How to Download YouTube Videos with VLC Media Player
YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world, with billions of users watching and uploading videos every day. However, sometimes you may want to download YouTube videos to your computer or mobile device for offline viewing, editing, or sharing. How can you do that?
There are many tools and websites that can help you download YouTube videos, but some of them may be unsafe, unreliable, or limited in functionality. In this article, we will show you how to use a free, versatile, and powerful tool that you may already have on your device: VLC Media Player.
download youtube by vlc
Introduction
What is VLC Media Player?
VLC Media Player is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that can play almost any type of video and audio file. It supports a wide range of formats, codecs, protocols, and streaming methods. It also has many advanced features such as subtitles, filters, equalizer, playlists, and more.
Why use VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos?
VLC Media Player is not only a media player, but also a media converter and downloader. It can download videos from various online sources, including YouTube, by using its built-in network streaming function. Here are some reasons why you may want to use VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos:
It is free and safe. You don't need to install any third-party software or plugins that may contain malware or spyware.
It is easy and fast. You don't need to copy and paste multiple URLs or wait for long loading times.
It is flexible and customizable. You can choose the output format, quality, and location of the downloaded video according to your preferences.
However, VLC Media Player also has some drawbacks when it comes to downloading YouTube videos. For example:
It may not work for some YouTube videos due to encryption or DRM protection.
It may not support downloading high-resolution videos such as 4K or 8K.
It may not preserve the original metadata or subtitles of the YouTube video.
Therefore, you should be aware of these limitations before using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos. If you encounter any problems or errors during the process, you can try some fixes or alternative tools that we will introduce later in this article.
Method 1: How to download YouTube videos with VLC on Windows
If you are using a Windows computer, you can follow these steps to download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player:
How to download youtube video with VLC (Windows)
How to download youtube video with VLC (Mac)
How to download youtube video with VLC Media Player
How to download youtube video with VLC Stream
How to download youtube video with VLC Codec Information
How to download youtube video with VLC Transcoding Options
How to download youtube video with VLC Downloader Alternative
How to download youtube video with VLC and VideoHunter
How to download youtube video with VLC and ACETHINKER
How to download youtube video with VLC and WonderFox
How to download youtube videos with VLC [2023 Full Guide]
How to download youtube videos with VLC [2023 Updated]
How to download youtube videos with VLC [2023 Tutorial]
How to download youtube videos with VLC [2023 Tips]
How to download youtube videos with VLC [2023 Tricks]
How to fix VLC YouTube Download Not Working
How to fix VLC YouTube Download Error
How to fix VLC YouTube Download Failed
How to fix VLC YouTube Download Stuck
How to fix VLC YouTube Download Slow
Why use VLC to download YouTube videos
Why use VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos
Why use VLC Stream to download YouTube videos
Why use VLC Codec Information to download YouTube videos
Why use VLC Transcoding Options to download YouTube videos
Benefits of using VLC to download YouTube videos
Benefits of using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos
Benefits of using VLC Stream to download YouTube videos
Benefits of using VLC Codec Information to download YouTube videos
Benefits of using VLC Transcoding Options to download YouTube videos
Drawbacks of using VLC to download YouTube videos
Drawbacks of using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos
Drawbacks of using VLC Stream to download YouTube videos
Drawbacks of using VLC Codec Information to download YouTube videos
Drawbacks of using VLC Transcoding Options to download YouTube videos
Alternatives to using VLC to download YouTube videos
Alternatives to using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos
Alternatives to using VLC Stream to download YouTube videos
Alternatives to using VLC Codec Information to download YouTube videos
Alternatives to using VLC Transcoding Options to download YouTube videos
Best alternative to using VLC to download YouTube videos
Best alternative to using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos
Best alternative to using VLC Stream to download YouTube videos
Best alternative to using VLC Codec Information to download YouTube videos
Best alternative to using VLC Transcoding Options to download YouTube videos
Comparison of using VLC and other tools to download YouTube videos
Comparison of using VLC Media Player and other tools to download YouTube videos
Comparison of using VLC Stream and other tools to download YouTube videos
Comparison of using VLC Codec Information and other tools to download YouTube videos
Comparison of using VLC Transcoding Options and other tools to download YouTube videos
Step 1: Copy the YouTube video URL
Go to YouTube and find the video that you want to download. Right-click on the video and select "Copy video URL". You can also copy the full-length video URL from the address bar of your browser.
Step 2: Open VLC and select Open Network Stream
Open VLC Media Player and click on the "Media" menu. Select "Open Network Stream" or press Ctrl+N on your keyboard. A new window will pop up.
Step 3: Paste the YouTube video URL and click Stream
In the "Network" tab, paste the YouTube video URL that you copied in the previous step. Then, click on the "Stream" button at the bottom. Another window will appear.
Step 4: Choose a destination and a file name for the downloaded video
In the first screen of the "Stream Output" window, click "Next". In the second screen, check the box next to "File" and click "Browse". Choose a destination folder and a file name for the downloaded video. You can also change the file extension to your desired output format, such as .mp4, .avi, or .mkv. Click "Save" and then "Next".
Step 5: Select a transcoding profile and click Stream
In the third screen, you can choose a transcoding profile for the downloaded video. This will determine the quality and size of the output file. You can select one of the preset profiles from the drop-down menu, or create your own by clicking on the wrench icon. You can adjust various parameters such as bitrate, resolution, codec, and audio settings. When you are done, click "Stream". VLC Media Player will start downloading the YouTube video to your chosen location.
