How to Download YouTube Videos in Laptop in 10 Free Ways

Summary

How do I download a video from YouTube onto my laptop? This question often comes up when you want to enjoy videos offline without buffering or internet dependency. While many tools claim to be easy and fast, not all deliver on those promises.

To save you the hassle, I've tested and compiled a list of 10 reliable, efficient, and user-friendly YouTube video downloaders that actually work, helping you download videos quickly and hassle-free.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Downloading videos from YouTube may violate its Terms of Service if the content is copyrighted and you're downloading it without permission. These tools are intended for personal use only and should be used responsibly — always respect copyright laws and the rights of content creators.

How to Download YouTube Videos in Laptop to Computer

Recommended Tools:

• EaseUS Video Downloader
• Freemake Video Downloader
• ClipGrab

EaseUS Video Downloader- Windows, Mac, Android

Downloading YouTube videos is easy with EaseUS Video Downloader, a powerful tool designed specifically for computers. It allows you to download high-quality YouTube videos, audio, and entire playlists — even in bulk. Whether it's a live stream, a long-form video, or a YouTube Short, this downloader handles it with ease.

It also supports over 1,000 websites, making it a versatile solution beyond YouTube. Plus, you can effortlessly convert YouTube videos into audio files for offline listening.

• Support 1000+ platforms
• Download YouTube videos up to 8k
• Download your favorite YouTube playlists or channels
• Convert any YouTube videos to MP3
• Download YouTube videos to a flash drive

To download multiple YouTube videos in laptop with it. 

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Video Downloader on your computer, where you can adjust the format and quality settings conveniently from the Home page.

Step 2. Simply click on "Batch Download" at the top right of the screen.

Step 3. Copy and paste the links you are going to download into its download box. Then click "Confirm".

Step 4. EaseUS Video Downloader will start downloading automatically.

Disclaimer: Please make sure that your download behavior is legal in your country! EaseUS does not advocate downloading any video/audio for sale, distribution, or other commercial purposes.

Freemake Video Downloader- Windows

Freemake Video Downloader is a proprietary download manager for Windows that supports batch downloading, video conversion, and automatic export to iTunes. It can download videos from YouTube as well as from Flash and HTML-based video sites.

While it offers essential features for free, videos will include a watermark. To remove watermarks and unlock full functionality, you'll need to upgrade to the paid version.

Step 1. Copy the YouTube video link from the address bar or its share button.

Step 2. Open Freemake Video Downloader and paste the URL.

Step 3. Select the output video format, quality, and file location. Hit the download button.

Step 4. Continue with the logo if you are a free user.

ClipGrab- Windows, Mac, Linux

ClipGrab is a free, open-source, and cross-platform video downloader that makes it easy to download YouTube videos on both Windows and Mac. Powered by youtube-dlp, it supports downloads from various video platforms.

ClipGrab includes a built-in search feature, allowing you to find YouTube videos directly within the app. You can choose your preferred video format and quality, as well as customize the storage location for each download.

Step 1. Copy the YouTube video link or search for it in ClipGrab.

Step 2. It will direct you to the downloads tab, where you can set up video settings. Tap "Grab this clip!" For advanced settings such as the default storage location, download notifications, proxy server, etc., go to the Settings tab.

Step 3. Find a folder to save your YouTube videos and tap "Save."

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How to Save YouTube Videos in Laptop Online Free

How can I download YouTube videos on my laptop with Chrome? One common method is using an online video downloader, which lets you download videos directly through your browser without installing any software. Just paste the video link, choose the format, and click download.

However, in my experience, some tools can be unreliable. You might encounter ads, redirects, or errors like "failed to analyze video links." Some sites even try to trick you into downloading other apps. So I tried and selected the best two online downloaders for YouTube without ads, redirects, or malware.

Recommended Tools:

• Cnvmp3
• Cobalt.tools

Cnvmp3

Cnvmp3 is an ad-free YouTube to MP4/MP3 converter and downloader for unlimited, smooth, and worry-free YouTube video downloading. It is fast, user-friendly, and accessible from any device. All you need to do is paste the copied YouTube link and select the video quality from 360p to 1080p and hit the convert button.

However, sometimes it is unstable due to the server quota limit, so you need to try again if it doesn't work.

Step 1. Copy the YouTube video link.

Step 2. Paste the URL into the field and choose your desired quality and format. Hit the converter button.

Cobalt.tools

Cobalt.tools is a reliable online video downloader without ads, registration, or subscription. It supports YouTube, Bluesky, Facebook, IG, Pinterest, Reddit, and more platforms.

With it, users are allowed to change the interface appearance, set the video quality, codec format, audio format, and bitrate. They can also specify the filename style and where to save these downloaded videos.

Step 1. Open Cobalt.tools and customize video settings.

Step 2. Copy and paste the YouTube video link into the box. Tap the forward button.

How to Download YouTube Videos in Laptop with Browser Extensions

As mentioned, one way to download YouTube videos to your PC using Chrome is with online video downloaders. Another convenient option is using browser extensions. By installing a video downloader extension, you can save videos directly to your computer by clicking the extension icon or a download button that appears on the page.

Recommended Tools:

• YouTube Video Downloader
• Video DownloadHelper

YouTube Video Downloader- Chrome, Edge, Opera

One extension I tried and found effective is YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader. It lets you download videos in various qualities and even convert them directly to MP3 — all without needing separate software.

This makes it an efficient and lightweight solution for downloading YouTube content. It is available on multiple browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Opera, Yandex, Vivaldi, and Brave. 

To download videos from YouTube with Chrome extensions:

Step 1. Go to https://addoncrop.com/youtube-video-downloader/.

Step 2. The webpage will detect your browser automatically. Confirm your browser and click "INSTALL VIA CROSSPILOT".

