How to download Youtube Videos

I've been looking for a solution to download YouTube videos forever, and Google doesn't help. But now I have one, and you do too! (And you don't need to download anything except the movie you want! )

Most sites (about 99%) that say that they can download youtube videos, but they can't because of a hosting change.

In 10 parts, you can get youtube videos, and it usually takes less than 5 minutes.

1. Go to the video you want to download.
2. Make sure the URL is in this format: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BCVLRPQUnY and copy it.
3. Go to http://www.youtubecatcher.com/
4. Paste the URL into the text area, and press the Download Video Button
5. Right click on the link that says "Right-Click Here to Download Your Video (FLV format)" and select Save Link As (or Save Target As) save it to your desktop.
6. Go to http://media-convert.com/
7. Click the FIRST browse button. Select the .flv video you just downloaded.
8. Make sure the output format is "Windows Media Video (.wmv)"
9. Click OK
10. Wait for it to upload and convert, then you are done. A fully playable YouTube video on your computer!


If you're wondering why you need to convert it to a .wmv, try playing it as a .flv and see for yourself. It won't play. It will just show a blank screen, and if you right click your mouse, it will say Movie not loaded.

A simple script can be used to download youtube. eg Python script

Code: [Select]

import urllib
import os
import sys
url = sys.argv[1]
page=urllib.urlopen(url)
result = page.read()
#result=open("test.html").read()
startindex = result.index("var swfArgs")
result = result[startindex:]
endindex=result.index("};")
result=result[:endindex]
result =  result.split(",")
get={}

def download(url,output):
    """Copy the contents of a file from a given URL to a local file."""   
    webFile = urllib.urlretrieve(url,output+".flv")

for line in result:
    if "video_id" in line or "\"t\"" in line :
        v,vnum = line.replace("\"","").split(":")
        get[v.strip()]=vnum.strip()
   
dload = "http://www.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=%s&t=%s" % ( get['video_id'],get['t'])

try :
    download(dload,get['video_id'])
except Exception,e:
    print "Error: ",e

to execute:

Code: [Select]

c:\test> python youtube.py "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BCVLRPQUnY"

similarly, it can be done using Perl/Ruby/Java etc, or even wget for windows.

WE have already mentioned that here.  Not sure were it is but we can put the url here keepvideo and then enter a title and it saves it in a flv format.

      Hmmm... had any of You tried 'Download Master'?

Never heard of it.

   Too bad... It can download YouTube videos much easier...

or ....

http://www.downloadyoutubevideos.com/

That saves youtube videos, just gotta remember to save as with .flv extension.

I like useing realplaer cause less hastle.

A simple script can be used to download youtube. eg Python script

Code: [Select]

import urllib
import os
import sys
url = sys.argv[1]
page=urllib.urlopen(url)
result = page.read()
#result=open("test.html").read()
startindex = result.index("var swfArgs")
result = result[startindex:]
endindex=result.index("};")
result=result[:endindex]
result =  result.split(",")
get={}

def download(url,output):
    """Copy the contents of a file from a given URL to a local file."""   
    webFile = urllib.urlretrieve(url,output+".flv")

for line in result:
    if "video_id" in line or "\"t\"" in line :
        v,vnum = line.replace("\"","").split(":")
        get[v.strip()]=vnum.strip()
   
dload = "http://www.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=%s&t=%s" % ( get['video_id'],get['t'])

try :
    download(dload,get['video_id'])
except Exception,e:
    print "Error: ",e

to execute:

Code: [Select]

c:\test> python youtube.py "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BCVLRPQUnY"

similarly, it can be done using Perl/Ruby/Java etc, or even wget for windows.

Most youtube downloading websites use the www.youtube.com/get_video (which doesn't work anymore), which is why I posted a 100% working version.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001002.htm

That was it. 

KeepVid.com 

Use it myself, haven't gotten any viruses and crap from it.

You can download a High(MP4 file) or a Low(Flash Video) quality video. 

neither have i.  Except that you have to change the filename at times.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001002.htm

Keepvid: Works
Videospider: No
Youtubex: No
Videodownloaded: No

VideoGet --> A $19.95 software that downloads youtube videos and can convert to various file types if you specify. It works well, I haven't had a problem with it. I got it free on giveawayoftheday.com when it was there, I still have the install and license key for the program if anybody wants it still. 

VideoGet --> A $19.95 software that downloads youtube videos and can convert to various file types if you specify. It works well, I haven't had a problem with it. I got it free on giveawayoftheday.com when it was there, I still have the install and license key for the program if anybody wants it still. 

Just noting that my solution is 100% free. No installation. No downloading (other than the movies you want).

but of course, videoget comes with the conversion options to convert to other formats. Something that keepvid doesn't do 

we mentioned that too and its free.

[Global Moderator]

Firefox Add-on: Video DownloadHelper.

Method: Use it to download the .flv file from youtube (or any other website) and use Quick Media Converter to convert the FLV file to another format (WMV, AVI, ect).

Otherwise, use VLC Media Player to play FLV file.

Firefox Add-on: Video DownloadHelper.

Method: Use it to download the .flv file from youtube (or any other website) and use Quick Media Converter to convert the FLV file to another format (WMV, AVI, ect).

Otherwise, use VLC Media Player to play FLV file.

I would just like to mention that not everyone uses firefox...And is that addon the one with the 3 spheres that spin around? It doesn't work for me...

[Global Moderator]

A lot of people who are experienced enough to want to download youtube videos would probably be using Firefox.
BTW, the icon can be removed.

A lot of people who are experienced enough to want to download youtube videos would probably be using Firefox.
BTW, the icon can be removed.

But still internet explorer still has the greatest number of users among web browsers .... anyway....


http://downloadyoutubevideo.org/

You can also download youtube videos via this website I listed above. It works, I just tested it out right now. And the websites can work for most of the websites, not restricted to only internet explorer. What if you're at work, and you find a useful youtube video but the IT techs have locked  your PC to internet explorer as the browser so you have to use it?

IT techs have locked  your PC to internet explorer as the browser so you have to use it?

The best solution would be to realize that downloading youtube video's isn't what your paid to do. Although they cannot "lock" the computer to IE. firefox can be installed on a flash drive.

of course portable firefox is there .... 

What if you're at work, and you find a useful youtube video but the IT techs have locked  your PC to internet explorer as the browser so you have to use it?

Then you can use the solution I gave, because the .flv s (when you don't have VLC or anything else downloaded) don't load properly, so you convert them to .wmv

OR you can get a greasemonkey script

[Global Moderator]

OR you can get a greasemonkey script

Which is only for Firefox.

do what I had suggested.

[Global Moderator]

Your suggestion was very vague, Squall. And besides, I thought we were suggesting ways to download Youtube videos, not to force people who read this FAQ to follow your method.

Remember, this topic is in the FAQ board. We are providing different means to get Youtube videos saved on your computer.
Hopefully people come to this topic instead of the hundreds of other different methods which are top results in Google.

In reality, your comment was directed to no one, Squall.

It was tooo.... didnt know that it was posted here.  But, at any rate I gave what we suggested and is know to work.

i suggest going to http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/
its freeware and fully safe...and it also has an in-built option to convert the downloaded flv file to most popular video formats! i've been using it for a long time and have no problems with it at all.

Dont recall if I mentioned this but if you have like realplayer 12 installed it can download video's from several places includeing there.

Ya you can but I would not recommend installing real player.  Absolute crap software.  Im not even sure if its even software

[Global Moderator]

VLC ftw!

Can you guys not see this is a 2-month old topic. -_-

Let it rest.

yes just felt like that was good to mention before we let it go finally. 

[Web moderator]

Can you guys not see this is a 2-month old topic. -_-

Let it rest.

Sorry, one more.

Just noting that my solution is 100% free. No installation. No downloading (other than the movies you want).

Same here: http://www.pwnyoutube.com/

Much easier in fact.

VLC ftw!

Can you guys not see this is a 2-month old topic. -_-

Let it rest.

So? Can a thread not be contributed to even if it is over 2 months old? If Admin didn't want anyone to post here, he would have locked it.

Oh and er... Youtube Downloader is another good one.

you can use this script

javascript:if(document.location.href.match(/http:\/\/[a-zA-Z\.]*youtube\.com\/watch/)){document.location.href='http://www.youtube.com/get_video?fmt='+(isHDAvailable?'22':'18')+'&video_id='+swfArgs['video_id']+'&t='+swfArgs['t']}

just save it as a bookmark and click on it when on the youtube site

<mod edit: Code changed to Quote to prevent page stretching>

VLC ftw!

Can you guys not see this is a 2-month old topic. -_-

Let it rest.

 

I've been using this
http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/free-dvd-video-software.htm

for quite some time. Really easy to use with no messing about. All you have to do is open the programme go onto youtube and copy the URL link it automatically pastes to the downloader and you just click download. Bingo jobs a gooden!

for firefox users, just get flashgot addon and then get the flashget download manager


Flashgot conveniently integrates flashget into your browser so you can use it only when you feel like it and the flashgot "FlashGot Media" command grabs video and audio clips while they're playing (I've tested on youtube and few other similar video websites and it hasn't yet failed me)

Or use on Firefox 'downloadhelper'

[*Bugmenot user*]

To download Any Videos from YouTube.com simply use freeware program "YouTube Downloader"
Click here to download: YouTubeDownloaderSetup265.exe File_size: 4.35 MB

[Global Moderator]

Seeing as this topic keeps getting additions, I shall provide my own input.

Firefox Users
Download and install this add-on Video Downloadhelper:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/
Once installed, you can download almost all media from a webpage.
With this add-on, you can navigate to a Youtube page and download the video in various formats and resolutions.

Other Browsers
A service I have been using recently: http://www.flvto.com/
Copy the Youtube link and it would convert it online and allow you to download the result.

I didn't heard of it, but I heard some people that YouTube Downloader Suite is great, how about it?

i suggest going to http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/
its freeware and fully safe...and it also has an in-built option to convert the downloaded flv file to most popular video formats! i've been using it for a long time and have no problems with it at all.

Thanks for the shout, Kaigan. My name is Sarah and I actually work with YouTube Downloader.


I just wanted to let you know that YouTube Downloader is in the process of transitioning to its own domain,  The new site will have a very helpful how-to video, and also now includes information about converting to a number of popular devices (ipod, iphone) as well as popular formats (mp3, avi).

We will eventually be closing down youtubedownloader.altervista.org, but not for some time. 

Best Regards,
Sarah

Also there is the free DownloadHelper addon for Firefox which can download from Youtube and many other sites.

http://www.downloadhelper.net/