Method 2: How to download YouTube videos with VLC on Mac
If you are using a Mac computer, you can follow these steps to download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player:
Step 1: Copy the YouTube video URL
Go to YouTube and find the video that you want to download. Right-click on the video and select "Copy video URL". You can also copy the full-length video URL from the address bar of your browser.
Step 2: Open VLC and select Open Network
Open VLC Media Player and click on the "File" menu. Select "Open Network" or press Command+N on your keyboard. A new window will pop up.
Step 3: Paste the YouTube video URL and click Open
In the "URL" field, paste the YouTube video URL that you copied in the previous step. Then, click on the "Open" button at the bottom. VLC Media Player will start playing the YouTube video.
Step 4: Go to Window and select Media Information
While the YouTube video is playing, go to the "Window" menu and select "Media Information" or press Command+I on your keyboard. A new window will appear with some information about the video.
Step 5: Copy the location URL and paste it in a browser
In the "Media Information" window, go to the "General" tab and look for the "Location" field. This is the direct URL of the video that VLC Media Player is streaming. Copy this URL and paste it in a new tab of your browser. You will see the YouTube video playing in the browser.
Step 6: Right-click on the video and choose Download Video As
Right-click on the video in the browser and choose "Download Video As" or "Save Video As" depending on your browser. Choose a destination folder and a file name for the downloaded video. You can also change the file extension to your desired output format, such as .mp4, .avi, or .mkv. Click "Save" and the browser will start downloading the YouTube video to your chosen location.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, we have shown you how to download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player on Windows and Mac computers. We have explained what VLC Media Player is, why you may want to use it to download YouTube videos, and how to do it step by step. We have also mentioned some advantages and disadvantages of using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos.
Advantages and disadvantages of using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos
Here is a summary of the pros and cons of using VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos:
Pros
Cons
Free and safe
May not work for some YouTube videos
Easy and fast
May not support high-resolution videos
Flexible and customizable
May not preserve metadata or subtitles
Recommendations for alternative tools
If you are looking for some alternative tools to download YouTube videos, you can try some of these options:
: A desktop software that can download YouTube videos in various formats and resolutions, including 4K and 8K. It also supports downloading playlists, channels, subtitles, and annotations.
: A desktop software that can download and convert YouTube videos in various formats. It also has a built-in search function that allows you to find YouTube videos without opening a browser.
: A web-based service that can download YouTube videos in various formats and qualities. It also supports downloading audio-only files and converting videos to MP3.
: A subscription-based service that allows you to download YouTube videos and watch them offline on your mobile devices. It also offers other benefits such as ad-free viewing, background playback, and access to YouTube Music and YouTube Originals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is it legal to download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player?
A: The legality of downloading YouTube videos depends on the terms of service of YouTube, the copyright laws of your country, and the purpose of your downloading. Generally speaking, it is legal to download YouTube videos for personal use only, as long as you do not distribute, modify, or monetize them. However, you should always respect the rights of the content creators and obtain their permission before downloading their videos.
Q: How can I fix the error "Your input can't be opened" when downloading YouTube videos with VLC Media Player?
A: This error may occur when VLC Media Player cannot access or stream the YouTube video URL. To fix this error, you can try some of these solutions:
Update your VLC Media Player to the latest version.
Check your internet connection and firewall settings.
Clear your VLC Media Player cache and preferences.
Replace the "https" in the YouTube video URL with "http".
Add "&fmt=18" or "&fmt=22" at the end of the YouTube video URL to force a specific format.
Use an alternative tool to download YouTube videos.
Q: How can I download multiple YouTube videos with VLC Media Player at once?
A: Unfortunately, VLC Media Player does not support batch downloading of YouTube videos. You have to download each video individually by following the steps above. If you want to download multiple YouTube videos at once, you can use some of the alternative tools that we recommended, such as 4K Video Downloader or ClipGrab.
Q: How can I download subtitles or captions from YouTube videos with VLC Media Player?
A: VLC Media Player does not support downloading subtitles or captions from YouTube videos by default. However, you can use a workaround to do so. Here are the steps:
Download the YouTube video with VLC Media Player as described above.
Go to YouTube and find the same video that you downloaded. Click on the settings icon and select "Subtitles/CC". Choose the language that you want to download.
Right-click on the video and select "Copy debug info". Paste it in a text editor and look for the line that starts with "captionTracks". Copy the URL that is enclosed in quotation marks after "baseUrl".
Paste the URL in a new tab of your browser. You will see a text file with the subtitles or captions in XML format. Save this file as a .srt file with the same name as the downloaded video.
Open the downloaded video with VLC Media Player and go to the "Subtitle" menu. Select "Add Subtitle File" and browse for the .srt file that you saved. The subtitles or captions will appear on the video.
Q: How can I download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player on Android or iOS devices?
A: VLC Media Player is also available as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. However, the mobile app does not have the same functionality as the desktop version when it comes to downloading YouTube videos. You cannot use the network streaming or media information features on the mobile app. Therefore, you cannot download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player on Android or iOS devices directly. You can either use a different tool to download YouTube videos on your mobile device, or transfer the downloaded videos from your computer to your mobile device via USB cable or cloud service.
44f88ac181
留言