YouTube, the world’s largest video site, is used by millions daily to search, watch, and upload videos. However, while you can easily view and upload content, downloading videos directly from YouTube isn’t possible. This is why many people look for ways to convert YouTube videos to MP4 on iPhone/iPad, save them to a PC, or download them on a Mac. In this post, we’ve outlined 4 proven ways to download YouTube videos on Mac using both desktop software and online tools. Keep reading to find the best option for your needs.

Way 1. Download YouTube Video on Mac with iMovieTool

The most efficient way to download YouTube videos on a Mac is by using a specialized video downloader. One tool I highly recommend is iMovieTool YouTube Movie Downloader, a program tailored specifically for Mac users. Whether you’re on a MacBook or iMac running macOS X 10.11 or later, this software allows you to download any YouTube video with ease, no matter which YouTube plan you have.

iMovieTool YouTube Movie Downloader stands out with its built-in YouTube web browser, letting you search for videos directly within the app, streamlining the download process. Its robust download engine can handle multiple downloads at once, allowing you to save time by downloading videos in batches. Additionally, iMovieTool offers flexibility in format by saving your videos as MP4 or MKV files, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices. Most importantly, these downloaded files will never expire, so you can enjoy your videos offline anytime without restrictions.

Main Features of iMovieTool YouTube Movie Downloader

• Download YouTube video to MP4/MKV.
• Support HD 1080P high resolution.
• Grab YouTube videos at 50X faster in batch.
• Preserve the original subtitles and audio tracks of YouTube content.
• Built-in web browser to access YouTube video.
• Save YouTube video and keep it locally forever.
• Compatible with Windows & Mac.

Guide: How to Download YouTube Video with iMovieTool

Step 1. Choose YouTube and Log In
Start by downloading, installing, and opening iMovieTool All-in-One Video Downloader on your computer. The tool supports downloading from seven different streaming platforms. To download YouTube videos, select YouTube from the options and log in to your YouTube account.

After logging in, you’ll see the main interface displayed below.

Step 2. Search for Movies to Download
You can now search for the movies you want to download. One option is to type the movie title directly into the search bar.

Alternatively, copy and paste the YouTube movie URL into the search bar and click the “Search” button to locate the specific movie.

Step 3. Customize Video Settings
Click the “Gear” icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Here, you can choose between MP4 or MKV as the output format, adjust the video quality, select the video codec, and set preferences for audio, subtitles, and the output folder.

Step 4. Download YouTube Movies as MP4/MKV
Click the “Download” button to start downloading the YouTube movie. Once the download is complete, the video will be saved as an MP4 or MKV file on your computer.

After downloading, you can find the YouTube movie in MP4 or MKV format on your computer, ready for viewing or transfer to other devices for offline watching.

Way 2. Download YouTube Video on Mac with 4kFinder

4kFinder Video Downloader is a powerful tool that allows you to download HD videos from YouTube and more than 1,000 other sites, including popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Dailymotion, Vimeo, Instagram, Netflix, Bilibili, and even adult content sites such as PornHub, Xvideos, and RedTube.

The downloader supports MP4 video downloads in various resolutions, ranging from 720p and 1080p to 4K and 8K. Its batch download feature enables you to download multiple YouTube videos at once, with no restrictions. With 6X faster download speeds, videos are ready in seconds. In addition, 4kFinder lets you download music videos and full playlists from YouTube and SoundCloud as MP3 files, all while maintaining the original audio quality.

Highlights Features of 4kFinder Video Downloader

• Download online videos from 1000+ popular website.
• Download YouTube videos on Mac/PC without premium.
• Download YouTube videos as MP4 format.
• Support batch download at 6X download speed.
• Save YouTube videos in high quality, including 8k, 4k.
• Download YouTube music videos as MP3 without losing quality.
• Watch YouTube videos on any device offline.

