🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 139 (from laksa066)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa139.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/download-youtube-videos\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/download-youtube-videos\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/how-to\/download-youtube-videos","crawl_time":1776413544,"first_indexed_time":1683982595,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,tomshardware!www,\/how-to\/download-youtube-videos s443","src_root_hash":"14957725849104319939","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K) | Tom's Hardware","meta_descriptions":["Use simple, open-source tools to get an MP4 or MP3 file from YouTube."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"TL;DR How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K)\nYouTube videos can be legally downloaded if you pay for YouTube Premium.\nThese videos cannot be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services.\nTools like youtube-dl can be used to download content from YouTube, which can be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services.\nGUI tools like ClipGrab make youtube-dl easier to use.\nWeb-based tool cnvmp3.com provides a zero install method to download YouTube videos and audio.\nDownloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its\nterms of service\nand may lead to termination of your account.\nYouTube is, by far, the most popular video streaming service in the world, hosting everything from children's songs to live streaming tech shows. To use it though, you need a constant Internet connection. But you can download YouTube videos for offline viewing. The official way is to use YouTube Premium which costs $14 per month, but there are free tools to download any YouTube video as an MP4 file, which you can transfer to any device or modify or transcribe as necessary. Note that downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its\nterms of service\nand may lead to termination of your account.\nBelow, we'll show you three different methods of downloading YouTube videos to your PC. The first method involves using a free, open-source command-line tool called YouTube-DL.\nThe second method involves using a freeware app called ClipGrab, which has the advantage of allowing you to choose the download resolution -- grabbing 4K videos at 4K if you want -- and file format, but it can be sluggish. The third method of downloading YouTube videos to a PC is to use a free web tool called CnvMP3. Note that our previous recommended method, using VLC player, no longer works.\nArticle continues below\nHow to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube-DL\nThese instructions are for the Windows version of YouTube-DL, but you there are are also instructions for macoS and Linux\nhere\n.\n1\n.\nDownload youtube-dl\nfor your OS. In windows, it’s yt-dlp.exe.\n2.\nCopy the file into a folder that’s in your file path\n. In Windows, you can view your path by entering:\necho %PATH%\nat the command prompt.\nGet Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\nYou can also add new folders to the path by searching for \"environment variables,” and clicking Edit Environment variables. Do not put the file in C:\\Windows\\system32.\n3. Install ffmpeg in a path folder\nby entering\nwinget install ffmpeg\nat the command prompt from within that folder.\n4. Locate and copy the YouTube URL\nof the video you wish to download.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n5.\nOpen a command prompt\non your computer and\nnavigate to a folder\nwhere you wish the download to appear. You can get to the downloads folder by typing:\ncd %UserProfile%\\Downloads\n6.\nEnter the following command\nto download the YouTube video at low resolution (640 x 360).\nyt-dlp [YOUTUBE URL]\nIf you want to download the video at its highest possible resolution (4K if YouTube has it in 4K) use the following command:\nyt-dlp --merge-output-format mp4 -f \"bestvideo+bestaudio\" [YOUTUBE URL]\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\nHow to Download YouTube Videos With ClipGrab\nClipGrab is a free YouTube downloading app that has the advantage of letting you choose which resolution you want. The reason why this is not our top choice method is that it asks you to install unwanted extra apps such as McAfee WebAdvisor and I find out that the app could be a bit sluggish.\n1.\nDownload and install ClipGrab\n. You can get it from\nClipGrab's site\n. The installer tries to get you to install other apps you may not want such as McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the Skip All button to avoid this.\n2.\nLaunch ClipGrab\n. If it asks you for permission to download youtube-dlp, allow it.\n3.\nNavigate to the Downloads tab\n.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n4.\nCopy and paste the YouTube URL\nyou want to download from\ninto the top text fiel\nd.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\nThe program will take a couple of seconds to get the list of available resolutions from YouTube.\n5.\nChoose the file format\nand\nresolution\nyou want from the Format and Quality fields or leave them at the defaults. If you leave the format as \"original,\" most videos should download as MP4s.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n6.\nClick Grab this clip!\nand then\nselect a file location\n.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\nYour clip will then be listed in the Current Downloads field, along with its status.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\nWhen the download is complete, you'll find the file in the location where you set it to go.\nHow to Download YouTube Videos or Audio Using CNVMP3\nIf you want a YouTube download process that doesn't involve installing anything at all, CNVMP3 is a good choice. It also allows you to download YouTube videos at MP3 files so you can just listen to them as\naudio\nfiles.\n1.\nNavigate to\ncnvmp3.com\n.\n2.\nPaste the YouTube URL\nyou want into the video field.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n3.\nSelect MP4\nif you want to download as a video or leave it as MP3 if you want audio.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n4.\nSelect the resolution\nyou want to download.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n5.\nClick Convert.\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\nThe YouTube video will now download directly to your PC.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p\/?c1=2&c2=10055482&cv=4.4.0&cj=1) [Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/how-to\/download-youtube-videos#main)\n\nOpen menu\n\n[![Tom's Hardware](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/media\/img\/brand_logo.svg) Tom's Hardware](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/)\n\nUS Edition ![flag of 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torrents being generated](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/video-games\/retro-gaming\/385tb-video-game-archive-saved-by-fans-myrient-has-been-100-percent-backed-up-and-validated-torrents-being-generated \"385TB video game archive saved by fans — Myrient has been '100% backed up' and validated, torrents being generated\")\n\nTrending\n\n- [🔥TH Premium Deal](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/toms-hardware-premium-3-month)\n- [Intel Xeon 600](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/pc-components\/cpus\/intel-returns-to-boxed-workstation-cpus-with-xeon-600-granite-rapids-ws-delivers-up-to-86-cores-4tb-of-memory-and-128-pcie-5-lanes)\n- [RAM Combo Deals](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/desktops\/gaming-pcs\/best-ram-combo-deals-2026-make-pc-builds-and-upgrades-more-affordable-with-the-best-ram-bundle-deals-available)\n- [DLSS 5](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/artificial-intelligence\/nvidia-debuts-dlss-5-for-increased-visual-fidelity-in-games-ai-infused-tech-transforms-pixels-with-photorealistic-lighting-and-materials)\n- [Bartlett Lake](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/pc-components\/cpus\/intel-keeps-socket-lga-1700-alive-with-new-p-core-only-cpus-bartlett-lake-is-official-but-targets-embedded-applications-with-up-to-12-cores)\n- [RAM Shortage](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tag\/ram-shortage)\n\n1. [Service Providers](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers)\n2. [Streaming](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming)\n# How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K)\n[How-To](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/how-to)\n\nBy [Avram Piltch](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/author\/avram-piltch)\n\nlast updated\n\nSeptember 30, 2025\n\nUse simple, open-source tools to get an MP4 or MP3 file from YouTube.