Step-by-Step: Download YouTube Videos with VLC🔥2025

Do you know how to download YouTube videos with VLC on your computer? There's no need to worry if you don't. In this post, we will guide you on how to do it. Read through the post and find the answers. 

When you search for videos online, you may have a feeling of downloading these YouTube videos to watch them offline occasionally. As a PC user, downloading these DRM-protected videos with VLC Media Player on your computer might be your best choice. But how can you manage it? Is VLC really the best choice for you? Don't worry. This post will guide you on downloading YouTube videos with VLC step by step on Windows and Mac.

Before providing you with the full guide, you need to know that VLC Media Player is an open-source software for playing and downloading videos. If you have basic computer knowledge, you can download videos from sites like YouTube with VLC. However, if not, you may need an alternative video downloading tool to help you, which you can find the answer in the last part of this article. 

How to Download VLC on Your PC or Mac

VLC Media Player is an open-source software that allows users to play and download videos in multiple formats like MP4, MP3, MOV, etc. Before using it to download videos from streaming sites, you need to download it first. It supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can go to the official site and choose to download the version that is suitable for your operating system. 

👉For Windows Users 

1. Step 1. Click "Download VLC" of the Windows version. 
2. Step 2. Find the downloaded ".exe" file and open it. 
3. Step 3. Follow the guide to fulfill the installation process. 

👉For Mac Users

1. Step 1. Click "Download VLC" of the Mac version. The installation package will be named with a subfix like ".dmg".
2. Step 2. Open the Download folder in your Finder. Find the VLC ".dmg" file and open it. 
3. Step 3. A window will pop out. Drag the ".dmg" file to the Application folder. 

You have successfully downloaded VLC Media Player on your Windows/Mac. 

How to Use VLC to Download YouTube Videos

VLC Media Player provides a lot of functions that you can free download streaming videos from sites like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc. It supports Windows, Mac, and Linux. You have no need to worry about its compatibility. In this part, we will provide the full guide about how to download YouTube playlists with VLC on your Windows/Mac. Slight differences exist in the operation of the two systems.

Option 1. Via Streaming the YouTube Video

Step 1. Copy the video's URL that you'd like to download. Then, open VLC Media Player on your computer.

Step 2. Click "Media" on the top bar. Then, choose "Open Network Stream."

Step 3. Paste the video link, and click the down arrow next to the play button, then choose the "Stream" option.

Step 4. Click on the "Next" button. Then, you can see an option to set a destination. Click the "Browse" button to rename the file.

Step 5. Next, click on the drop-down icon and select the format you need. Here, we choose to download it in MP4. Remember to tick the "Activate Transcoding" button. Click "Next."

Step 6. Finally, click "Stream" and wait for it to download the videos. You may see this file in the folder you chose before.

Option 2. By Getting the Video Location

Step 1. Paste the YouTube video link.

Step 2. Click "Media" > "Convert/Save..."

Step 3. You will see a pop-up window; choose "Network" and paste the YouTube link. Then, we do not choose the "Convert/Save" button; click the inverted triangle next to this button and choose "Play."

Step 4. After it finished parsing this link, it playback this video automatically.

Step 5. For Windows users, go to "Tools" > "Codec Information." For Mac users, go to "Window" > "Codec Information."

Step 6. Copy the location link, and then open this link in a browser.

Step 7. After loading, right-click the mouse and choose "Save video as..." or click the three dots at the left corner of the video and click "Download. Then, you finish downloading the video on your computer.

Now, you have downloaded the video you want and can watch the video offline. If you want to learn more about downloading videos from Mac, you can read the passage below:

Common Problems When Using VLC to Download YouTube Videos

VLC Media Player allows you to watch and download videos with subtitles from streaming sites. However, as it is an open-source software, a minor misoperation may lead to VLC malfunctioning. This part will discuss why problems occur when using VLC and how to fix these problems. Read through and find the answers. 

👉Situation 1. Videos cannot be downloaded with VLC 

This situation occurs might because of copyright protection or because the videos have age limits. You have no way to solve this situation as YouTube has its own rules to protect copyright and the young.

