How to Download a YouTube Video to a Flash Drive/USB 2025

Sometimes, you may want to download a YouTube video to a flash drive for safekeeping — especially if there's a chance the video could be taken down or deleted in the future. That way, you'll have a high-quality backup for offline viewing.

As you probably know, YouTube doesn't offer a direct download option, and even if you're a Premium member, the downloaded videos are saved in a restricted Blob format that can only be viewed within the YouTube app.

To save a YouTube video to a flash drive in a playable format, you'll need to use a third-party tool — whether it's a desktop program, browser extension, or online downloader. In this post, we'll walk you through several reliable ways to download YouTube videos and transfer them to a flash drive.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and personal use only. We do not encourage or support downloading YouTube videos without the content owner's permission or in violation of YouTube's Terms of Service. Any misuse of the information provided is solely the responsibility of the user.

For reliable and bulk downloading, go for desktop software

For speedy downloads without ads, choose browser extensions

For easy and quick downloads without login, select online YouTube downloaders

Using Desktop Software (Best for High-Quality Archiving)

Recommended tools:

• #1 EaseUS Video Downloader
• #2 YT-DLP (Advanced CLI tool)
• #3 JDownloader 2

EaseUS Video Downloader- Multi YouTube Video Downloader in 4K

The best video downloader for PC - EaseUS Video Downloader will help you effortlessly download videos and music from 1000+ sites to your computer. If you want to put a YouTube video on a flash drive, you just need to connect the USB device to your computer and then select the flash drive as the destination to save the YouTube video. Being ad-free and plugin-free, this YouTube video downloader allows you to copy a video from YouTube to your flash drive safely.

The steps below show you how to download YouTube videos to a PC. If you're using a Mac computer, you'll also need to download videos from YouTube first. After downloading, you can connect the USB drive to your computer (PC or Mac) to export the video to the flash drive.

Key Features

• Download YouTube videos in 1080P/4K/8K
• Bulk download multiple videos
• Convert videos to audio files
• Support 1000+ platforms and websites

To download YouTube videos on Windows and Mac:

Step 1. Customize the video format and quality from the dropdown.

Step 2. Copy the YouTube URL and click "Paste Link" on EaseUS Video Downloader.

Step 3. Wait for the downloading process to finish and then click "Open" to check the YouTube video.

Disclaimer: This guide is compiled for personal fair use ONLY. EaseUS is in no way collaborated or affiliated with YouTube and never advocates any copyright infringement action. The end-user should be solely responsible for their behavior.

After downloading a YouTube video to your USB drive, you can now play the video offline or edit the video according to your needs. Or you can convert YouTube to FLV before pushing it to a flash drive. 

YT-DLP-Powerful Command Line Tool & GUI

yt-dlp is a must-have command-line tool for tech-savvy users that downloads videos, pictures, and audio files from YouTube and thousands of other websites. It is a free, cross-platform, open-source, and highly customizable tool built upon youtube-dl. It is especially known for downloading high-quality YouTube videos, playlists, and audio. It can also bypass age restrictions.

Step 1. Install yt-dlp on your computer.

• Windows: Download the latest Windows .exe file from the official repo, rename it to yt-dlp.exe, and place it somewhere easy.
• On macOS/Linux (via Terminal):
• brew install yt-dlp        # for macOS with Homebrew
  # or
  pip install -U yt-dlp      # works on both macOS/Linux with Python installed

Step 2. Plug in your USB drive and note the drive letter (on Windows, e.g., E:\) or mount path (on macOS/Linux, e.g., /Volumes/MyUSB).  

Step 3. Open a terminal or command prompt, navigate to the folder where yt-dlp is saved (if on Windows), or run it globally (macOS/Linux).

Step 4. Download the YouTube vdeo to your USB Use this command:

bash yt-dlp -f best -o "/path/to/usb/%(title)s.%(ext)s" "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

Replace:

1. /path/to/usb/ with your USB drive's path:
2. Windows: "E:\\%(title)s.%(ext)s"
3. macOS: "/Volumes/MyUSB/%(title)s.%(ext)s"
4. "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" with the actual YouTube URL

Step 5. The video will download in the best available quality and be saved directly to your USB flash drive in a playable format (usually MP4).