Step 3. Download and install the extension. Afterward, restart the browser.

Step 4. Go to YouTube and play the video you want to download.

Step 5.  Now you should see there is a Download button under the video. Click the Download button to save the YouTube video to your laptop directly, or click the three dots next to it to choose other qualities available. (If you don't see the download button, click the icon of the YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader from the menu bar of the browser to download the video.)

Video DownloadHelper- Firefox

Video DownloadHelper is a popular browser extension for Firefox and Chrome that allows you to download videos from YouTube and over 1,000 other websites via HTTP. It offers multiple video quality options and can also extract audio from videos.

However, it has some limitations. It doesn't support bulk downloads, and due to YouTube's restrictions, the Chrome version no longer supports downloading YouTube videos. For full functionality, especially with YouTube, using it on Firefox is recommended.

Step 1. Add Video DownloadHelper to your Firefox.

Step 2. Play the YouTube video you want to download and activate the extension.

Step 3. Download a preferred video quality.

How to Download Videos from YouTube in Laptop with yt-dlp & GUI

Recommended Tools:

• yt-dlp
• Open Video Downloader-youtube-dl GUI
• JDownloader 2

yt-dlp

yt-dlp is a feature-rich command-line tool for downloading YouTube videos and audio in high quality. As a more advanced fork of youtube-dl, it offers enhanced functionality and broader site support. yt-dlp allows you to download videos in specific formats and resolutions, extract audio directly, and download entire playlists or channels. It also supports automation through command-line scripting, making it highly efficient for bulk or routine downloads.

However, it requires some basic knowledge of the command line to be used effectively.

Step 1. Install yt-dlp on your computer:

a. Using Pip

1. pip install yt-dlp

b. Using Package Managers

1. On macOS, (Homebrew):
2. brew install yt-dlp
3. On Windows (Chocolatey):
4. choco install yt-dlp

c. Download from releases link

1. https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#installation

Step 2. Download a YouTube video.

1. yt-dlp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID

Download the best quality:

1. yt-dlp -f best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID

Download an entire playlist:

1. yt-dlp https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID

Open Video Downloader

Open Video Downloader is a user-friendly, cross-platform GUI for youtube-dl, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It allows you to download single videos, multiple videos (up to 32 at once), entire playlists, channels, and even private YouTube videos.

The tool is highly customizable — you can select video resolution, format, and file size, and it automatically keeps yt-dlp updated in the background for optimal performance.

Step 1. Download the exe file and the necessary package from the GitHub page. Ignore the Windows warning and run anyway.

Step 2. Launch Open Video Downloader, wait for it to download ffmpeg, and customize your app settings.

Step 3. Copy and paste the YouTube video link into the box and hit Enter. Select the video quality from the dropdown and click the download button.

JDownloader 2

JDownloader 2 is a free, open-source download manager available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Synology NAS, and more. It supports downloading multiple files simultaneously using an automatic link grabber and includes over 300 decryption plugins for various services.

JDownloader allows multiple connections per file to boost download speeds and can even automatically solve some CAPTCHAs, making bulk downloading faster and more convenient.

Step 1. Open JDownloader 2 and set up download folder.

Go to Settings > Settings > Plugins and download youtube.com plugin. Customize the settings below.

Step 2. Copy the YouTube video link or playlist link, and the tool will detect it automatically. Start the downloads.

For more details, read How to Use JDownloader 2.

Share these YouTube video downloaders with your friends and enjoy HD downloading!

The Bottom Line

If you're looking to download YouTube videos on your laptop for offline viewing, these 10 free tools offer reliable and flexible options. Each method caters to different needs—some are simple browser-based solutions, while others offer powerful desktop features or advanced command-line control.

1. ▶️ Freemake Video Downloader – Batch downloads
2. ▶️ ClipGrab – Open-source simplicity
3. ▶️ Cnvmp3 – Ad-free online
4. ▶️ Cobalt.tools – Customizable formats
5. ▶️ YouTube Video Downloader (Extension) – In-browser convenience
6. ▶️ Video DownloadHelper – Multi-site support
7. ▶️ yt-dlp – Advanced control
8. ▶️ Open Video Downloader – GUI + batch
9. ▶️ JDownloader 2 – Bulk automation
10. ▶️ EaseUS Video Downloader – All-in-one solution

If you want a straightforward, powerful, and stable tool, EaseUS Video Downloader is highly recommended. It supports HD/4K downloads, batch video/audio extraction, playlist support, and even conversion to MP3—all in one intuitive interface. It's available for Windows, Mac, and Android and supports over 1,000 sites beyond YouTube.

⚠️Disclaimer: Downloading videos from YouTube without permission may violate its Terms of Service and potentially infringe on copyright laws. These tools are intended for personal use only. Always respect content creators and use these downloaders responsibly.

FAQ on How to Download YouTube Videos in Laptop

1. How to download YouTube videos in mobile gallery?

The official YouTube app allows downloading certain videos for offline viewing. However, these videos are stored within the app and not accessible through your device's gallery. To download:

• Open the YouTube app.
• Navigate to the video you wish to download.
• Tap the Download button below the video.
• Choose the desired video quality.

2. How to download YouTube videos without Premium?

• Copy the YouTube video URL you wish to download.
• Visit online YouTube downloaders like Cobalt.tools or Savefrom.net.
• Paste the URL into the input box on the website.
• Select the desired format and quality (e.g., MP4, MP3).
• Click "Download" to save the video to your device.

3. How to download YouTube videos in laptop without any software?

• Install the Video DownloadHelper extension for your browser.
• Navigate to the YouTube video you wish to download.
• Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar.
• Select the desired format and quality, then click "Download".

Note: Some downloads may require an additional companion app.