\n\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/reviews\/about-us,4260.html#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure).\n\n![Downloading a YouTube Video](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/8ypWvUTb8US65tDEJ4mE8Z.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n- Copy link\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos)\n- [X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos)\n- [Whatsapp](whatsapp:\/\/send?text=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos?fwa)\n- [Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos&title=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29)\n- [Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos&media=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net%2F8ypWvUTb8US65tDEJ4mE8Z.png)\n- [Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?title=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos)\n- [Email](mailto:?subject=I%20found%20this%20webpage&body=Hi,%20I%20found%20this%20webpage%20and%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20it%20https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/how-to\/download-youtube-videos)\n\nShare this article\n\n[0](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/how-to\/download-youtube-videos#xenforo-comments-3807137)\n\nJoin the conversation\n\n[Follow us](https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomshardware.com)\n\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n\nNewsletter\n\nStay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter\n\nGet Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.\n\n***\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.\n\nYou are now subscribed\n\nYour newsletter sign-up was successful\n\n***\nAn account already exists for this email address, please log in.\n\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n## TL;DR How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K)\n- YouTube videos can be legally downloaded if you pay for YouTube Premium.\n- These videos cannot be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services.\n- Tools like youtube-dl can be used to download content from YouTube, which can be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services.\n- GUI tools like ClipGrab make youtube-dl easier to use.\n- Web-based tool cnvmp3.com provides a zero install method to download YouTube videos and audio.\n- Downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account.\n***\nYouTube is, by far, the most popular video streaming service in the world, hosting everything from children's songs to live streaming tech shows. To use it though, you need a constant Internet connection. But you can download YouTube videos for offline viewing. The official way is to use YouTube Premium which costs \\$14 per month, but there are free tools to download any YouTube video as an MP4 file, which you can transfer to any device or modify or transcribe as necessary. Note that downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account.\n\nBelow, we'll show you three different methods of downloading YouTube videos to your PC. The first method involves using a free, open-source command-line tool called YouTube-DL.\n\nThe second method involves using a freeware app called ClipGrab, which has the advantage of allowing you to choose the download resolution -- grabbing 4K videos at 4K if you want -- and file format, but it can be sluggish. The third method of downloading YouTube videos to a PC is to use a free web tool called CnvMP3. Note that our previous recommended method, using VLC player, no longer works.\n\nArticle continues below\n\nYou may like\n\n- [![Nvidia DLSS 5](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A5B8BfAZTyVWEpy5TRr3UY.jpg) Nvidia's own DLSS 5 announcement video gets taken down by YouTube in Italy due to a copyright strike](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/big-tech\/nvidias-own-dlss-5-announcement-video-gets-taken-down-in-italy-by-copyright-strike-local-tv-channel-sent-a-copyright-strike-to-every-youtube-video-for-using-the-trailer-it-used-for-its-own-broadcast)\n- [![Reddit GTA IV AI-generated video remaster](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hDsy4ZXfLyeCxDhoKvMSz8.png) Firm quietly boosts H.264 streaming license fees from \\$100,000 up to staggering \\$4.5 million](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/h264-streaming-license-fees-jump-from-100000-to-4-5-million)\n- [![Android Smartphone as a Webcam](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WCEG3fFHhXPHLjeYW9kjyF.jpg) How to setup an Android smartphone as a webcam — Camo Studio unlocks new uses for old smartphones in Windows 10 or 11 and OBS software](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/phones\/android\/how-to-setup-an-android-smartphone-as-a-webcam-camo-studio-unlocks-new-uses-for-old-smartphones-in-windows-10-or-11-and-obs-software)\n## How to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube-DL\nThese instructions are for the Windows version of YouTube-DL, but you there are are also instructions for macoS and Linux [here](https:\/\/github.com\/ytdl-org\/youtube-dl?tab=readme-ov-file#installation).\n\n1**.** [**Download youtube-dl**](https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/github.com\/ytdl-org\/youtube-dl?tab%3Dreadme-ov-file%23installation&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1741980977530148&usg=AOvVaw1-qGchDWJBRKUhG5cZBQ7C)for your OS. In windows, it’s yt-dlp.exe.\n\n2\\. **Copy the file into a folder that’s in your file path**. In Windows, you can view your path by entering:\n```\necho %PATH%\n```\nat the command prompt.\n\nStay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter\n\nGet Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.\n\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.\n\n![view the system path](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L6yBeCWEjtnzAs2LfZMvZL.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nYou can also add new folders to the path by searching for \"environment variables,” and clicking Edit Environment variables. Do not put the file in C:\\\\Windows\\\\system32.\n\n**3\\. Install ffmpeg in a path folder** by entering ***winget install ffmpeg*** at the command prompt from within that folder.\n\n**4\\. Locate and copy the YouTube URL** of the video you wish to download.\n\nWhat to read next\n\n- [![OpenNOW client](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KhTsPDzs9nGmtpJvb5xffH.png) GitHub user creates open-source Nvidia GeForce Now client alternative](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/video-games\/cloud-gaming\/github-user-creates-open-source-nvidia-geforce-now-client-alternative-removes-tracking-telemetry-and-afk-limitations)\n- [![Best Webcams](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/omf8jfNwdhHKJHrGnR7ufP.jpg) Best Webcams 2026: 1080p, 2K, and 4K](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/best-picks\/best-webcams)\n- [![Wayback Machine logo](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uHrw3MvBA6YAPHgNe2wPU3.png) News outlets are blocking Wayback Machine from archiving their pages](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/big-tech\/news-outlets-are-blocking-wayback-machine-from-archiving-their-pages-23-outlets-concerned-ai-companies-might-abuse-fair-use-and-use-it-to-train-their-models)\n\n![copy the YouTube URL](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mGPQqme5wx4632qG6VWj6S.