If you find yt-dlp a bit tricky to use, you can try Stacher — a free, cross-platform GUI (graphical user interface) built on top of yt-dlp. It offers the same powerful download features but with a much more user-friendly workflow, making it easier for anyone to download YouTube videos without using the command line.

JDownloader 2-Download Manager for Downloading YouTube Videos

JDownloader 2 is a free, open-source download manager that supports YouTube and many other video platforms. You can download the videos directly to your USB on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It supports YouTube video/audio batch downloads in different formats and qualities. It captures links automatically from your clipboard and resumes interrupted downloads.

Step 1. Install JDownloader 2 and plug in your USB drive.

Step 2. Open JDownloader, go to Settings > Settings > General > Download Folder, and change the folder path to your USB drive.

Step 3. Download the YouTube plugin and set up the other settings that are needed.

Step 3. Copy a YouTube video URL, and JDownloader will automatically detect it and add it to the LinkGrabber tab.

Step 4. Right-click the task and choose Start Download.

Related: How to Use JDownloader 2 | Beginner Guide

Using Browser Extensions (Automatic Detection, Cross-Platform)

There are various YouTube downloader extensions that enable you to download YouTube videos to your computer. Afterward, you can copy these YouTube videos to your USB flash drive. By doing so, you can also save a YouTube video to a flash drive for free.

Extensions like:

• #1 Video DownloadHelper
• #2 YouTube Video Downloader

Video DownloadHelper- Firefox

Video DownloadHelper is a popular browser extension available for both Chrome and Firefox that lets you download videos directly from YouTube and many other websites. It allows you to save YouTube videos in MP4 or MKV formats at various quality levels, or even extract and download just the audio.

However, Video DownloadHelper can now only download YouTube videos on Firefox, as Chrome has restricted this functionality due to browser policy changes. Plus, some features — such as high-resolution downloads or format conversions — require the installation of the Companion App. Keep in mind that it may not work with DRM-protected or age-restricted videos.

The general steps to download a video from YouTube to a flash drive are:

Step 1. Connect your flash drive to your computer and make sure it is recognized.

Step 2. Add Video DownloadHelper to your browser.

Step 3. Play the video you want to save, and the extension icon in your toolbar will light up when media is detected.

Step 4. Choose your preferred format and quality. Some downloads may require installing the Companion App (a helper application provided by the extension's developers).

Step 5. You can choose to save directly to your USB drive by selecting it as the destination folder.

YouTube Video Downloader- Chrome

The YouTube Video Downloader Add-on by Addoncrop lets you download YouTube videos in a wide range of video qualities — from 360p all the way up to ultra high-definition 4K. It supports all major formats, including AVI, FLV, WebM, MP4, and MP3, with no limitations on file size or video length. You can also extract audio by downloading videos as MP3 files or cut segments of YouTube videos with ease.

Need a quick, high-resolution screenshot from a video? The tool makes it simple, offering screenshot capabilities at 8K resolution and beyond. Trusted by over 230,000 users, this free tool is compatible with all major browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Opera, Yandex, Vivaldi, and Brave, making it a reliable and versatile solution for downloading and managing YouTube content.

Due to restrictions in the Chrome Web Store, the extension is not directly available for Chrome. However, users can install it on Chromium-based browsers using the Crosspilot extension.

Step 1. Connect the USB to your computer. Add and install YouTube Video Downloader to your Chrome.

Step 2. Play the YouTube video you want to download.

Step 3. Click the download button below the video.

Step 4. Choose your video quality and press the download button.

Also See:

Using Online Downloaders (Quick, No Install)

Popular online tools:

• #1 Cobalt.tools
• #2 yout.com
• #3 amp4.cc

With the help of an online video downloader, you can download YouTube videos directly from the website. No software or program needed, you can save a video from YouTube to your flash drive using the URL.

The problems with online video downloaders are:

• You may be bothered by annoying ads.
• You may be redirected to another website or webpage.
• The website can't capture the video successfully.

Cobalt Tools is a powerful and user-friendly browser-based downloader that lets you save videos, audio, images, and GIFs from a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, SoundCloud, and many more. Designed with simplicity and privacy in mind, it allows you to paste a link and instantly download content without needing to register, install software, or deal with annoying ads and trackers.

