How can I save YouTube videos on my Mac without installing software?

Software
1

I’ve been trying to download a few YouTube videos on my Mac, but I really don’t want to install any extra software. I tried a couple of online services, but they didn’t work or had too many ads. What’s the best way to save videos directly from YouTube without adding more apps to my system? Any tips would be appreciated!

2

I’ve been in the same boat where installing additional software isn’t an option, so here are a few methods you can try to download YouTube videos on your Mac without relying on third-party software. Some of these might be a bit hit or miss because they depend on the availability and functionality of online tools, but they should generally do the trick.

Using Online Video Downloader Websites

There are several websites that allow you to download YouTube videos directly from the browser. Keep in mind that these sites often come and go due to legal challenges, and some may have annoying ads.

  1. Y2Mate

    • Go to YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want to download.
    • Open a new tab and go to Y2Mate.
    • Paste the URL into the field and hit “Start”.
    • Choose the format and quality you want, then hit “Download”.

    Y2Mate can be pretty reliable, but just be prepared to dodge a few pop-ups.

  2. Savefrom.net

    • Similar to Y2Mate, go to YouTube, copy the video URL, and then head over to Savefrom.net.
    • Paste the URL into the download field and hit the arrow button.
    • Choose your desired format and click “Download”.

Browser Extensions

If you don’t mind adding a temporary browser extension, this can also be a hassle-free way to grab videos:

  1. Tampermonkey + YouTube Video Downloader Script
    • Install the Tampermonkey extension for your browser (it’s available for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and others).
    • Once installed, go to a site like Greasy Fork and search for a YouTube downloader script.
    • Install the script linked and reload your YouTube page.
    • You should now see a download button below the video. Click it to save the video in your desired format.

Online Bookmarklets

Another way to do it without any third-party software or even browser extensions is using online bookmarklets. They are simple pieces of JavaScript code that you can add to your bookmarks bar and run with a click.

  1. ClipConverter
    • Copy the following code:
      javascript:(function(){window.open('https://www.clipconverter.cc/?url='+encodeURIComponent(window.location.href));})();
    • Create a new bookmark in your browser and paste this code into the URL field.
    • Navigate to the YouTube video you want to download.
    • Click the bookmark, and it will redirect you to ClipConverter where you can proceed to download the video.

Direct Media Extraction Through Developer Tools

If you’re comfortable navigating through Chrome or Safari Developer Tools, you can extract media files straight from the web page.

  1. Open Developer Tools:

    • Press Cmd + Option + I to open Developer Tools.
    • Navigate to the “Network” tab.

  2. Filter Media Requests:

    • Play the video and look for network requests that match the video playback.
    • Typically, these will be *.mp4 or *.flv files.

  3. Download the video:

    • Right-click the URL in the “Name” column, then choose “Open in a new tab”.
    • The media file should load, and you can then right-click and choose “Save As” to download it.

These methods are quite reliable if you follow the steps carefully, though keep in mind that the legal landscape around downloading YouTube videos can be murky, and violating YouTube’s terms of service can have consequences. Always be sure you’re not violating copyright laws or YouTube’s terms when downloading videos. If the video is available for offline viewing, use YouTube’s built-in feature instead.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you run into any problems with these methods.

3

I hear ya, dealing with sketchy download sites and ad bombardment can be super frustrating. However, @byteguru missed one neat trick that could work without using any third-party website or installation. Let me drop a bit of unconventional knowledge here.

YouTube’s Inspect Element Panel:

This one’s a bit of a techy maneuver but it’s smooth sailing once you get the hang of it. Here’s how it goes:

  1. Right-click and Inspect: Find the video you want, right-click on the YouTube player and select “Inspect.” This opens the DevTools.

  2. Network Tab & Filter: Navigate to the “Network” tab at the top of the DevTools panel. Start playing the video. In the Network panel, look for a type column and filter for “media” or “video/mp4.”

  3. Find M3U8 or MP4 Links: You might see URLs ending in .m3u8 or .mp4. If you find an .mp4, click on it, and it should open the video in a new tab.

  4. Save Video: Simply right-click on the video in the new tab and select “Save Video As…”.

Here’s another angle to consider. Available for free on your Mac, QuickTime Player has hidden capabilities that not everyone leverages:

QuickTime Screen Recording:

  1. Open QuickTime: Simply open QuickTime Player on your Mac.
  2. Select New Screen Recording: Proceed with File > New Screen Recording.
  3. Record Your Screen: Choose to record the entire screen or a part of it where the YouTube video is playing.

This is a catch-all solution but does the job without extra downloads. Keep the sound on and voilà.

Just One Caveat

Playing by YouTube’s rules is important. Downloading videos without permission can lead to a user account hit. Always choose the video author’s distribution preferences—it’s respectful and keeps everyone in the green legal zone. Sometimes, YouTube Premium might be the hassle-free option worth considering; hey, at least it supports content creators directly.

Ultimately, software-free downloading is hit or miss due to ever-evolving site restrictions. Combine smarter techniques with a touch of respectful discretion—it’s the winning combo. Happy viewing!

4

Scraping media files through DevTools? C’mon, that’s just overcomplicating things and way too time-consuming for most users. Plus, going through tons of network requests to find the actual media file can be daunting for a casual user. You might hit a dead end if YouTube changes their streaming protocols.

Here’s another angle: using a private YouTube-to-MP4 Telegram bot. More reliable, minimal ads, and straightforward.

  1. Search for “YouTube Downloader” bots on Telegram.
  2. Start a chat with the bot.
  3. Send the YouTube video’s URL.
  4. Wait for a link and download directly.

Telegram’s bots often work when websites or browser extensions fail. However, be wary of privacy and terms violations with these.

Now let’s be real for a moment—none of these methods are a long-term solution. YouTube and Google keep tightening the noose on video download methods. Your best bet for reliable, ad-free, and legal downloading is subscribing to YouTube Premium. Not only do you get the videos offline, but you’re also supporting content creators.

And if you’re still hung up on freebies, mind yourself the risk. Frequent usage of these sketchy sites and browser extension dances can lead to malware. In the end, is it even worth the hassle?