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n5\\. **Open a command prompt** on your computer and **navigate to a folder** where you wish the download to appear. You can get to the downloads folder by typing:\n```\ncd %UserProfile%\\Downloads\n```\n6\\. **Enter the following command** to download the YouTube video at low resolution (640 x 360).\n```\nyt-dlp [YOUTUBE URL]\n```\nIf you want to download the video at its highest possible resolution (4K if YouTube has it in 4K) use the following command:\n```\nyt-dlp --merge-output-format mp4 -f \"bestvideo+bestaudio\" [YOUTUBE URL]\n```\n![downloading YouTube Video with YouTube-DL](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Dz33AjgLhbgYF5hB3Cd6Me.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n## How to Download YouTube Videos With ClipGrab\nClipGrab is a free YouTube downloading app that has the advantage of letting you choose which resolution you want. The reason why this is not our top choice method is that it asks you to install unwanted extra apps such as McAfee WebAdvisor and I find out that the app could be a bit sluggish.\n\n1\\. **Download and install ClipGrab**. You can get it from [ClipGrab's site](https:\/\/clipgrab.org\/faqs\/howto-download-youtube-video). The installer tries to get you to install other apps you may not want such as McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the Skip All button to avoid this.\n\n2\\. **Launch ClipGrab**. If it asks you for permission to download youtube-dlp, allow it.\n\n3\\. **Navigate to the Downloads tab**.\n\n![ClipGrab Downloads tab](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/X5nYrgSdM6JmATTexNNQrh.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n4\\. **Copy and paste the YouTube URL** you want to download from **into the top text fiel**d.\n\n![ClipGrab Copy and paste field](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bgij9MdrnbvKDzb5fU7ur3.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nThe program will take a couple of seconds to get the list of available resolutions from YouTube.\n\n5\\. **Choose the file format** and **resolution** you want from the Format and Quality fields or leave them at the defaults. If you leave the format as \"original,\" most videos should download as MP4s.\n\n![ClipGrab format and quality fields](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B2GWioQdcUngDmWfWYzCeM.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n6\\. **Click Grab this clip\\!** and then **select a file location**.\n\n![ClipGrab Grab this clip](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/E738n2AbDQyjrhnku9NE2o.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nYour clip will then be listed in the Current Downloads field, along with its status.\n\n![ClipGrab current downloads](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HnVKBawZCGT6aJANS7HPWh.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nWhen the download is complete, you'll find the file in the location where you set it to go.\n\n## How to Download YouTube Videos or Audio Using CNVMP3\nIf you want a YouTube download process that doesn't involve installing anything at all, CNVMP3 is a good choice. It also allows you to download YouTube videos at MP3 files so you can just listen to them as [audio](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tag\/audio) files.\n\n1\\. **Navigate to** [**cnvmp3.com**](https:\/\/cnvmp3.com\/).\n\n2\\. **Paste the YouTube URL** you want into the video field.\n\n![paste YouTube URL](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BehJtu4sDe7JtNJ8FdEM8H.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n3\\. **Select MP4** if you want to download as a video or leave it as MP3 if you want audio.\n\n![select MP4 or MP3](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NfmDmFXLWDUDcBiLtMA4sM.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n4\\. **Select the resolution** you want to download.\n\n![select resolution](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vww7UbnWDUYyRVR8H7uZWS.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n5\\. **Click Convert.**\n\n![click convert](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Sths5ha9Qv8z84FSiK98EY.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nThe YouTube video will now download directly to your PC.\n\nTOPICS\n\n[4K](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tag\/4k)   [YouTube](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tag\/youtube)   [Open Source](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tag\/open-source)\n\n[See all comments (0)](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/how-to\/download-youtube-videos#xenforo-comments-3807137)\n\n![Avram Piltch](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tZRyr8x24p5QjawJwGTqAX.jpg)\n\n[Avram Piltch](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/author\/avram-piltch)\n\nAvram Piltch is Managing Editor: Special Projects. When he's not playing with the latest gadgets at work or putting on VR helmets at trade shows, you'll find him rooting his phone, taking apart his PC, or coding plugins. With his technical knowledge and passion for testing, Avram developed many real-world benchmarks, including our laptop battery test.\n\nRead more\n\n[![Nvidia DLSS 5](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A5B8BfAZTyVWEpy5TRr3UY.jpg) Big Tech Nvidia's own DLSS 5 announcement video gets taken down by YouTube in Italy due to a copyright strike](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/big-tech\/nvidias-own-dlss-5-announcement-video-gets-taken-down-in-italy-by-copyright-strike-local-tv-channel-sent-a-copyright-strike-to-every-youtube-video-for-using-the-trailer-it-used-for-its-own-broadcast \"Nvidia's own DLSS 5 announcement video gets taken down by YouTube in Italy due to a copyright strike \")\n\n[![Reddit GTA IV AI-generated video remaster](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hDsy4ZXfLyeCxDhoKvMSz8.png) Streaming Firm quietly boosts H.264 streaming license fees from \\$100,000 up to staggering \\$4.5 million](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/h264-streaming-license-fees-jump-from-100000-to-4-5-million \"Firm quietly boosts H.264 streaming license fees from $100,000 up to staggering $4.5 million\")\n\n[![Android Smartphone as a Webcam](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WCEG3fFHhXPHLjeYW9kjyF.jpg) Android How to setup an Android smartphone as a webcam — Camo Studio unlocks new uses for old smartphones in Windows 10 or 11 and OBS software](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/phones\/android\/how-to-setup-an-android-smartphone-as-a-webcam-camo-studio-unlocks-new-uses-for-old-smartphones-in-windows-10-or-11-and-obs-software \"How to setup an Android smartphone as a webcam — Camo Studio unlocks new uses for old smartphones in Windows 10 or 11 and OBS software\")\n\n[![OpenNOW client](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KhTsPDzs9nGmtpJvb5xffH.png) Cloud Gaming GitHub user creates open-source Nvidia GeForce Now client alternative](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/video-games\/cloud-gaming\/github-user-creates-open-source-nvidia-geforce-now-client-alternative-removes-tracking-telemetry-and-afk-limitations \"GitHub user creates open-source Nvidia GeForce Now client alternative\")\n\n[![Best Webcams](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/omf8jfNwdhHKJHrGnR7ufP.jpg) Webcams Best Webcams 2026: 1080p, 2K, and 4K](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/best-picks\/best-webcams \"Best Webcams 2026: 1080p, 2K, and 4K\")\n\n[![Wayback Machine logo](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uHrw3MvBA6YAPHgNe2wPU3.png) Big Tech News outlets are blocking Wayback Machine from archiving their