Downloading YouTube videos can be tricky because of copyright law and YouTube’s Terms of Service (ToS).
Here’s the situation in 2025:
🔹 YouTube’s Rules
- YouTube’s Terms of Service prohibit downloading videos directly unless YouTube provides a download option.
- However, YouTube itself now supports legal downloads in a few ways.
✅ Legal Ways to Download YouTube Videos
1. YouTube Premium (Best Option)
- With a YouTube Premium subscription, you can download videos in the YouTube app (mobile/tablet) for offline viewing.
- Works on iOS, Android, and in some regions on desktop with YouTube app (PWA).
- Downloads stay within the app (not transferable), but it’s the official legal method.
2. YouTube Music
- If you subscribe to YouTube Music Premium, you can download music videos and tracks legally for offline listening.
3. Public Domain & Creative Commons Videos
- Many creators publish under a Creative Commons license or explicitly allow downloading.
- You can filter by license on YouTube search (
Filters → Features → Creative Commons). - These can be downloaded with third-party tools if the license permits reuse.
4. Your Own Uploaded Videos
- You can download your own content anytime from YouTube Studio → Content → Download.
⚠️ What’s Not Legal
- Using third-party “YouTube downloader” sites or apps to save copyrighted videos (movies, music, shows, or creators’ content) without permission.
- Re-uploading or redistributing downloaded content without the creator’s consent.
