{"id":15189,"date":"2026-11-07T11:07:55","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T11:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/?p=15189"},"modified":"2026-11-07T11:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T11:07:55","slug":"how-to-download-youtube-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/how-to-download-youtube-videos\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Download YouTube Videos as MP4 or M4A (Free, No Sign-Up)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to know <strong>how to download YouTube videos<\/strong> without installing an app or creating an account? Maybe you need a backup of your own upload, a Creative Commons clip for a project, or a lecture you have permission to keep for a long train ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide shows the whole process with real screenshots. You will learn which quality to pick, how much space each file takes, and why some videos can&#8217;t be saved at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tools\/youtube-video-downloader\">Open the YouTube Video Downloader \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, check that you&#8217;re allowed to save the video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A video being public doesn&#8217;t mean you can reuse it. Before you download, make sure it is one of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Your own upload.<\/strong> Useful for backups or for re-editing your old videos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Released under a licence that allows it<\/strong>, such as Creative Commons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A video you have the creator&#8217;s permission to save.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">YouTube&#8217;s terms don&#8217;t allow downloading other videos without permission. For everything else, use YouTube&#8217;s own offline feature in its app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Download YouTube Videos in 3 Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The example below uses <em>Big Buck Bunny<\/em>, an open short film from the Blender Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Copy the video link and paste it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the YouTube app, tap <strong>Share<\/strong>, then <strong>Copy link<\/strong>. On a computer, copy the address from the browser. Paste it into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tools\/youtube-video-downloader\">YouTube video downloader<\/a> and press <strong>Get video<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"93\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15191\" style=\"aspect-ratio:10.75268817204301;width:1000px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-300x28.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-768x71.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normal <code>youtube.com\/watch<\/code> links, short <code>youtu.be<\/code> links and <code>\/shorts\/<\/code> links all work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Pick a quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll see the title, the length and every version available for that video, each with its approximate file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"631\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-3.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15195\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5847860538827259;width:1000px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-3.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-3-300x189.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-3-768x485.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Big Buck Bunny \u00a9 Blender Foundation, licensed under CC BY 3.0.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Save the file<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Press <strong>Download<\/strong> next to the quality you want. The file is prepared on our server, which can take a moment for longer videos. When it&#8217;s ready, press <strong>Save file<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"727\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15192\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.375515818431912;width:1000px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-1.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-1-300x218.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-1-768x558.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which quality should you choose?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the real options for the 10-minute 35-second video above. Your file sizes will depend on the length and type of video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Option<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">File size in this example<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Best for<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1080p MP4 HD<\/td><td>About 255 MB<\/td><td>Editing, or watching on a laptop or TV<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>720p MP4 HD<\/td><td>About 153 MB<\/td><td>A good balance of quality and size<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>480p MP4<\/td><td>About 36.7 MB<\/td><td>Watching on a phone<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>360p MP4<\/td><td>About 27.2 MB<\/td><td>Quick sharing and low storage<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Audio only (M4A)<\/td><td>About 9.8 MB<\/td><td>Talks, lectures and podcasts<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older videos may only show lower qualities, because that&#8217;s all YouTube has for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to download YouTube Shorts and use it on a phone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tool runs in your phone&#8217;s browser, so there&#8217;s nothing to install. Copy the Shorts link, paste it the same way as a normal video, and save the file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-2.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15193\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.3;width:300px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-2.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-2-90x300.webp 90w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why a video can&#8217;t be downloaded<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only public, finished videos can be saved. The tool never logs in to any account, so an owner&#8217;s privacy settings stay in place. If a video can&#8217;t be saved, you&#8217;ll see the reason instead of a failed download.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"189\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-4.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15194\" style=\"aspect-ratio:5.291005291005291;width:1000px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-4.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-4-300x57.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/image-4-768x145.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Video type<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Why it&#8217;s refused<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Private<\/td><td>Only people the owner allows can watch it.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Unlisted<\/td><td>It&#8217;s only for people the owner shared the link with.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Members-only or paid<\/td><td>It&#8217;s only for paying viewers.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Age-restricted<\/td><td>YouTube only shows it to signed-in users.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Live or upcoming<\/td><td>There&#8217;s no finished file yet. Try again after it ends.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Removed<\/td><td>YouTube or the owner has taken it down.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you download long videos?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Videos up to 6 hours long are supported, and each file can be up to 300 MB. For a long video, you&#8217;ll only see the versions that fit. If 1080p is too large, a lower quality such as 360p, or audio only, may still be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens to your file?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your download link is private. It works once and expires after 30 minutes, and the file is then deleted automatically. You don&#8217;t need an account, and no watermark is added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is this YouTube downloader free?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and nothing to install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it legal to download YouTube videos?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download only your own videos, videos with a licence that allows it, or videos you have permission to save. YouTube&#8217;s terms don&#8217;t allow other downloads without permission, and the rules can differ by country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I save just the audio?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Choose <strong>Audio only (M4A)<\/strong>. It&#8217;s the smallest option and suits talks and podcasts you&#8217;re allowed to keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does my video show only low quality options?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Either YouTube doesn&#8217;t have a higher version of that video, or the higher versions are over the 300 MB limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I download a private or unlisted video?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. These videos are refused so that the owner&#8217;s privacy is respected, even if you have the link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where is the file saved?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It goes to your browser&#8217;s normal Downloads folder, on a computer or a phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Save your first video now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paste a link, pick a quality and save the file as MP4 or M4A. It&#8217;s free, and there&#8217;s nothing to install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tools\/youtube-video-downloader\">Try the YouTube Video Downloader \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to know how to download YouTube videos without installing an app or creating an account? Maybe you need a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10210,"featured_media":15190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1668],"tags":[5106,5126,5125,227,5124],"class_list":["post-15189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youtube","tag-free-tools","tag-mp4","tag-video-downloader","tag-youtube","tag-youtube-shorts"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Untitled.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15189"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15196,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15189\/revisions\/15196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wizbrand.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}