pages](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/big-tech\/news-outlets-are-blocking-wayback-machine-from-archiving-their-pages-23-outlets-concerned-ai-companies-might-abuse-fair-use-and-use-it-to-train-their-models \"News outlets are blocking Wayback Machine from archiving their pages\")\n\nLatest in Streaming\n\n[![Reddit GTA IV AI-generated video remaster](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hDsy4ZXfLyeCxDhoKvMSz8.png) Streaming Firm quietly boosts H.264 streaming license fees from \\$100,000 up to staggering \\$4.5 million](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/h264-streaming-license-fees-jump-from-100000-to-4-5-million \"Firm quietly boosts H.264 streaming license fees from $100,000 up to staggering $4.5 million\")\n\n[![Spotify](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3PPFLahivGvcKNpXvz6bfY.png) Streaming Pirate archivist group scrapes Spotify's 300TB library, posts free torrents for downloading 86,000,000 tracks](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/pirate-archivist-group-scrapes-spotifys-300tb-library-posts-free-torrents-for-downloading-investigation-underway-as-music-and-metadata-hit-torrent-sites \"Pirate archivist group scrapes Spotify's 300TB library, posts free torrents for downloading 86,000,000 tracks\")\n\n[![Plex Server](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ymSAnpMHVL9HymTU6S9LNh.jpg) Streaming How to use Plex and a spare computer to build a streaming movie service](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/how-to-use-plex-and-a-spare-computer-to-build-a-streaming-movie-service \"How to use Plex and a spare computer to build a streaming movie service\")\n\n[![The Magewell Eco Capture Dual HDMI M.2 capture card](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/yujsgi9VRQy2V2g2PBT5nF.jpg) Streaming M.2 HDMI capture card provides dual 2K video input for PCIe 2.0 and later](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/m-2-hdmi-capture-card-provides-dual-2k-video-input-works-in-any-pcie-2-0-or-later-slot \"M.2 HDMI capture card provides dual 2K video input for PCIe 2.0 and later\")\n\n[![Rode Streamer X](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KVWrtuMveXvjqNSwK7PCAY.jpg) Streaming Rode Streamer X Review: Stream Dream?](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/rode-streamer-x-review \"Rode Streamer X Review: Stream Dream?\")\n\n[![Magewell New 4K M.2 Capture Cards](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6dyvCKFHvV88wdexmUVGa4.jpg) Streaming Magewell's New M.2 Capture Cards Are Fit for Mini-ITX Streaming PCs](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/news\/magewell-m2-capture-cards-perfect-mini-itx-streaming \"Magewell's New M.2 Capture Cards Are Fit for Mini-ITX Streaming PCs\")\n\nLatest in How To\n\n[![Flipper Zero](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/e6zsd7htE55ByzCT277B7Z.png) Cybersecurity Flipper Zero pen-testing tool gets an AI-powered companion app](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/cyber-security\/flipper-zero-pen-testing-tool-gets-an-ai-powered-companion-app-natural-language-interface-allows-for-faster-easier-hacking \"Flipper Zero pen-testing tool gets an AI-powered companion app\")\n\n[![The Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU leaning against a graphics card.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7k8sTnJ6KjRrHv4pdqLRba.jpg) CPUs How to use Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer to improve Ryzen CPU performance](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/pc-components\/cpus\/how-to-use-precision-boost-overdrive-and-curve-optimizer-to-improve-ryzen-cpu-performance \"How to use Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer to improve Ryzen CPU performance\")\n\n[![Android Smartphone as a Webcam](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/WCEG3fFHhXPHLjeYW9kjyF.jpg) Android How to setup an Android smartphone as a webcam — Camo Studio unlocks new uses for old smartphones in Windows 10 or 11 and OBS software](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/phones\/android\/how-to-setup-an-android-smartphone-as-a-webcam-camo-studio-unlocks-new-uses-for-old-smartphones-in-windows-10-or-11-and-obs-software \"How to setup an Android smartphone as a webcam — Camo Studio unlocks new uses for old smartphones in Windows 10 or 11 and OBS software\")\n\n[![Plex Server](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ymSAnpMHVL9HymTU6S9LNh.jpg) Streaming How to use Plex and a spare computer to build a streaming movie service](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/service-providers\/streaming\/how-to-use-plex-and-a-spare-computer-to-build-a-streaming-movie-service \"How to use Plex and a spare computer to build a streaming movie service\")\n\n[![Xbox Controller](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T3s9MQiDjNX2G3NeEQEhvi.jpg) Xbox How to connect an Xbox controller to your Windows PC — wired and wireless gaming made easy](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/video-games\/xbox\/how-to-connect-an-xbox-controller-to-your-windows-pc-wired-and-wireless-gaming-made-easy \"How to connect an Xbox controller to your Windows PC — wired and wireless gaming made easy\")\n\n[![AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/xTDkvKn3YbMsk8uzfxKSZh.jpg) CPUs How to choose a CPU – A guide to picking the right processor for your PC](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/pc-components\/cpus\/cpu-buying-guide \"How to choose a CPU – A guide to picking the right processor for your PC\")\n\nNo comments yet  [Comment from the forums](https:\/\/forums.tomshardware.com\/threads\/how-to-download-youtube-videos-to-pc-for-free.3807137\/)\n\nTom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.\n\n![]()\n\n×","attrs_readable_markdown":"## TL;DR How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K)\n- YouTube videos can be legally downloaded if you pay for YouTube Premium.\n- These videos cannot be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services.\n- Tools like youtube-dl can be used to download content from YouTube, which can be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services.\n- GUI tools like ClipGrab make youtube-dl easier to use.\n- Web-based tool cnvmp3.com provides a zero install method to download YouTube videos and audio.\n- Downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account.\n***\nYouTube is, by far, the most popular video streaming service in the world, hosting everything from children's songs to live streaming tech shows. To use it though, you need a constant Internet connection. But you can download YouTube videos for offline viewing. The official way is to use YouTube Premium which costs \\$14 per month, but there are free tools to download any YouTube video as an MP4 file, which you can transfer to any device or modify or transcribe as necessary. Note that downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account.\n\nBelow, we'll show you three different methods of downloading YouTube videos to your PC. The first method involves using a free, open-source command-line tool called YouTube-DL.\n\nThe second method involves using a freeware app called ClipGrab, which has the advantage of allowing you to choose the download resolution -- grabbing 4K videos at 4K if you want -- and file format, but it can be sluggish. The third method of downloading YouTube videos to a PC is to use a free web tool called CnvMP3. Note that our previous recommended method, using VLC player, no longer works.\n\nArticle continues below\n\n## How to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube-DL\nThese instructions are for the Windows version of YouTube-DL, but you there are are also instructions for macoS and Linux [here](https:\/\/github.com\/ytdl-org\/youtube-dl?tab=readme-ov-file#installation).\n\n1**.** [**Download youtube-dl**](https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/github.com\/ytdl-org\/youtube-dl?tab%3Dreadme-ov-file%23installation&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1741980977530148&usg=AOvVaw1-qGchDWJBRKUhG5cZBQ7C)for your OS. In windows, it’s yt-dlp.exe.