How to Download YouTube Videos as MP4: Safe & Easy Options

PDF download Download Article
Download high-quality MP4s of your favorite YT videos
PDF download Download Article

If you want to download a video for later viewing, even online, your best option is to download it as an MP4. These files can be viewed on almost all video programs, like QuickTime Player, Windows Media Player, and VLC, and you can even watch the video on your phone or tablet. Downloading MP4s from YouTube is easy and simply requires you to use a free program or converter website.

Downloading a YouTube Video as MP4: Quick Steps

  1. Pull up the YouTube video you want to convert.
  2. Copy the video’s URL.
  3. Search “convert YouTube to MP4” on Google to find a free conversion site.
  4. Paste the URL into the converter and select MP4 .
  5. Click Convert to convert and download your MP4 file.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Video Converter Website

PDF download Download Article
  1. Find the YouTube video that you want to download and convert in the mobile YouTube app or at YouTube.com . [1]
  2. If you're using a web browser, highlight and right-click (or control-click) the URL in the address bar and select Copy . If you're using the mobile app, tap the Share icon below the video and choose Copy link .
    Advertisement
  3. Choose one of the many conversion sites. Search for "convert YouTube to MP4" and you'll find a lot of free sites willing to help you download a video as an MP4 file. Some of the most reputable options include OnlineVideoConverter , ClipConverter , and 4kdownload .
    • You can use whatever site you want, but stay away from sites that have the following hallmarks of scams:
      • Demanding personal information.
      • Numerous pop-ups.
      • Payment requests (legit sites are free).
      • Forced download of programs or converters. While there are programs you can download to get YouTube videos, you should never be forced into downloading anything other than your video when using an online converter.
  4. Once you find a converter, add the video's URL and set the conversion method to MP4 . Depending on the site, the method may already be set to MP4.
    • Some websites won’t allow you to choose the format or quality until after the video is uploaded and processed. [2]
    • The higher the quality, the bigger the file.
    EXPERT TIP

    Brandon Phipps

    Technology Specialist
    Brandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.
    Brandon Phipps
    Technology Specialist

    The MP4 file format is the international standard for video files. This file format is widely preferred due to its remarkable compression capabilities, allowing for smaller video files.

  5. Click Start or Convert. Make sure the button you are pressing is part of the site and not a pop-up. To be sure of this, make sure it looks exactly like the other buttons on the site, and hover over it with your mouse: you should see the website you're using appear as a URL at the bottom of your screen.
    • Some sites require you to click another link labeled Download File .
    • Some websites may give you instructions on how to open the video in a web browser and download the video file.
    • Now that you have the video, you can watch it in any video player, whether you are online or not, and even transfer it to your phone or mobile device.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using 4K Video Downloader

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Download and install 4K Video Downloader. 4K Video Downloader is a free, reliable, and safe program that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux Ubuntu. To download it, go to the 4K Video Downloader download site , scroll down to where it says “4K Video Downloader” and click the download link for your operating system. Open the installation file in your Downloads folder and follow the prompts to install the program.
    • Note that the download site also has “4K Video Downloader Plus” downloads at the top. This is the premium version that has additional features and a subscription fee. The free version is a little way down the page, and it will work just fine to convert YouTube videos to MP4.
  2. 2
    Copy the URL of the video you want to convert. Open the video you want to download as an MP4 from YouTube, highlight the URL in the address bar, right-click it or control-click it, then click Copy.
    • Alternatively, you can click Share at the bottom of the screen and click Copy next to the bottom of the screen.
  3. 3
    Open 4K Video Downloader and click Smart Mode . It’s the icon with the light bulb at the top of the 4K Video Downloader app.
  4. 4
    Select “MP4” as the video format and click OK . You can also use the drop-down menu next to “Quality” to select the video quality you want to download.
    • Selecting Best Quality will download the best available quality.
    • If you want to download subtitles for the video, use the drop-down menu next to “Subtitles” to select what language you want to download subtitles in.
  5. 5
    Click Paste Link . It’s the icon with the plus (+) link at the top. This will automatically paste the link you copied from YouTube and download your video as an MP4 to your computer.
    • You can find your video downloads in the “4K Video Downloader” folder in your Videos folder.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using MediaHuman YouTube Downloader

