Hey there! So you’re interested in learning how to use VLC to download YouTube videos? Well, you’re in luck because I’ve got all the details you need! VLC, short for VideoLAN Client, is a popular media player that also offers a variety of useful features, including the ability to download videos from various online platforms, including YouTube.
Now, before we continue, I want to mention that downloading YouTube videos can be a gray area when it comes to copyright laws. It’s important to respect the rights of content creators and only download videos for personal use or with proper permissions. With that being said, let’s dive into the steps to use VLC for downloading YouTube videos.
Step 1: Install VLC Media Player
The first step is to make sure you have VLC Media Player installed on your computer. It’s a free and open-source software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Simply head to the official VLC website at https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ and download the appropriate version for your operating system. Once the download is complete, follow the installation instructions to install VLC on your computer.
Step 2: Find the YouTube Video URL
Next, you’ll need to find the URL of the YouTube video you want to download. Open your web browser and navigate to the YouTube website. Find the video you want to download and copy the URL from the address bar at the top of your browser.
Step 3: Open VLC and Access the Media Menu
Now it’s time to open VLC Media Player. Once VLC is open, navigate to the “Media” menu at the top-left corner of the VLC window. Click on the “Open Network Stream” option from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Paste the YouTube Video URL
In the “Open Media” window that appears, you’ll find a text field labeled “Please enter a network URL.” This is where you’ll paste the YouTube video URL you copied earlier. Simply right-click inside the text field and select “Paste,” or use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + V” (Windows) or “Command + V” (Mac) to paste the URL.
Step 5: Configure VLC for YouTube Video Download
After pasting the YouTube video URL, you need to make a small modification to the URL to tell VLC that you want to download the video. At the beginning of the URL, add “youtube-dl://” without the quotes. So the modified URL should look something like this: “youtube-dl://youtube.com/your-video-url”. Once you’ve made the modification, click the “Play” button at the bottom-right corner of the “Open Media” window.
Step 6: Select the Output Location and Download
VLC will now start processing the YouTube video and present you with a new window titled “VLC – Streaming.” In this window, you can select the desired output location on your computer where the downloaded video will be saved. Click the “Browse” button next to the “Destination file” field, navigate to the desired folder, give the file a name, and click the “Save” button.
Finally, click the “Play” button at the bottom-right corner of the “VLC – Streaming” window to start the download process. VLC will now begin downloading the YouTube video to the specified location on your computer.
Step 7: Enjoy Your Downloaded YouTube Video
Once the download is complete, you can navigate to the output location you specified earlier and find the downloaded YouTube video file. Double-click on the file, and it will open in VLC Media Player, ready for you to enjoy!
And that’s it! You’ve successfully used VLC to download a YouTube video. Remember to use this feature responsibly and respect the copyrights of content creators.
Conclusion
VLC is not just a great media player, but it also offers a convenient way to download YouTube videos. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily download your favorite YouTube videos for offline viewing. However, always remember to use this feature ethically and responsibly. Happy downloading!