\n\n2\\. **Copy the file into a folder that’s in your file path**. In Windows, you can view your path by entering:\n```\necho %PATH%\n```\nat the command prompt.\n\nGet Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.\n\n![view the system path](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/L6yBeCWEjtnzAs2LfZMvZL.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nYou can also add new folders to the path by searching for \"environment variables,” and clicking Edit Environment variables. Do not put the file in C:\\\\Windows\\\\system32.\n\n**3\\. Install ffmpeg in a path folder** by entering ***winget install ffmpeg*** at the command prompt from within that folder.\n\n**4\\. Locate and copy the YouTube URL** of the video you wish to download.\n\n![copy the YouTube URL](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/mGPQqme5wx4632qG6VWj6S.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n5\\. **Open a command prompt** on your computer and **navigate to a folder** where you wish the download to appear. You can get to the downloads folder by typing:\n```\ncd %UserProfile%\\Downloads\n```\n6\\. **Enter the following command** to download the YouTube video at low resolution (640 x 360).\n```\nyt-dlp [YOUTUBE URL]\n```\nIf you want to download the video at its highest possible resolution (4K if YouTube has it in 4K) use the following command:\n```\nyt-dlp --merge-output-format mp4 -f \"bestvideo+bestaudio\" [YOUTUBE URL]\n```\n![downloading YouTube Video with YouTube-DL](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Dz33AjgLhbgYF5hB3Cd6Me.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n## How to Download YouTube Videos With ClipGrab\nClipGrab is a free YouTube downloading app that has the advantage of letting you choose which resolution you want. The reason why this is not our top choice method is that it asks you to install unwanted extra apps such as McAfee WebAdvisor and I find out that the app could be a bit sluggish.\n\n1\\. **Download and install ClipGrab**. You can get it from [ClipGrab's site](https:\/\/clipgrab.org\/faqs\/howto-download-youtube-video). The installer tries to get you to install other apps you may not want such as McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the Skip All button to avoid this.\n\n2\\. **Launch ClipGrab**. If it asks you for permission to download youtube-dlp, allow it.\n\n3\\. **Navigate to the Downloads tab**.\n\n![ClipGrab Downloads tab](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/X5nYrgSdM6JmATTexNNQrh.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n4\\. **Copy and paste the YouTube URL** you want to download from **into the top text fiel**d.\n\n![ClipGrab Copy and paste field](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bgij9MdrnbvKDzb5fU7ur3.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nThe program will take a couple of seconds to get the list of available resolutions from YouTube.\n\n5\\. **Choose the file format** and **resolution** you want from the Format and Quality fields or leave them at the defaults. If you leave the format as \"original,\" most videos should download as MP4s.\n\n![ClipGrab format and quality fields](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/B2GWioQdcUngDmWfWYzCeM.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n6\\. **Click Grab this clip\\!** and then **select a file location**.\n\n![ClipGrab Grab this clip](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/E738n2AbDQyjrhnku9NE2o.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nYour clip will then be listed in the Current Downloads field, along with its status.\n\n![ClipGrab current downloads](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/HnVKBawZCGT6aJANS7HPWh.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nWhen the download is complete, you'll find the file in the location where you set it to go.\n\n## How to Download YouTube Videos or Audio Using CNVMP3\nIf you want a YouTube download process that doesn't involve installing anything at all, CNVMP3 is a good choice. It also allows you to download YouTube videos at MP3 files so you can just listen to them as [audio](https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tag\/audio) files.\n\n1\\. **Navigate to** [**cnvmp3.com**](https:\/\/cnvmp3.com\/).\n\n2\\. **Paste the YouTube URL** you want into the video field.\n\n![paste YouTube URL](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BehJtu4sDe7JtNJ8FdEM8H.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n3\\. **Select MP4** if you want to download as a video or leave it as MP3 if you want audio.\n\n![select MP4 or MP3](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NfmDmFXLWDUDcBiLtMA4sM.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n4\\. **Select the resolution** you want to download.\n\n![select resolution](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/vww7UbnWDUYyRVR8H7uZWS.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\n5\\. **Click Convert.**\n\n![click convert](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Sths5ha9Qv8z84FSiK98EY.png)\n\n(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)\n\nThe YouTube video will now download directly to your PC.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K) \| Tom's Hardware
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Boilerpipe Text	TL;DR How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K) YouTube videos can be legally downloaded if you pay for YouTube Premium. These videos cannot be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services. Tools like youtube-dl can be used to download content from YouTube, which can be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services. GUI tools like ClipGrab make youtube-dl easier to use. Web-based tool cnvmp3.com provides a zero install method to download YouTube videos and audio. Downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its terms of service and may lead to termination of your account. YouTube is, by far, the most popular video streaming service in the world, hosting everything from children's songs to live streaming tech shows. To use it though, you need a constant Internet connection. But you can download YouTube videos for offline viewing. The official way is to use YouTube Premium which costs $14 per month, but there are free tools to download any YouTube video as an MP4 file, which you can transfer to any device or modify or transcribe as necessary. Note that downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its terms of service and may lead to termination of your account. Below, we'll show you three different methods of downloading YouTube videos to your PC. The first method involves using a free, open-source command-line tool called YouTube-DL. The second method involves using a freeware app called ClipGrab, which has the advantage of allowing you to choose the download resolution -- grabbing 4K videos at 4K if you want -- and file format, but it can be sluggish. The third method of downloading YouTube videos to a PC is to use a free web tool called CnvMP3. Note that our previous recommended method, using VLC player, no longer works. Article continues below How to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube-DL These instructions are for the Windows version of YouTube-DL, but you there are are also instructions for macoS and Linux here . 1 . Download youtube-dl for your OS. In windows, it’s yt-dlp.exe. 2. Copy the file into a folder that’s in your file path . In Windows, you can view your path by entering: echo %PATH% at the command prompt. Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) You can also add new folders to the path by searching for "environment variables,” and clicking Edit Environment variables. Do not put the file in C:\Windows\system32. 3. Install ffmpeg in a path folder by entering winget install ffmpeg at the command prompt from within that folder. 4. Locate and copy the YouTube URL of the video you wish to download. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 5. Open a command prompt on your computer and navigate to a folder where you wish the download to appear. You can get to the downloads folder by typing: cd %UserProfile%\Downloads 6. Enter the following command to download the YouTube video at low resolution (640 x 360). yt-dlp [YOUTUBE URL] If you want to download the video at its highest possible resolution (4K if YouTube has it in 4K) use the following command: yt-dlp --merge-output-format mp4 -f "bestvideo+bestaudio" [YOUTUBE URL] (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) How to Download YouTube Videos With ClipGrab ClipGrab is a free YouTube downloading app that has the advantage of letting you choose which resolution you want. The reason why this is not our top choice method is that it asks you to install unwanted extra apps such as McAfee WebAdvisor and I find out that the app could be a bit sluggish. 1. Download and install ClipGrab . You can get it from ClipGrab's site . The installer tries to get you to install other apps you may not want such as McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the Skip All button to avoid this. 2. Launch ClipGrab . If it asks you for permission to download youtube-dlp, allow it. 3. Navigate to the Downloads tab . (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 4. Copy and paste the YouTube URL you want to download from into the top text fiel d. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The program will take a couple of seconds to get the list of available resolutions from YouTube. 5. Choose the file format and resolution you want from the Format and Quality fields or leave them at the defaults. If you leave the format as "original," most videos should download as MP4s. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 6. Click Grab this clip! and then select a file location . (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Your clip will then be listed in the Current Downloads field, along with its status. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) When the download is complete, you'll find the file in the location where you set it to go. How to Download YouTube Videos or Audio Using CNVMP3 If you want a YouTube download process that doesn't involve installing anything at all, CNVMP3 is a good choice. It also allows you to download YouTube videos at MP3 files so you can just listen to them as audio files. 1. Navigate to cnvmp3.com . 2. Paste the YouTube URL you want into the video field. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 3. Select MP4 if you want to download as a video or leave it as MP3 if you want audio. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 4. Select the resolution you want to download. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 5. Click Convert. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The YouTube video will now download directly to your PC.
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on SSDs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iETYmf8DTHadRHDMonKWZX.jpg) SSDs SSD price tracking 2026: Lowest price on every M.2 SSD from Samsung, Western Digital, Crucial, and more — here are the best deals during the AI-driven pricing crisis](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/ssd-price-tracking-2026-lowest-price-on-every-m-2-ssd "SSD price tracking 2026: Lowest price on every M.2 SSD from Samsung, Western Digital, Crucial, and more — here are the best deals during the AI-driven pricing crisis") [![Best Microphones](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PxNMbJZVwCHCdjyq8By7TX.png) Microphones Best Gaming Microphones 2026](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-microphones,6247.html "Best Gaming Microphones 2026") [![Descent II hits 30](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5hGmDiVdo9DpPaeKnQ7eSb.jpg) Retro Gaming 385TB video game archive saved by fans — Myrient has been '100% backed up' and validated, torrents being 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- [Bartlett Lake](https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-keeps-socket-lga-1700-alive-with-new-p-core-only-cpus-bartlett-lake-is-official-but-targets-embedded-applications-with-up-to-12-cores) - [RAM Shortage](https://www.tomshardware.com/tag/ram-shortage) 1. [Service Providers](https://www.tomshardware.com/service-providers) 2. [Streaming](https://www.tomshardware.com/service-providers/streaming) # How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K) [How-To](https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to) By [Avram Piltch](https://www.tomshardware.com/author/avram-piltch) last updated September 30, 2025 Use simple, open-source tools to get an MP4 or MP3 file from YouTube. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/about-us,4260.html#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure). ![Downloading a YouTube Video](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8ypWvUTb8US65tDEJ4mE8Z.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) - Copy link - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos) - [X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos) - [Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos?fwa) - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos&title=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29) - [Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos&media=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net%2F8ypWvUTb8US65tDEJ4mE8Z.png) - [Flipboard](https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?title=How+to+Download+YouTube+Videos+to+PC+for+Free+%28in+Up+to+4K%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fhow-to%2Fdownload-youtube-videos) - [Email](mailto:?subject=I%20found%20this%20webpage&body=Hi,%20I%20found%20this%20webpage%20and%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20it%20https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/download-youtube-videos) Share this article [0](https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/download-youtube-videos#xenforo-comments-3807137) Join the conversation [Follow us](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=tomshardware.com) Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. * By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful * An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter ## TL;DR How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K) - YouTube videos can be legally downloaded if you pay for YouTube Premium. - These videos cannot be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services. - Tools like youtube-dl can be used to download content from YouTube, which can be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services. - GUI tools like ClipGrab make youtube-dl easier to use. - Web-based tool cnvmp3.com provides a zero install method to download YouTube videos and audio. - Downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account. * YouTube is, by far, the most popular video streaming service in the world, hosting everything from children's songs to live streaming tech shows. To use it though, you need a constant Internet connection. But you can download YouTube videos for offline viewing. The official way is to use YouTube Premium which costs \$14 per month, but there are free tools to download any YouTube video as an MP4 file, which you can transfer to any device or modify or transcribe as necessary. Note that downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account. Below, we'll show you three different methods of downloading YouTube videos to your PC. The first method involves using a free, open-source command-line tool called YouTube-DL. The second method involves using a freeware app called ClipGrab, which has the advantage of allowing you to choose the download resolution -- grabbing 4K videos at 4K if you want -- and file format, but it can be sluggish. The third method of downloading YouTube videos to a PC is to use a free web tool called CnvMP3. Note