Step 1. Plug in your flash drive and navigate to the YouTube video you wish to download, and copy its URL.

Step 2. Visit Cobalt.tools and go to settings. Choose your desired format and quality settings.

Step 3. Paste the link into the field and click the download button. Transfer the YouTube videos to your flash drive.

Yout.com is a convenient, browser-based tool that lets users download and convert videos from a variety of platforms — including YouTube — into popular formats like MP3, MP4, and WAV. With its clean and simple interface, you can just paste the video URL, select your preferred format, and start the download instantly.

Yout.com supports high-quality downloads and even allows you to edit metadata, such as track titles and artist names, before saving. Best of all, there's no need to install any software or sign up for an account, making it a fast and hassle-free solution for quick media conversions.

Step 1. Connect the USB to your computer, play the YouTube video, and do either of the following:

• Delete UBE from the URL and press enter, e.g., delete ube from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kU0cdhANOs, then it would be https://www.yout.com/watch?v=8kU0cdhANOs.
• Copy the YouTube link and paste it into yout.com.

Step 2. Then you will be brought to this page. Customize the options.

Step 3. Click "Format Shift to MP4" and the download will start. Copy the downloaded YouTube videos to your USB.

amp4.cc is a free online YouTube video downloader designed to convert and download YouTube videos into MP4 or WebM format up to 8K. It offers a straightforward, ad-free experience without requiring user registration. However, keep in mind that sometimes AMP4.cc may not respond or work properly when its server quota is reached, causing temporary downtime or delays.

Step 1. Make sure your USB is connected to your computer.

Step 2. Copy the YouTube video link.

Step 3. Paste it into the amp4.cc and select your video quality and format. 

Step 4. Tap the download button. If it doesn't work, just refresh the page and download again. Copy the videos to your flash drive.

Tips for Downloading YouTube Videos to a Flash Drive

YouTube only allows downloading via official means, like YouTube Premium, which lets users save videos for offline watching within the app but not for redistribution or permanent storage outside YouTube. Downloading videos without permission can lead to copyright infringement, account suspension, or legal consequences. Therefore, ensure you have permission from the content owner before you use the above tools to download videos from YouTube.

Also, there are some other tips for you when saving YouTube videos to a flash drive:

• Use trusted software to download videos in MP4 format, which is widely compatible with flash drives and devices.
• Save the YouTube video file to your computer first before transferring it to the flash drive. This lets you verify the file and choose the right quality and format.
• Ensure you have enough free space on the flash drive. Check that your flash drive has sufficient storage for the video file size before transferring.
• To avoid file corruption, always use your operating system's "Safely Remove Hardware" option after copying videos.
• Respect copyright and terms of service. Download videos only if you have permission or if they are your own content.
• If you want a legal and simple way to watch videos offline, use YouTube Premium.

The Bottom Line

This article presents 8 free and easy ways to download YouTube videos directly to your flash drive. Whether you prefer a reliable desktop downloader like EaseUS Video Downloader, an ad-free browser extension such as YouTube Video Downloader, or a no-registration online tool like Cobalt.tools, you'll find the right option here. Just remember to respect YouTube's terms of service and obtain permission when downloading videos. Happy downloading!

FAQs

How to transfer YouTube downloaded videos to gallery?

• Download YouTube videos with software like EaseUS Video Downloader.
• Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
• Transfer the downloaded video file to your phone's DCIM or Movies folder.
• Disconnect safely, then check your phone's Gallery.

How do I move a downloaded YouTube video to a flash drive?

If you download videos from YouTube with a premium, you cannot move or play them outside of YouTube. Additionally, YouTube's official offline viewing saves videos within the app only, not as transferable files for external use.

How to download YouTube videos in laptop?

• Launch EaseUS Video Downloader on your laptop.
• Customize the video format and quality.
• Copy the YouTube video link from its address bar or the share button.
• Back to the software and hit "Paste Link."
• You can find the downloaded YouTube videos in your laptop.

How to download music from YouTube to USB?

• Choose and copy the YouTube video link.
• Select the output as MP3 in EaseUS Video Downloader.
• Insert the USB stick into your computer.
• Transfer the downloaded MP3 to your USB.