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YouTube has become the largest video-sharing site, hosting over 5.1 billion videos. What makes the platform successful is not only the fact that anyone can access its videos for free, but also the variety of niches and industries you can find content in.
From students needing extra tutoring for exams to aspiring YouTube influencers interested in learning tips from experts, YouTube is made with valuable content, suitable for all kinds of needs.
However, to access this content you always need to be connected to WiFi. So, what happens if you want to watch a video offline or use a specific YouTube video for a particular purpose? How can you record YouTube videos to view later?
To record a show on YouTube TV, start watching the program, then tap the (+) Add to Library button next to its name. The show will be automatically saved to your Library for later viewing.
If you want to record on YouTube’s platform, most operating systems and mobile devices offer screen recording features that make this easy, all you need to know is how to get to these keyboard shortcuts or phone settings. You can also use third-party apps to record YouTube videos like OBS Studio or Bandicam.
In this article, we’ll show you how to easily record YouTube videos (From the platform and from YouTube TV) from any device, and the legal considerations to keep in mind.
Before you record someone else’s YouTube videos, make sure that you’re using them legally. Anyone can record videos for personal use, however the problem arises when you want to repurpose these videos.
Recording YouTube videos without permission violates YouTube’s Terms Service, and may infringe on copyright laws. However, there are copyright exceptions, depending on how the content is used.
“Some activities that may qualify as fair use include criticism, commentary, and news reporting. Fair use aims to promote freedom of expression.”
These are the things to keep in mind:
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If you’re a Mac user, you can record videos on YouTube by using its free inbuilt application Quicktime. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Go to finder and search for QuicktimePlayer
Step 2: Open Quicktime and click “File”, then “New Screen Recoding.”
Note: You can also take a shortcut and click and hold Shift+Command+5
Step 4: Select the area you want to record, whether it's the entire screen or a selected portion
Step 5: Click on “Options”, and choose where you want to save the recording (downloads, recents, etc) and if you want to record with audio make sure to tap on “Mackbooks Audio”
Step 6: Play the YouTube video you want to record.
Step 7: After you recorded the video you wanted, click and hold Shift+Command+5 and tap on the “Stop Recording Video” button, and your recorded video will appear in the chosen location.
Similar to Mac, Windows also comes with an in-built screen recorder called Game Bar. Here’s how you can use it to record YouTube videos.
Step 1: Open the YouTube video you want to record and then click Windows + G on Windows PC to open Game Bar.
Step 2: From Game Bar, you’ll see different options. Click on the “Record” button.
Step 3: At the top-left corner on the screen, you’ll find the “Stop Recording” option.
Step 4: Recorded videos are automatically saved. By clicking again on Windows + G, you can go to “See my Captures” and see your recorded videos.
To record a YouTube video on iPhone, you can use its in-built screen recording feature that you can search on its control panel. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Start by enabling the recording setting on your iPhone. For this, open your iPhone’s settings and head to the “Control Center.” Look for the “Screen Recording” feature and enable it.
Note: iOS18 made new updates on the Control Center, so now to access it you can swipe down from the top-right edge. From here you can tap the screen, then tap on below where it says “Add a control” and then simply add “Screen Recording”.
Step 2: Go to YouTube and search for the video you want to record. Once you have it, swipe down from the top-right edge to the control center, and tap on the “Screen recording” icon that has the simple of a white dot. Once you tap on it, you will see a 3-second countdown, and then it starts recording.
Step 3: Once you record your video, you can click on the “Stop” red button. Your recording will be automatically saved on the Photos application.
To record on Android devices, specifically Android 11 and higher you’re also able to record YouTube videos through its screen recording feature.
Step 1: Go to YouTube and look for the video you want to record. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen, and here you’ll see different icons. Tap on the “Screen Recorder” one.
Note: If you can’t find the option, click the “Edit” or pencil icon, and drag the “Screen Recorder” feature to the top.
Step 2: Click on the “Screen Recorder” feature, and then click on the “Start Recording” Button.