that our previous recommended method, using VLC player, no longer works. Article continues below You may like - [![Nvidia DLSS 5](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A5B8BfAZTyVWEpy5TRr3UY.jpg) Nvidia's own DLSS 5 announcement video gets taken down by YouTube in Italy due to a copyright strike](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/nvidias-own-dlss-5-announcement-video-gets-taken-down-in-italy-by-copyright-strike-local-tv-channel-sent-a-copyright-strike-to-every-youtube-video-for-using-the-trailer-it-used-for-its-own-broadcast) - [![Reddit GTA IV AI-generated video remaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hDsy4ZXfLyeCxDhoKvMSz8.png) Firm quietly boosts H.264 streaming license fees from \$100,000 up to staggering \$4.5 million](https://www.tomshardware.com/service-providers/streaming/h264-streaming-license-fees-jump-from-100000-to-4-5-million) - [![Android Smartphone as a Webcam](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WCEG3fFHhXPHLjeYW9kjyF.jpg) How to setup an Android smartphone as a webcam — Camo Studio unlocks new uses for old smartphones in Windows 10 or 11 and OBS software](https://www.tomshardware.com/phones/android/how-to-setup-an-android-smartphone-as-a-webcam-camo-studio-unlocks-new-uses-for-old-smartphones-in-windows-10-or-11-and-obs-software) ## How to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube-DL These instructions are for the Windows version of YouTube-DL, but you there are are also instructions for macoS and Linux [here](https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl?tab=readme-ov-file#installation). 1. [Download youtube-dl](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl?tab%3Dreadme-ov-file%23installation&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1741980977530148&usg=AOvVaw1-qGchDWJBRKUhG5cZBQ7C)for your OS. In windows, it’s yt-dlp.exe. 2\. Copy the file into a folder that’s in your file path. In Windows, you can view your path by entering: ``` echo %PATH% ``` at the command prompt. Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. ![view the system path](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L6yBeCWEjtnzAs2LfZMvZL.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) You can also add new folders to the path by searching for "environment variables,” and clicking Edit Environment variables. Do not put the file in C:\\Windows\\system32. 3\. Install ffmpeg in a path folder by entering winget install ffmpeg at the command prompt from within that folder. 4\. Locate and copy the YouTube URL of the video you wish to download. What to read next - [![OpenNOW client](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KhTsPDzs9nGmtpJvb5xffH.png) GitHub user creates open-source Nvidia GeForce Now client alternative](https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/cloud-gaming/github-user-creates-open-source-nvidia-geforce-now-client-alternative-removes-tracking-telemetry-and-afk-limitations) - [![Best Webcams](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/omf8jfNwdhHKJHrGnR7ufP.jpg) Best Webcams 2026: 1080p, 2K, and 4K](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-webcams) - [![Wayback Machine logo](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uHrw3MvBA6YAPHgNe2wPU3.png) News outlets are blocking Wayback Machine from archiving their pages](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/big-tech/news-outlets-are-blocking-wayback-machine-from-archiving-their-pages-23-outlets-concerned-ai-companies-might-abuse-fair-use-and-use-it-to-train-their-models) ![copy the YouTube URL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mGPQqme5wx4632qG6VWj6S.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 5\. Open a command prompt on your computer and navigate to a folder where you wish the download to appear. You can get to the downloads folder by typing: ``` cd %UserProfile%\Downloads ``` 6\. Enter the following command to download the YouTube video at low resolution (640 x 360). ``` yt-dlp [YOUTUBE URL] ``` If you want to download the video at its highest possible resolution (4K if YouTube has it in 4K) use the following command: ``` yt-dlp --merge-output-format mp4 -f "bestvideo+bestaudio" [YOUTUBE URL] ``` ![downloading YouTube Video with YouTube-DL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dz33AjgLhbgYF5hB3Cd6Me.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) ## How to Download YouTube Videos With ClipGrab ClipGrab is a free YouTube downloading app that has the advantage of letting you choose which resolution you want. The reason why this is not our top choice method is that it asks you to install unwanted extra apps such as McAfee WebAdvisor and I find out that the app could be a bit sluggish. 1\. Download and install ClipGrab. You can get it from [ClipGrab's site](https://clipgrab.org/faqs/howto-download-youtube-video). The installer tries to get you to install other apps you may not want such as McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the Skip All button to avoid this. 2\. Launch ClipGrab. If it asks you for permission to download youtube-dlp, allow it. 3\. Navigate to the Downloads tab. ![ClipGrab Downloads tab](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X5nYrgSdM6JmATTexNNQrh.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 4\. Copy and paste the YouTube URL you want to download from into the top text field. ![ClipGrab Copy and paste field](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bgij9MdrnbvKDzb5fU7ur3.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The program will take a couple of seconds to get the list of available resolutions from YouTube. 5\. Choose the file format and resolution you want from the Format and Quality fields or leave them at the defaults. If you leave the format as "original," most videos should download as MP4s. ![ClipGrab format and quality fields](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B2GWioQdcUngDmWfWYzCeM.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 6\. Click Grab this clip\! and then select a file location. ![ClipGrab Grab this clip](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E738n2AbDQyjrhnku9NE2o.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Your clip will then be listed in the Current Downloads field, along with its status. ![ClipGrab current downloads](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HnVKBawZCGT6aJANS7HPWh.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) When the download is complete, you'll find the file in the location where you set it to go. ## How to Download YouTube Videos or Audio Using CNVMP3 If you want a YouTube download process that doesn't involve installing anything at all, CNVMP3 is a good choice. It also allows you to download YouTube videos at MP3 files so you can just listen to them as [audio](https://www.tomshardware.com/tag/audio) files. 1\. Navigate to [cnvmp3.com](https://cnvmp3.com/). 2\. Paste the YouTube URL you want into the video field. ![paste YouTube URL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BehJtu4sDe7JtNJ8FdEM8H.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 3\. Select MP4 if you want to download as a video or leave it as MP3 if you want audio. ![select MP4 or MP3](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NfmDmFXLWDUDcBiLtMA4sM.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 4\. Select the resolution you want to download. ![select resolution](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vww7UbnWDUYyRVR8H7uZWS.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 5\. Click Convert.** ![click convert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sths5ha9Qv8z84FSiK98EY.