👉Situation 2. Videos cannot open in VLC

This is the most common situation that users may encounter. After you enter the URL in VLC Media Player, nothing occurs. This is because the video might be restricted to play or download in your current region. 

👉Situation 3. Get a file named "file" without anything else

This is because you forget to add the suffix of the file name when downloading with VLC Media Player. To fix it, remember to add a suffix like ".MP4" or ".MOV" when exporting the files from VLC. 

Best VLC Alternative to Download YouTube Videos

• Pros: One-in-all solution to download YouTube videos
• Cons: Only available on the PC currently

Since VLC can not open YouTube videos, you need to find an alternative that is regularly updated to handle YouTube's evolving encryption and algorithms. Let me introduce EaseUS Video Downloader to you, a great downloading tool that can help you download videos from more than 1,000 streaming sites. Its user-friendly interface lets you easily download Shorts videos from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc., with a few clicks. You can download videos, audio, and other file formats as long as you have the URL. You can download the software with the button below and discover more functions by yourself.

🤩More reasons to help you choose EaseUS Video Downloader: 

• Easy clicks to help you download videos with subtitles and thumbnails together
• Convert YouTube videos in MP3 format directly 
• Multiple video resolutions available
• Windows 7/10 and macOS compatibility
• Supports downloading from 1,000 sites
• Fast and intimate after-sales service

↪️Don't forget to share this helpful content with your friends:

Open Source VLC Alternative to Save YouTube Video

If you are seeking a free yet highly capable video downloader, we recommend exploring these two open-source tools.

Option 1. YT-DLP

• Pros: Powerful tool works with many types of content on YouTube
• Cons: Deep learning curve for beginners

For those seeking a free yet reliable solution, YT-DLP is a powerful command-line tool. Built upon the foundation of the older youtube-dl project, YT-DLP enables users to download videos from YouTube and convert them into various formats, utilizing the FFmpeg conversion tool when necessary. However, it is important to note that YT-DLP is designed for advanced users and may not be suitable for beginners unfamiliar with command-line operations.

↩️Check this page to see how to use YT-DLP to download YouTube videos.

Option 2. Stacher

• Pros: Easy tool to exploit the powerful yt-dlp
• Cons: Uses more system resources than yt-dlp alone

If you are unfamiliar with YT-DLP, an alternative option is Stacher. Stacher serves as a graphical interface for YT-DLP, eliminating the need for direct interaction with the command line. Designed for Windows, macOS, and Linux, this tool simplifies the video downloading process while maintaining the capabilities of YT-DLP.

Stacher supports downloading YouTube videos in multiple formats, including MP3, MP4, MKV, and AVI, with resolutions up to 4K. Additionally, it offers features such as file conversion and YouTube playlist downloads, making it accessible to users of all experience levels—without requiring knowledge of command-line operations.

The process of utilizing Stacher to download YouTube videos is straightforward, as outlined in the following steps:

Step 1. Copy the URL of the desired YouTube video.

Step 2. Paste the copied URL into the input field within the Stacher application, then select your preferred output format from the available options.

Step 3. Initiate the download by selecting the download icon within the interface. The application will subsequently commence the download process, saving the file in the specified format.

In Closing

Since you can not download YouTube videos with VLC any more, you can always try EaseUS Video Downloader to download videos from YouTube, TikTok, and other streaming sites. It also allows you to download videos from YouTube to an SD card/HD card. So, it's always the best VLC Media Player alternative for you to use. If you need any help, Team EaseUS will be here to help you.

FAQs About Download YouTube Videos with VLC

1. How do I download videos from YouTube to MP3 using VLC?

You can choose the exporting file formats when downloading videos from YouTube with VLC. The last step of downloading videos with YouTube on Windows mentioned above says that you can choose the file formats you want. VLC provides the option of MP3 format. Just choose the specific format and then download. 

2. Can I use VLC to convert YouTube to MP3?

Yes, you can. VLC Media Player allows you to try exporting file formats when downloading. To convert YouTube to MP3, just choose MP3 format when exporting the video. 

3. Can I download and save a live-stream video?

Yes, you can download and save a live-stream video. The steps of downloading live-stream videos are almost the same as downloading ordinary videos if you use EaseUS Video Downloader. You can check the steps above in this article.