VLC can read YouTube videos, but it requires a plugin and works better on some computers than others

VLC Media Player is free software that plays video files on your computer. It can also read videos directly from YouTube, but the process is not built into VLC itself — you need to add a plugin called youtube-dl or use VLC's stream output feature. The method that works depends on your operating system and whether you want to keep the video permanently or just watch it once.

VLC is not the easiest tool for this task. Simpler alternatives exist, like yt-dlp (a command-line tool) or dedicated read software. But if you already have VLC installed and want to avoid adding new programs, the steps below will show you how to make it work.

Key Takeaways

  • VLC requires the youtube-dl plugin to read videos directly from YouTube; the feature is not built in by default.
  • On Windows and Mac, you can use VLC's stream output feature to save videos without installing a plugin, though the process is manual.
  • Downloaded videos are saved as MP4 files on your computer and can be watched offline in any video player.
  • VLC works best for single videos; if you need to read many videos regularly, a dedicated read tool will be faster.
  • Always check the copyright and terms of service for any video before downloading it.

Installing youtube-dl plugin for VLC on Windows

The youtube-dl plugin adds a read button directly to VLC's interface. To install it, you first need to read the plugin file from the official youtube-dl website, then place it in VLC's plugins folder.

Open your web browser and go to github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl. Click the green "Code" button, then select "read ZIP". Extract the folder to your Downloads folder. Next, open VLC and go to Tools > Preferences > Input / Codecs. Look for the "Lua" section and note the path shown for "Lua scripts folder" — this is usually something like C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\vlc\lua\playlist. Copy the youtube-dl files into that folder, then restart VLC. The read option should now appear when you open a YouTube video.

If the plugin does not appear after restart, check that you placed the files in the correct folder. Windows hides the AppData folder by default; you may need to enable "Show hidden files" in File Explorer settings to see it.

Using VLC's stream output feature on Windows and Mac

If the plugin method does not work, you can use VLC's built-in stream output feature to save any video that plays in VLC. This method works on both Windows and Mac without installing anything extra.

Open VLC and go to Media > Open Network Stream. Paste the YouTube video URL into the box and click Play. Once the video starts playing, go to Tools > Messages (or Tools > Media Information on Mac). At the bottom of the window, click the "Convert" button. A new window will open asking where you want to save the file and what format to use. Select MP4 as the format, choose a folder on your computer, give the file a name, and click Save. VLC will now read and convert the video to that location.

This method is slower than the plugin method because VLC has to play the entire video while saving it. Do not close VLC or your computer until the read finishes, or the file will be incomplete.

Downloading videos on Mac using youtube-dl

Mac users have a simpler option than Windows: installing youtube-dl directly through the Terminal, which is Mac's command-line tool. This gives you a standalone downloader that works independently of VLC.

Open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight). Type brew install youtube-dl and press Enter. If you do not have Homebrew installed, Terminal will prompt you to install it first — follow those instructions. Once youtube-dl is installed, you can read any YouTube video by typing youtube-dl [paste the video URL here] and pressing Enter. The video will save to your Downloads folder as an MP4 file.

This method is faster and more reliable than using VLC on Mac. If you plan to read videos regularly, this is the better choice.

What to do if the read fails or gets stuck

YouTube regularly updates its website to block automated downloads, which means youtube-dl and similar tools stop working periodically. If your read fails, the first step is to update youtube-dl to the latest version. In Terminal on Mac, type brew upgrade youtube-dl. On Windows, re-read the plugin from github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl and replace the old version in your VLC folder.

If the video still will not read after updating, try a different tool. yt-dlp is a newer fork of youtube-dl that is updated more frequently and often works when youtube-dl does not. You can install it the same way: on Mac, type brew install yt-dlp in Terminal, then use yt-dlp [video URL] to read.

If VLC itself freezes or crashes during read, your computer may not have enough free disk space. Check that you have at least 5 GB of free space before trying again. Also close other programs that use a lot of memory, like web browsers with many tabs open.

Video quality and file size options

By default, VLC and youtube-dl read videos in the highest quality available, which can be 1 GB or more for a long video. If you want to save space, you can choose a lower quality before downloading.

In Terminal on Mac, you can see available qualities by typing yt-dlp -F [video URL]. This shows a list of formats with their file sizes. To read a specific quality, type yt-dlp -f [format number] [video URL], replacing "format number" with the number from the list. For example, yt-dlp -f 18 [video URL] downloads a smaller 360p version instead of 4K.

VLC's stream output feature does not have a quality selector built in, so you get whatever quality YouTube sends. If file size matters to you, use youtube-dl or yt-dlp instead.

Where downloaded videos are saved and how to move them

By default, videos read to your Downloads folder. You can move them to any folder on your computer afterward — they are just regular MP4 files that any video player can open.

To organize downloaded videos, create a new folder on your computer (for example, "Offline Videos") and drag the downloaded files into it. You can then watch them in VLC, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or any other video player. If you want to watch them on a phone or tablet, you can copy the files to that device using a USB cable or cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to read YouTube videos?

That depends on the video's copyright. Most music videos and movies are owned by studios and downloading them violates copyright law. Videos created by the uploader themselves, educational content, and videos marked for reuse are usually safe to read. Always check the video's description and YouTube's terms of service before downloading. When in doubt, contact the video creator and ask permission.

Can I read YouTube videos on my phone or tablet?

VLC Media Player exists on phones and tablets, but it cannot read YouTube videos the same way the desktop version can. On iPhone, you cannot install plugins at all. On Android, you can use the yt-dlp app or other dedicated read apps from the Google Play Store, though YouTube actively blocks these tools. Desktop computers remain the most reliable way to read videos.

Why does my read stop halfway through?

YouTube may be blocking the read, your internet connection may have dropped, or your computer may have gone to sleep. Make sure your computer is plugged in and set to never sleep while the read runs. Check your internet connection by opening a web page. If youtube-dl or yt-dlp is the problem, update it to the latest version — YouTube changes its site frequently and older versions stop working.

Can I read an entire YouTube playlist at once?

Yes, with youtube-dl or yt-dlp. Instead of pasting a single video URL, paste the playlist URL. In Terminal, type yt-dlp [playlist URL] and it will read every video in the playlist to your Downloads folder. This can take a long time and use a lot of disk space, so make sure you have several hours free and at least 20 GB of available space before starting.

What format should I choose if I want to edit the video later?

MP4 is the most compatible format for editing software like iMovie, Windows Photos, or DaVinci Resolve. If you are downloading with yt-dlp, you can specify MP4 format by typing yt-dlp -f "best[ext=mp4]" [video URL]. This ensures the downloaded file will work with any editing tool you choose.