Step 3: Once you finished recording your YouTube video, click the red button that says “Stop”. Your video will automatically be saved in the Gallery app.
If you’ve started using YouTube TV, whether it’s for watching live or on-demand TV from popular networks like CBS, ESPN, and others, you'll probably want to learn how to record on the platform, so you can watch your favorite shows, even when you can’t watch them live.
Step 1: Log into your YouTube TV account.
Step 2: Search for the show you want to record.
Step 3: Tap on the (+) icon next to the show’s name.
Step 4: Now, you have your show on your DVR library!
Step 1: Log into your YouTube TV account.
Step 2: Choose your Live show.
Step 3: Click “Pause” on the show.
Step 4: Tap on the (+) icon next to the show’s name.
Step 5: Now, you’re recording your live show!
If you don’t want to miss your favorite live match, here’s how you can record any live sporting event on YouTube Video:
Step 1: Log into your YouTube TV account
Step 2: Search for the sporting event you’re interested in
Step 3: Select the event you want to record and tap on the (+) Icon
Step 4: Now you’re recording a Live Sporting Event on YouTube TV!
YouTube TV automatically records entire shows, including commercials, since it saves the same broadcast feed that airs live. While you can’t remove ads during the recording process (unless you’re a YouTube Premium member), you can skip commercials while watching your recorded content. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open YouTube TV and go to your Library.
Step 2: Select the recorded show or movie you want to watch.
Step 3: Start playback, then use the fast-forward button to skip through ads when possible.
Step 4: If an on-demand version of the show is available, you may see unskippable ads. In that case, look for the DVR version instead.
If you're using YouTube TV on a Roku device, recording works the same way as on other platforms. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the YouTube TV app on your Roku device.
Step 2: Use the search bar to find the show, movie, or event you want to record.
Step 3: Select the title and click on the (+) Add to Library button.
Step 4: Your selected program will now be recorded and available in your Library for later viewing.
If you're using an Amazon Firestick to stream YouTube TV, recording shows and live events is just as easy. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Open the YouTube TV app on your Firestick.
Step 2: Use the search bar or navigate through the guide to find the show, movie, or event you want to record.
Step 3: Select the program and click on the (+) Add to Library button.
Step 4: Your selected content will now be recorded and available in your Library for future viewing.
YouTube TV offers unlimited cloud DVR storage, but if you no longer want a recording in your library, you can remove it easily:
Step 1: Open YouTube TV and navigate to your Library.
Step 2: Find the show or event you want to delete.
Step 3: Select the title and tap the (✓) icon, which indicates it’s saved to your library.
Step 4: Confirm the removal, and the show will no longer appear in your Library.
If for some reason, you don’t want to use your built-in screening recording features to record YouTube videos, you can also do it through YouTube Premium or third-party applications.
If you have YouTube Premium, one of the benefits is that you can download videos legally to watch offline in the YouTube app. However, downloads are limited to the app, and can be played offline for up to 30 days (after that you’ll need to reconnect your device to the internet).
To download videos in any device (Android, iPhone, or iPhone) the process is the same:
You can also use third-party applications to record your YouTube videos. Popular options include:
Open Broadcaster Software studio is a free and open source software that allows users to record screens and live streaming. You can download it for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Bandicam is a lightweight screen recorder software for Windows that allows you to record any high-quality content from your screen.
Capto is a screen recording and editing software available for Mac and Windows.
Recording YouTube videos from any device is possible with the right tools and methods. Whether you're using a PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet, options like screen recording software, browser extensions, and built-in device features make the process straightforward. However, it's important to consider YouTube’s Terms of Service and copyright laws before recording or sharing content.
For personal offline viewing, YouTube Premium is the safest and most legal option. If you need to record videos for commentary, criticism, or educational use, ensure it qualifies under fair use guidelines. By choosing the right method and staying within legal boundaries, you can effectively record YouTube videos while respecting content creators’ rights.
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