the video. Click the Download button to save the YouTube video to your laptop directly or click the three dots next to it to choose other qualities available. (If you don't see the download button, click the icon of the YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader from the menu bar of the browser to download the video.)
To save a YouTube video on Mac with Firefox:
Step 1. Go to add the extension - Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express to Firefox.
Step 2. Restart Firefox.
Step 3. Go to YouTube and play the video you intend to download.
Step 4. Under the video, click the 'Download' button and choose one of the versions (MP4 360p, MP4 720p, MP4 1080p, MP3...) to download.
Of course, there are video download tools for Safari. You can search on the Internet and choose the one you like.
Method 4. Save YouTube Videos to Mac with VLC Media Player
How can you download YouTube videos on your Mac for free? One of the answers is to use the VLC media player. VLC is known as a free and open-source portable cross-platform media player software and streaming media. It also enables you to download a YouTube video on your computer, be it Mac, PC, or laptop.
Step 1. Download and install VLC media player on your Mac and launch the program.
Step 2. Go to YouTube and copy the link of the video you attempt to download.
Step 3. In VLC, choose 'File' > 'Open Network'. In the 'Open Source' window, paste the video URL in the address bar and click 'Open'.
Step 4. Right-click the video and select 'Media Information'.
Step 5. Copy the content in the 'Location' bar and paste the copied URL into the address bar. Then press 'return' to begin to play on your browser.
![Download youtube video to mp4 Download youtube video to mp4](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126574300/759576664.jpg)
Step 7. Right-click the video and select 'Save Video as..' to start downloading videos from YouTube to your Mac.
Method 5. Grab Videos from YouTube to Mac with Screen Recording Features
Other than downloading videos from YouTube, you can choose to record the video and save it on your Mac. This method works best when you can't download a YouTube video due to copyright issues or other problems.
To capture the screen, you can either use the built-in screen recording feature in macOS or QuickTime Player.
- To use the built-in screen recording feature: Press Command + Shift + 5.
- To use QuickTime: Choose 'File' in QuickTime and select 'New Screen Recording'.
Common Issues Related to YouTube Video Download
There are some frequently asked questions from users about YouTube video download:
'How do I download YouTube videos to my Mac for free?'
If you have read this article, you know now that all the five methods detailed in this guide enable you to save YouTube videos to Mac for free.
'Can I download a video from YouTube with YouTube Premium?'
The YouTube Premium subscription allows you to download videos from YouTube, but only to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Thus, if you attempt to save a YouTube video to Mac, it won't help.
'Why can't I download YouTube videos?'
If you are going to download a private video or a video containing music, you may fail since these videos may give rise to copyright issues.
The Bottom Line
Among all the video download apps, which is the best YouTube downloader for you? Choose the one that fits your needs best to apply.
by Christine Smith • 2020-09-21 16:02:34 • Proven solutions
Nowadays, there're numerous ways to download YouTube videos online for your choice. You can go with a free online converter. However, it's usually time-consuming and suffered from poor quality, or buy a reliable YouTube to MP4 converter for Mac, which provides bonus features and online technical support. In short, people are always looking for a way to convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac, as MP4 is such widely-used on a portable device. To meet your needs, we will tell you how to download and convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac with simple steps after you've learned the following four best and free Youtube to MP4 converter for Mac.
Part 1. The best video converter to download and convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac.
Wondershare UniConverter for Mac (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate for Mac) is a complete video solution for Mac users available from Wondershare officially. It can quickly help you download, record, convert, burn, edit, and stream your videos to other devices. This software is straightforward to use and allows you to download videos by 30X faster and convert those videos to any other format without losing any quality. It can directly download and convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac in just one click.
Wondershare UniConverter - Best YouTube to MP4 converter for Windows / Mac (Catalina included)
- Download and convert YouTube videos and playlists to MP4 on Mac by pasting URL directly.
- Support 10,000+ online video sharing sites, including YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, to download videos with simple steps.
- Recording feature enables you to record computer screens to make tutorials or online videos or your video calls.
- Edit YouTube videos with advanced video editing functions, like trimming, cropping, adding watermarks, subtitles, etc.
- Burn YouTube videos to playable DVD with attractive free DVD menu templates.
- Transfer downloaded YouTube videos from Mac to iPhone/Android devices quickly via a USB cable.
- Versatile toolbox includes fixing video metadata, GIF maker, casting video to TV, video compress, screen recorder, and others.
- Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7/2003/Vista/XP, Mac OS 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6
Security Verified. 5,481,347 people have downloaded it.
Steps to download and convert YouTube to MP4 with Wondershare YouTube Converter on Mac:
Step 1 Download the YouTube to MP4 converter on Mac.
Download Wondershare converter program from the above download link and install it. Then, launch the YouTube converter on your Mac, and you go to the Downloader tab and click the Document icon to choose the Download Video option. Note: There are two versions of the program available, make sure you've downloaded the Mac version.
Step 2 Find the YouTube video and copy the URL.
Now visit YouTube.com and find out the video from YouTube, which you would like to convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac. Once you get your video, right-click in the browser address bar and copy the video URL. Please note that you're enabled to download YouTube playlist at a time with this YouTube converter.
Step 3 Start converting YouTube to MP4.
Turn back to the window of Wondershare UniConverter for Mac, past the URL in the pop-up window, and click to the Download button.
You will access the pop-up window to make some settings, and then you need to click to the Download button to start converting YouTube video to MP4.
It will take some time to download the YouTube video, which depends on the video size and Internet speed. After the converter finishes downloading the video, you will find the video in MP4 format in the Finished library.
Bonus Tip: Converter YouTube to Other Format.
For Wondershare UniConverter for Mac, it can convert YouTube videos to MP4 directly. But if you want to convert YouTube to other formats, you need to right-click your mouse and choose the Add to Convert List option from the pop-up window. After that, click the Convert button on the right of the interface to start the conversion.
Download Youtube Videos Mp4 Mac Free
Part 2. 3 ways to convert YouTube to MP4 free on Mac.
1. Wondershare Free Video Converter for Mac - Desktop YouTube to MP4 converter on Mac
Wondershare Free Video Converter for Mac is free of cost available for Mac users. This software can convert videos for game console and more devices. You can convert YouTube videos to the many iOS devices supported formats using this software. This software can convert videos and download videos from YouTube, but only YouTube is supported to download videos, whereas Wondershare UniConverter can download videos from more than 10,000+ sites. Besides downloading feature, it also allows you to convert videos with ease; for example, you can free convert MOV to MP4 with easy steps. This video converter is easy to use and brings much convenience to your daily life.
Pros:
● It can convert videos to other formats and support conversion to some iOS devices formats.
● It can download videos from YouTube.
Cons:
● You can only convert videos to other formats with a watermark.
● Video streaming is not possible and allows you to download videos from YouTube only.
● You're limited to use other toolbox features.
If you want to own a better experience, you can directly upgrade the free version to the premium version with more beautiful features. Download and try the updated version now
2. Online KeepVid - Online YouTube to MP4 converter
Keepvid.com is an online video download website which enables you to download videos from 28 video sharing sites for free of cost. It supports mostly all major video sites like YouTube, DailyMotion, Facebook, etc. This website can download videos only in some popular formats, like MP4, 3GP, etc. This site won't convert local videos, but you can easily download online videos in MP4 format. There is no need to install any software on your computer while using this site, and it can directly give you a download link of YouTube videos in your browser itself.
Pros:
● It can download YouTube videos in some popular video and audio formats.
● It supports mostly all major video sites to download videos.
Cons:
● The converting feature is not separately available, and you can download videos in the available formats only.
● It only supports several formats' conversion that many other formats can't be supported.
3. Online Video Converter - Online YouTube to MP4 converter
Online Video Converter is a free video converter website available for you. You can convert your videos or audio using this website. This website is fully compatible with mobile devices as well, so you can convert YouTube to MP4 directly on mobile as well without using Mac. There is an extension for Chrome browser too for Chrome users. This website supports lots of formats. You can convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac by copying and pasting the URL of the video or by entering the link of YouTube video.
Pros:
● It can convert YouTube to MP4 for free on Mac.
● It not only supports MP4 but also supports many other formats as well.
Download Youtube Video Mp4 Mac Os X Free Download
Cons:
● The quality of the files becomes worse after converting them.
● The Internet limits conversion.
Part 3. A comparison table of the YouTube to MP4 converters.
We have told you that the different ways to convert YouTube to MP4 on Mac, these ways are different from each other as per their features. Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) is the only software which is a complete video tool. It allows you to convert videos in 150+ formats, downloading videos from 10,000+ sites, including YouTube, edit videos, record videos, and stream videos. Finally, I would like to say that the first software would be the best video converter for you. Please find the following comparison table, and then you will find the right converter for you.
Download Youtube Video Mp4 Mac Online
Wondershare UniConverter | Online KeepVid | Online Video Converter | Wondershare Free Video Converter | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Supported Systems | Windows and Mac | Browsers | Browsers | Windows and Mac |
Convert YouTube Playlist to MP4 | Yes | No | No | No |
Download and Convert YouTube to MP4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Transfer YouTube videos to devices like iPhone | Yes | No | No | Only five files |
Convert Local Videos to MP4 and Other Formats | Yes, many formats supported | No | Yes, limited formats supported | Yes |
Input Supported Formats | 1000+ formats | Only available formats downloading | 17 | 1000+ formats |
Output Supported Formats | 1000+ formats | MP4, 3GP, WebM, M4A, MP3 | 17 | 1000+ formats, output with watermark |
Supported Download Sites | 100,00+ | 28 | 5 | Only YouTube |
Record Videos | Yes | No | No | Record 1 minute |
Burn/Rip DVDs | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Price | USD 39.95 for a 1-Year license | Free | Free | Free |