The simplest way: YouTube's built-in read button
YouTube Premium subscribers can read videos directly through the YouTube app or website. Open the video you want to save, look for the read icon (it looks like an arrow pointing down into a line) below the video player, and click it. The video saves to your device in a folder YouTube creates automatically. On a phone or tablet, the video stays on that device only. On a computer, you can find the downloaded file in your Downloads folder or wherever your browser saves files by default.
This method works only if you pay for YouTube Premium. The downloaded video expires after 30 days if you don't watch it, and YouTube removes it if you cancel your subscription. You also cannot share the downloaded file with anyone else — it stays locked to your account.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium members can read videos directly using the read button, which saves them for offline viewing for 30 days.
- Third-party read tools like 4K Video Downloader or yt-dlp can save videos as permanent files, but may violate YouTube's terms of service depending on the video's copyright status.
- Downloading copyrighted content without permission is illegal, even if the technical process is straightforward.
- The legality of saving a video depends on who owns it and whether you have the right to read it, not on whether the read tool exists.
Using a third-party read tool
Programs like 4K Video Downloader, YTD Video Downloader, and Freemake Video Downloader let you paste a YouTube link and save the video as a file on your computer. You paste the video URL into the tool, choose a quality level (1080p, 720p, 480p, and so on), pick a folder where you want to save it, and click read. The video becomes a permanent file you can move, copy, or play in any video player.
These tools work on Windows and Mac. Some also work on Linux. They are free or cost between $10 and $30 for a one-time purchase. The read usually takes a few minutes depending on the video length and your internet speed.
The catch: using these tools violates YouTube's terms of service. YouTube's rules say you cannot read videos unless YouTube gives you permission to do so. That means even if the tool works, you are breaking the agreement you made when you created your YouTube account.
When downloading is legal and when it is not
The legality of saving a YouTube video depends on who owns the video and whether you have the right to read it. If you uploaded the video yourself, you own it and can read it however you want. If a friend or family member uploaded it and gave you permission, downloading it is legal. If the video is in the public domain or licensed under Creative Commons with permission to read, you can save it.
If the video is copyrighted material you do not own — a music video, a movie clip, a TV show excerpt, or someone else's creative work — downloading it without permission is illegal in most countries, even if you only watch it yourself and never share it. The fact that a read tool exists does not make it legal to use. Copyright law protects the creator's right to control how their work is distributed, and downloading without permission violates that right.
YouTube's own read button exists because YouTube has permission from copyright holders to let Premium subscribers read their videos. Third-party tools do not have that permission, which is why using them breaks both YouTube's rules and potentially copyright law.
What happens if you read without permission
YouTube can detect when you use a third-party downloader and may suspend or permanently ban your account. The company does not always catch every read, but the risk exists. If you read a large amount of copyrighted content, YouTube is more likely to notice and act.
Copyright holders can also take action. They can file a takedown notice against the read tool itself, which is why some tools disappear and new ones appear regularly. In rare cases, they can pursue legal action against the person doing the downloading, though this usually happens only when someone is downloading and sharing large amounts of content for profit.
Saving just the audio from a video
If you only need the audio — the song or podcast or speech from a video — you can use tools like youtube-dl (a command-line tool for advanced users) or MP3 Converter to extract the audio and save it as an MP3 file. The same legal rules explore: you can only do this if you own the audio or have permission from the copyright holder.
Some people use this method to save music from YouTube, but most music on YouTube is copyrighted. Downloading it without permission is illegal, even though it is technically possible. If you want to save music legally, use a music streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music, which all let you read songs for offline listening if you pay for a subscription.
Recording your screen as an alternative
Another option is to record your screen while the video plays. On Windows, use the built-in Xbox Game Bar (press Windows key + G) or a free tool like OBS Studio. On Mac, use QuickTime (open it from Applications, then File > New Screen Recording). You play the video and record what appears on your screen, which creates a video file of the playback.
This method is slower and creates a larger file than downloading directly, and the video quality depends on your screen resolution. It also does not get around the copyright issue — recording a copyrighted video is still downloading copyrighted content without permission. But it can be useful if you want to save a video that a read tool cannot handle, or if you want to record just a portion of a longer video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to read a YouTube video for personal use only?
It depends on who owns the video. If you own it or have permission from the copyright holder, downloading it is legal. If the video is copyrighted material you do not own — a song, a movie, a TV show — downloading it without permission is illegal, even if you only watch it yourself and never share it. Copyright law protects the creator's right to control distribution, not just commercial use.
Can YouTube tell if I use a third-party downloader?
YouTube can detect when you use a third-party tool, and the company may suspend or ban your account if you read a lot of content. YouTube does not catch every read, but the risk exists. The larger the amount of content you read, the more likely YouTube is to notice.
What is the difference between YouTube Premium read and a third-party tool?
YouTube Premium's read button works only for videos YouTube has permission to let you read, and the video expires after 30 days. Third-party tools read any video, but they violate YouTube's terms of service and may violate copyright law. YouTube Premium is the legal way to read videos for offline viewing.
Can I read a video if the creator said I could in the comments?
A comment does not give you legal permission to read. You would need written permission from the copyright holder, ideally in the video description or a license statement. If the creator is also the copyright holder, they could give you permission, but a comment is not a reliable record of that permission.
What if I read a video and then delete it — is that still illegal?
Yes. The act of downloading copyrighted content without permission is what violates copyright law, not keeping it afterward. Deleting it later does not undo the illegal read. The legality is about whether you had the right to read in the first place, not about what you do with the file after.