It is quite evident that YouTube videos have become a substantial part of our daily lives. Whether it’s for entertainment, education, or staying updated with current events, we often find ourselves wanting to save these videos for offline viewing. While there are numerous ways to download YouTube videos, using VLC Media Player stands out as a convenient and reliable option. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the step-by-step process of downloading YouTube videos using VLC on a MacBook, providing clear instructions and helpful tips along the way.
VLC Media Player is a free and open-source media player that has gained immense popularity due to its versatility and cross-platform compatibility. Its ability to play a wide range of media formats, including YouTube videos, makes it an ideal choice for this task. Additionally, VLC offers a simple and user-friendly interface, ensuring that even those who are new to video downloading can easily navigate the process. Whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or a complete novice, this guide will empower you with the knowledge and skills to download YouTube videos using VLC on your MacBook.
Before we proceed with the download process, it’s essential to highlight that downloading copyrighted content from YouTube without the express permission of the copyright holder may constitute a violation of copyright laws. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that you have the necessary rights or permissions to download and use the video content before proceeding. With that in mind, let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions for downloading YouTube videos using VLC on your MacBook.
Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading YouTube Videos with VLC
1. Install VLC
If you haven’t already, download and install VLC from the official website. Once installed, open VLC.
2. Copy the YouTube Video URL
Go to YouTube and find the video you want to download. Copy the video’s URL from the address bar.
3. Open the Network Stream Dialog Box in VLC
In VLC, click on the “File” menu and select “Open Network.” A dialog box will appear.
Advanced Network Stream Options (optional)
To customize the download, click on the “Convert” button at the bottom of the dialog box. This will open up advanced conversion options. Here you can:
- Select a different output file format: VLC supports a wide range of video and audio formats.
- Set the video quality: Adjust the resolution, bitrate, and frame rate of the downloaded video.
- Add subtitles: If the video has subtitles available, you can select them here.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Output File | The location and name of the downloaded file. |
| Video Resolution | The resolution of the downloaded video, such as 360p, 720p, or 1080p. |
| Video Bitrate | The bitrate of the downloaded video, which affects its quality and file size. |
| Audio Codec | The audio codec used for the downloaded video, such as AAC or MP3. |
After customizing the options, click on the “Convert” button to start the download.
VLC’s Built-in Network Streaming Feature for YouTube Videos
VLC not only allows you to play local media files but also enables you to stream videos directly from YouTube. This built-in network streaming feature makes it convenient to access and play YouTube videos without opening a web browser.
1. Open Network Stream
Launch VLC on your Mac, then click on the “Media” menu and select “Open Network Stream”.
2. Enter YouTube URL
In the “Please enter a network URL” field, paste the YouTube video URL you want to stream or download.
3. Select “Play”
Click on the “Play” button to start streaming the YouTube video.
4. Convert to MP4 (Optional)
If you want to download the YouTube video as an MP4 file, click on the “File” menu, hover over “Convert”, and select “Convert”. In the conversion window, select “MP4” as the output format and choose a destination folder.
5. Advanced Options for Network Streaming
VLC offers advanced options for network streaming, providing more control over the streaming process:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Timeout | Sets the timeout for the network connection. |
| Cache | Enables or disables caching for the network stream. |
| HTTP Headers | Allows you to add custom HTTP headers to the streaming request. |
| User Agent | Specifies the user agent string to be used when making the streaming request. |
Downloading YouTube Videos Using VLC on MacBook
VLC is a free and open-source media player that can also be used to download YouTube videos on your MacBook. Here are the steps on how to do it:
- Install VLC media player on your MacBook if you haven’t already.
- Open VLC and click on “File” > “Open Network.”
- In the “Open Network” window, paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download.
- Click on the “Play” button to start playing the video.
- While the video is playing, click on “Window” > “Media Information.”
- In the “Media Information” window, click on the “Codec” tab.
- Under the “Codec” tab, you will see a list of different codecs that are used to encode the video and audio. Look for the codec that has the highest bitrate.
- Right-click on the codec with the highest bitrate and select “Save Selected Elementary Stream.”
Converting Downloaded YouTube Videos to Different Formats
Once you have downloaded a YouTube video using VLC, you may want to convert it to a different format. Here are the steps on how to do it:
| Format | Codec |
|---|---|
| MP4 | H.264 |
| MOV | H.264 |
| MKV | H.264 |
| AVI | MPEG-4 |
| FLV | Sorenson H.263 |
| 3GP | MPEG-4 |
| WebM | VP8 |
| OGV | Theora |
To convert a downloaded YouTube video to a different format, you can use a video converter such as HandBrake. Here are the steps on how to do it:
- Open HandBrake and click on “Open Source.”
- Select the YouTube video that you want to convert.
- Choose the output format that you want to convert the video to.
- Click on the “Start” button to start the conversion process.
How To Download YouTube Video Using VLC on MacBook
VLC is a free and open-source media player that can be used to play a variety of video and audio formats. It can also be used to download YouTube videos. Here are the steps on how to do it:
- Open VLC and go to the “File” menu.
- Select “Open Network” and paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download.
- Click on the “Play” button.
- Once the video starts playing, go to the “Window” menu and select “Media Information”.
- In the “Media Information” window, go to the “Codec” tab and find the “Location” field.
- The “Location” field will contain the URL of the video file. Copy this URL.
- Open a new tab in your browser and paste the URL from the “Location” field.
- The video file will start downloading.
People Also Ask
How do I convert a YouTube video to MP4 using VLC?
To convert a YouTube video to MP4 using VLC, follow these steps:
- Open VLC and go to the “File” menu.
- Select “Open Network” and paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to convert.
- Click on the “Play” button.
- Once the video starts playing, go to the “File” menu again and select “Convert”.
- In the “Convert” window, select “MP4” as the output format.
- Click on the “Browse” button and select the location where you want to save the converted video file.
- Click on the “Start” button to start the conversion.
Can I download YouTube videos using VLC on Windows?
Yes, you can download YouTube videos using VLC on Windows. The steps are similar to the steps for downloading YouTube videos using VLC on a Mac.