Guide: Download Videos from YouTube using 4kFinder Video Downloader

Step 1. Copy and Paste Video Link into the 4kFinder
After launching the application, you can see the main interface of this video downloader. Please copy the video link from browser and paste the URL into the bar. Then, click “Analyze” button to get video resources.

To change the folder that you save the downloaded videos, please click “Output” section on the bottom of the main interface.

Step 2. Choose Output Video Format and Resolution to Download
After analyzing the video link completed, the application will pop up a window, you can select download video or audio only, or download video and audio together. The 4kFinder supports download and convert online video to MP4, MP3 or M4A format, please select MP4 video and a video resolution you want, then click “Download” button.

Step 3. Start Download Video
Now, the 4kFinder application will automatically start downloading YouTube video.

If you want to download more online video at the same time, just continue the steps above to download more videos in batch.

Step 4. Video Download Completed
After downloading videos completed, you can find the downloaded history in “Finished” tab.

Step 5. Open the Downloaded MP4 Videos for Offline Playing
Right click on the video and click on the “Reveal in Finder” option to quickly locate the downloaded video.

All downloaded video is MP4 format, now you can watch video offline on computer, or enjoy them on your HD TV, iPad, iPhone, Samsung, Huawei, PS4, Xbox, MP4 player and other devices.

Way 3. Download YouTube Video with Online Downloader on Mac

Don’t want to install software? Online YouTube video downloaders might be a quicker option. However, they sometimes have issues like:

• Pop-up ads
• Redirecting to other sites
• Trouble finding the video link

That said, not all online downloaders have these problems. One reliable option is Keepvid, a well-known tool that lets you download YouTube videos directly to your Mac. With Keepvid, downloading videos is simple – just paste the video link into the website’s search bar. If you want to download videos in various formats and resolutions, this tool is ideal. Keepvid also doubles as an audio converter, allowing you to extract audio from YouTube videos.

Way 4. Download YouTube Video with Screen Recorder on Mac

Another way to save YouTube videos on your Mac, besides using third-party downloaders, is by recording them directly. You can either use macOS’s built-in screen recording tool or a more advanced screen recording software.

To use macOS’s built-in recorder, simply press Command + Shift + 5. But if you need more features, UkeySoft Screen Recorder is a great alternative. It’s an all-in-one tool that lets you record videos, streaming music, meetings, and even take screenshots. With UkeySoft, you can capture YouTube videos in high quality and save them in formats like MP4, FLV, or WMV. It also includes a video editor for making any necessary adjustments to your recordings.

How to Record YouTube Video on Mac with UkeySoft

Step 1. Choose Custom Area Recording Mode
To record a YouTube video, click “App Window” and select the area you want to capture.

Step 2. Set Audio and Output Quality
In the settings, choose if you want to record system sound, microphone, both, or no sound at all. You can also adjust the output quality before starting.

Step 3. Select Output Format
Click Output setting to select MP4 as output format, you can also set other parameters such as video quality, watermark, etc.

Step 4. Start Recording
Once the area is selected, click the checkmark in the bottom right to begin recording.

After clicking “End,” the video will automatically be saved to your Mac, and you can access it from the recorded history list.

FAQs about YouTube Video Download

Q1. How can I download YouTube videos to my Mac for free?
As mentioned in this guide, most of the five methods outlined allow you to download YouTube videos to your Mac for free.

Q2. Can I download YouTube videos with YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium lets you download videos, but only to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support downloading videos directly to a Mac.

Q3. Why am I unable to download YouTube videos?
If you’re trying to download private videos or content that includes music, you may run into issues due to copyright restrictions, which can prevent the download.

Conclusion

This article outlines several methods for downloading YouTube videos on a Mac. However, if you’re seeking a tool with extensive features like full customization, batch downloading, decryption, ad removal, and more, iMovieTool YouTube Movie Downloader is the perfect option. It allows you to download YouTube videos in high-quality MP4 or MKV formats on your Mac, and also supports other popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.