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The YouTube video will now download directly to your PC. TOPICS [4K](https://www.tomshardware.com/tag/4k) [YouTube](https://www.tomshardware.com/tag/youtube) [Open Source](https://www.tomshardware.com/tag/open-source) [See all comments (0)](https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/download-youtube-videos#xenforo-comments-3807137) ![Avram Piltch](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tZRyr8x24p5QjawJwGTqAX.jpg) [Avram Piltch](https://www.tomshardware.com/author/avram-piltch) Avram Piltch is Managing Editor: Special Projects. When he's not playing with the latest gadgets at work or putting on VR helmets at trade shows, you'll find him rooting his phone, taking apart his PC, or coding plugins. With his technical knowledge and passion for testing, Avram developed many real-world benchmarks, including our laptop battery test. 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Readable Markdown	## TL;DR How to Download YouTube Videos to PC for Free (in Up to 4K) - YouTube videos can be legally downloaded if you pay for YouTube Premium. - These videos cannot be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services. - Tools like youtube-dl can be used to download content from YouTube, which can be used with AI voice-to-text transcription services. - GUI tools like ClipGrab make youtube-dl easier to use. - Web-based tool cnvmp3.com provides a zero install method to download YouTube videos and audio. - Downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account. * YouTube is, by far, the most popular video streaming service in the world, hosting everything from children's songs to live streaming tech shows. To use it though, you need a constant Internet connection. But you can download YouTube videos for offline viewing. The official way is to use YouTube Premium which costs \$14 per month, but there are free tools to download any YouTube video as an MP4 file, which you can transfer to any device or modify or transcribe as necessary. Note that downloading copyrighted work without permission is illegal and downloading files from YouTube violates its [terms of service](https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms) and may lead to termination of your account. Below, we'll show you three different methods of downloading YouTube videos to your PC. The first method involves using a free, open-source command-line tool called YouTube-DL. The second method involves using a freeware app called ClipGrab, which has the advantage of allowing you to choose the download resolution -- grabbing 4K videos at 4K if you want -- and file format, but it can be sluggish. The third method of downloading YouTube videos to a PC is to use a free web tool called CnvMP3. Note that our previous recommended method, using VLC player, no longer works. Article continues below ## How to Download YouTube Videos with YouTube-DL These instructions are for the Windows version of YouTube-DL, but you there are are also instructions for macoS and Linux [here](https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl?tab=readme-ov-file#installation). 1. [Download youtube-dl](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl?tab%3Dreadme-ov-file%23installation&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1741980977530148&usg=AOvVaw1-qGchDWJBRKUhG5cZBQ7C)for your OS. In windows, it’s yt-dlp.exe. 2\. Copy the file into a folder that’s in your file path. In Windows, you can view your path by entering: ``` echo %PATH% ``` at the command prompt. Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. ![view the system path](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L6yBeCWEjtnzAs2LfZMvZL.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) You can also add new folders to the path by searching for "environment variables,” and clicking Edit Environment variables. Do not put the file in C:\\Windows\\system32. 3\. Install ffmpeg in a path folder by entering winget install ffmpeg at the command prompt from within that folder. 4\. Locate and copy the YouTube URL of the video you wish to download. ![copy the YouTube URL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mGPQqme5wx4632qG6VWj6S.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 5\. Open a command prompt on your computer and navigate to a folder where you wish the download to appear. You can get to the downloads folder by typing: ``` cd %UserProfile%\Downloads ``` 6\. Enter the following command to download the YouTube video at low resolution (640 x 360). ``` yt-dlp [YOUTUBE URL] ``` If you want to download the video at its highest possible resolution (4K if YouTube has it in 4K) use the following command: ``` yt-dlp --merge-output-format mp4 -f "bestvideo+bestaudio" [YOUTUBE URL] ``` ![downloading YouTube Video with YouTube-DL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dz33AjgLhbgYF5hB3Cd6Me.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) ## How to Download YouTube Videos With ClipGrab ClipGrab is a free YouTube downloading app that has the advantage of letting you choose which resolution you want. The reason why this is not our top choice method is that it asks you to install unwanted extra apps such as McAfee WebAdvisor and I find out that the app could be a bit sluggish. 1\. Download and install ClipGrab. You can get it from [ClipGrab's site](https://clipgrab.org/faqs/howto-download-youtube-video). The installer tries to get you to install other apps you may not want such as McAfee WebAdvisor. Click the Skip All button to avoid this. 2\. Launch ClipGrab. If it asks you for permission to download youtube-dlp, allow it. 3\. Navigate to the Downloads tab. ![ClipGrab Downloads tab](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X5nYrgSdM6JmATTexNNQrh.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 4\. Copy and paste the YouTube URL you want to download from into the top text field. ![ClipGrab Copy and paste field](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bgij9MdrnbvKDzb5fU7ur3.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The program will take a couple of seconds to get the list of available resolutions from YouTube. 5\. Choose the file format and resolution you want from the Format and Quality fields or leave them at the defaults. If you leave the format as "original," most videos should download as MP4s. ![ClipGrab format and quality fields](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B2GWioQdcUngDmWfWYzCeM.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 6\. Click Grab this clip\! and then select a file location. ![ClipGrab Grab this clip](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E738n2AbDQyjrhnku9NE2o.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Your clip will then be listed in the Current Downloads field, along with its status. ![ClipGrab current downloads](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HnVKBawZCGT6aJANS7HPWh.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) When the download is complete, you'll find the file in the location where you set it to go. ## How to Download YouTube Videos or Audio Using CNVMP3 If you want a YouTube download process that doesn't involve installing anything at all, CNVMP3 is a good choice. It also allows you to download YouTube videos at MP3 files so you can just listen to them as [audio](https://www.tomshardware.com/tag/audio) files. 1\. Navigate to [cnvmp3.com](https://cnvmp3.com/). 2\. Paste the YouTube URL you want into the video field. ![paste YouTube URL](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BehJtu4sDe7JtNJ8FdEM8H.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 3\. Select MP4 if you want to download as a video or leave it as MP3 if you want audio. ![select MP4 or MP3](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NfmDmFXLWDUDcBiLtMA4sM.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 4\. Select the resolution you want to download. ![select resolution](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vww7UbnWDUYyRVR8H7uZWS.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) 5\. Click Convert.** ![click convert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sths5ha9Qv8z84FSiK98EY.png) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) The YouTube video will now download directly to your PC.
Shard	139 (laksa)
Root Hash	14957725849104319939
Unparsed URL	com,tomshardware!www,/how-to/download-youtube-videos s443