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Download and install MediaHuman Video Downloader. MediaHuman Video Downloader is a program you can use to download videos from YouTube. It is a paid program, but it has a free trial that allows you to download 20 YouTube videos as MP4s. Use the following steps to download and install MediaHuman Video Downloader:
    • Go to the MediaHuman download website in a web browser.
    • Scroll down to the “Video Downloader” section.
    • Click the download link for the version that is compatible with your operating system.
    • Open the installation file in your Downloads folder.
    • Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  2. 2
    Copy the video's URL from YouTube. You can either highlight the URL in the address bar, right-click or control-click it and click Copy, or click Share at the bottom and click Copy .
  3. 3
    Open MediaHuman YouTube Downloader and ensure MP4 is the output format. Click the app icon in the Windows Start menu or the Applications folder on a Mac to open the app. Once open, click Output Format at the top of the app and ensure “Enable MP4” is checked. Uncheck any other formats that you don’t want.
  4. 4
    Click Paste Link . It’s the icon that resembles a plus sign (+) inside of a circle at the top. This automatically pastes the link to the YouTube video you want to convert to MP4. MediaHuman YouTube Downloader will start processing the video.
  5. 5
    Select the video quality you want to download. Once the video is done processing, click one of the options in the grey bar in the middle of the screen to select the resolution you want to download. The higher the resolution, the larger the file.
  6. 6
    Click the download button. It’s the button that has a circle with an arrow pointing down on the right. This will convert the YouTube video to an MP4 file and start the download to your computer.
    • By default, MediaHuman YouTube Downloader will download your videos to the MediaHuman folder in your Downloads folder.
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can you save the file?
    Oliver Eilers
    Community Answer
    Hit Start or Convert first. Make sure the button you are pressing is part of the converter site and not a pop up. To be sure of this, check that it looks exactly like the other buttons on the site, and hover over it with your mouse: you should see the website you're using appear as a URL in the bottom of your browser window (only on a PC). (On mobile, buttons may not disclose the link; if it is a link, touch and hold on the link: the URL will appear or copy and paste the link). After the conversion is complete, some sites require you to click another link labeled "Download File". Again, make sure you're downloading from the site, not a pop-up.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 7
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If you are technically savvy and looking for a command-line option to download YouTube videos, you can use YouTube-dl , a free and open-source command-line program for downloading YouTube videos in any format and quality. However, finding a legitimate place to download it in 2025 can be hard.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Downloading copyrighted material is illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and is also against YouTube’s terms of service. [3]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Uploading a Video to YouTube on a Computer or Phone
      How to
      Get Music off of YouTube to Make a Mix CD
      How to
      Make a Sexy Video
      How to
      Access Nvidia Overlay with GeForce Experience (2020)
      How to
      Find a Music Video by Describing It: 17 Song ID Tricks
      How to
      Upload HD and 4K Video to YouTube
      How to
      Stop Buffering: 16 Tips and Tricks for Faster Loading
      How to
      Update Your Nvidia Drivers
      How to
      Install a Graphics Card (GPU) in Your Windows PC
      How to
      Embed Subtitles in Videos
      How to
      Compress Video
      How to
      Use OBS to Record on a PC or Mac
      How to
      Speed Up Videos on an iPhone
      How to
      Fix a Graphics Card
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57741
      2. ↑ https://www.techadvisor.com/article/726171/how-to-download-youtube-videos-on-a-laptop-phone-or-tablet.html
      3. ↑ https://www.copyright.gov/dmca/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the video in YouTube.
      2. Copy the URL.
      3. Open a video converter site.
      4. Paste the URL.
      5. Select MP4 .
      6. Click Download .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 181,578 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement