Download Deleted YouTube Videos in 3 Free Ways (Windows/Mac)

How to download deleted YouTube videos? Learn 3 free methods using Wayback Machine, cache, and video finders—plus tips to recover or back up YouTube content.

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Dawn Tang

Updated on Jun 09, 2025

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Quick Tips

▶️Wayback Machine: Use the Wayback Machine to check if a deleted YouTube video was archived and, if available, download it using yt-dlp with the ytarchive: format.

▶️Google Cache: Search for the deleted video on Google and view its cached page—though it's rarely playable, it may reveal useful metadata or the title.

▶️YouTube Video Finder: Paste the video link into YouTube Video Finder to scan multiple archive sources for recoverable copies, and download with yt-dlp if found.

YouTube videos often get removed for reasons like deletion, privacy settings, controversy, or copyright issues. You might open YouTube one day only to find that a favorite or liked video has disappeared — or you may accidentally delete a video from your own channel. So what can you do? This article outlines 3 effective ways to watch and download deleted YouTube videos on Windows and Mac.

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Downloading YouTube videos—especially deleted or copyrighted content—may violate YouTube's Terms of Service or copyright laws. Always ensure you have the necessary rights or permission before attempting to download or share any content. Use the tools and methods mentioned here responsibly and at your own discretion.

Download Deleted YouTube Videos​ with Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine crawls the web and archives publicly accessible content, including YouTube video pages. If the video was public at the time, there's a chance the Wayback Machine captured it.

However, this isn't guaranteed—sometimes the crawler visits the page after the video has already been removed, resulting in a "video unavailable" snapshot. Additionally, the Wayback Machine struggles with sites not built using standard HTML, which can make YouTube content harder to archive accurately.

               Pros                Cons
  • Free and easy to use.
  • May retrieve video metadata and thumbnails.
  • Doesn't archive every video.
  • Archived pages may not contain playable videos.

How to download deleted YouTube videos archived?

Step 1. Go to https://web.archive.org/ and enter the deleted YouTube URL (get it from the browser history or YouTube watch history) or related keywords if you don't have the link, which can be time-consuming in locating the video.

Step 2. Open the detected HTML, and you'll see the calendar view map of the video/website that was crawled by the Wayback Machine.

download-deleted-youtube-videos-wayback-machine-2.jpg

Step 3. Move to the early crawl time and open one snapshot to see if the video is available. Experiment with these snapshots until the deleted YouTube video is available. Then you can save it with yt-dlp.

download-deleted-youtube-videos-wayback-machine-3.jpg

  • Create a text file with YouTube URLs.
  • Replace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= with ytarchive:
  • Run the command: yt-dlp -a FILE
Notice:
This method is a long shot, as most of the videos I tested displayed messages like "This video isn't available anymore" or simply "Video unavailable."

Recover Deleted YouTube Video Archive with Google Cache

Sometimes, Google may have cached versions of video pages as long as the YouTube videos are recently deleted and the cache hasn't been updated yet.

               Pros                Cons
  • Quick and easy to check.
  • Cache updates frequently; deleted pages may disappear quickly.
  • Cached pages rarely contain playable videos.

Step 1. Search for the video URL or title on Google.

Step 2. Click the three-dot menu next to the result and select "Cached."

Step 3. View the cached page for information.

Download Deleted YouTube Videos​ with URL Online without Wayback Machine

YouTube Video Finder is an online search tool that helps locate archived YouTube videos and their metadata by querying sources like the Wayback Machine, Archive.org, Hobune.stream, Odysee, and other archive sites. Users can search by video ID or full URL.

However, similar to the Wayback Machine, it doesn't guarantee results—many deleted videos may not have been archived or may be incomplete.

               Pros                Cons
  • Searches multiple archives (Wayback, Odysee, etc.) at once.
  • Easy to use with URL or video ID.
  • Saves time vs. manual searching.
  • No guarantee the video was archived.
  • Archived pages may lack playable video.
  • Relies entirely on third-party archive coverage.

Step 1. Paste the deleted YouTube video link into the field and tap "SEARCH FOR CAPTURES."

download-deleted-youtube-videos-online-1.jpg

Step 2. Tap the working link detected below. It will redirect to the hosting archive site.

download-deleted-youtube-videos-online-2.jpg

Step 3. Save the deleted YouTube video using yt-dlp if it is available.

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Archive the Entire YouTube Channel for Backup Easily

Not all deleted YouTube videos can be recovered, which is why backing up your account or favorite channels is crucial. Only downloaded content is truly safe.

EaseUS Video Downloader lets you save high-quality YouTube videos, playlists, channels, music, subtitles, and thumbnails in bulk. With a clean, beginner-friendly interface, it's easy to use and supports thousands of platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Vimeo. It also allows you to export videos and audio in various formats and qualities.

Key Features

  • Download playlists & channels in bulk.
  • Save videos in HD, 4K, even 8K quality.
  • Extract MP3 audio from videos (128–320kbps).
  • Batch download multiple videos at once.
  • Grab subtitles & thumbnails with videos.
  • Choose formats & resolutions freely.
  • Fast download speeds with a clean, easy UI.

How to back up the entire YouTube channel with EaseUS?

Step 1. Open EaseUS Video Downloader and tap the gear for more settings.

download-video-from-vhx-tv-easeus-1.jpg

Step 2. Copy the YouTube channel or playlist link and tap "Paste Link." Then, choose to download the first video or the whole playlist.

download-deleted-youtube-videos-easeus-2.jpg

Step 3. It will start downloading the YouTube videos, and check them under the finished tab.

Disclaimer: EaseUS Video Downloader is not affiliated with YouTube. Download videos only for personal use and ensure compliance with YouTube’s Terms of Service. 

Wrapping up

This article introduces three free ways to download deleted YouTube videos, depending on certain conditions. If the video was archived, tools like the Wayback Machine or YouTube Video Finder may help recover it. If your browser cache hasn't updated yet, you might still access the cached version. You can also try searching for reuploads or mirrors, use data recovery software, or even contact the original uploader.

To avoid losing valuable content in the future, it's wise to back up your liked videos, playlists, and channels. EaseUS Video Downloader allows you to save HD YouTube videos for offline viewing. While not affiliated with YouTube, it respects creators' efforts—use it only for personal use and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.

FAQ

How to recover deleted YouTube videos from my channel?

If you don't have a backup or the original URL of the deleted YouTube video, there's no way to recover it from your channel. Contact YouTube Support for help.
However, if you still have the video's URL, you can try using the Wayback Machine at archive.org. Just paste the link, browse through the calendar for archived snapshots, and see if a saved version of the page is available.

How to download recently deleted videos?

To download recently deleted videos, start by checking the "Recently Deleted" folder on your device (if available). If you don't find them there, look in your computer's Recycle Bin or any connected cloud storage accounts. If the videos still aren't recoverable, you can try using data recovery software to scan your device for deleted files.

Can you watch a downloaded YouTube video if it gets deleted?

Yes, you can watch a downloaded YouTube video on your device even if it gets deleted.

Are deleted YouTube videos archived?

Yes, deleted or private YouTube videos can sometimes be archived, but not always fully. The Wayback Machine may save a snapshot of the video's page — including the title, description, and other details — but the video itself usually won't play. If the video was already deleted or set to private before being archived, it likely won't show up at all.

How to recover a YouTube downloaded video?

No, you can't recover a downloaded YouTube video from within the app itself. However, if you used a third-party downloader, that app might keep a download history you can check to find your videos.

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