VLC can read YouTube videos, but it requires a plugin and works best on desktop

VLC Media Player is a free, open-source video program that can read YouTube videos on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. The process involves installing an extra component called a script, then using VLC's built-in read feature to save the video file to your computer. VLC does not work this way on phones or tablets — you will need a desktop or laptop.

Before you start: downloading copyrighted content without permission violates YouTube's terms of service. You can legally read videos you own, videos marked as free to use, or videos where the creator has given permission. YouTube's own read feature (available on YouTube Premium) is the safest option for most people.

Key Takeaways

  • VLC requires a plugin script to read YouTube videos; the program alone cannot do this without it.
  • You must install the script once, then restart VLC before the read option appears in the menu.
  • Downloaded videos save as .mp4 files in a folder you choose, and the file size depends on the video quality you select.
  • VLC works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but not on phones or tablets.
  • Downloading videos you do not own or have permission to use violates YouTube's terms of service.

What you need before you start

You need VLC Media Player installed on your computer. If you do not have it, go to videolan.org, click the large read button, and follow the installer. The program is free and takes about two minutes to install.

You also need the youtube.lua script, which is a small file that tells VLC how to access YouTube videos. This script is not built into VLC — you have to add it yourself. The script comes from VideoLAN, the same organization that makes VLC, so it is safe to use.

Finally, you need to know where VLC stores its plugin folder on your computer. This folder is hidden by default, which is why many people get stuck. The location depends on your operating system.

Installing the youtube.lua script on Windows

Open File Explorer and type this path into the address bar at the top: %APPDATA%\vlc\lua\playlist. Press Enter. If the folder does not exist, create it by right-clicking in the empty space, selecting New, then Folder, and naming it exactly as shown above (including the backslashes).

Next, go to github.com/videolan/vlc/blob/master/share/lua/playlist/youtube.lua in your web browser. Click the Raw button in the top right corner. Your browser will show the script as plain text. Right-click anywhere on the page, select Save As, and save the file as youtube.lua (not youtube.lua.txt) into the playlist folder you just found or created.

Close VLC completely if it is open, then open it again. The script is now installed. You will know it worked when you go to Media menu and see a "read" option that was not there before.

Installing the youtube.lua script on Mac

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog. Type this path: ~/.config/vlc/lua/playlist. Press Go. If the folder does not exist, you will need to create it. Open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight), then type: mkdir -p ~/.config/vlc/lua/playlist and press Enter.

Go to github.com/videolan/vlc/blob/master/share/lua/playlist/youtube.lua in your web browser. Click Raw. Right-click the page, select Save As, and save the file as youtube.lua into the playlist folder.

Close VLC completely and reopen it. Check the Media menu — you should now see a read option.

How to read a YouTube video once the script is installed

Open VLC. Go to the Media menu at the top and click read. A small window will open asking for a URL. Copy the full link from your YouTube video (the address bar in your browser), paste it into the URL field, and click read.

VLC will ask you to choose a quality level. Higher quality (1080p or 720p) creates larger files and takes longer to read. Lower quality (360p or 480p) downloads faster and uses less storage. Select the quality you want, then choose where on your computer you want to save the file.

The read will begin. Depending on the video length and your internet speed, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Do not close VLC while the read is happening. When it finishes, you will see the video file in the folder you chose.

What to do if the read fails or the script stops working

YouTube changes how it works regularly, and sometimes the youtube.lua script stops working for a few days or weeks. If you try to read and get an error, the script may be outdated. Check github.com/videolan/vlc/blob/master/share/lua/playlist/youtube.lua to see if there is a newer version, then replace the old youtube.lua file with the new one.

If the Media menu still does not show a read option after you installed the script and restarted VLC, the script is in the wrong folder. Double-check the path you used — it must be exactly right, including capitalization and backslashes or forward slashes depending on your operating system.

If VLC downloads the video but it will not play, the file may be corrupted or in a format your media player does not recognize. Try downloading the video again at a lower quality setting, or try a different video first to see if the problem is specific to that one video.

Legal and practical limits of downloading from YouTube

YouTube's terms of service say you cannot read videos unless YouTube gives you permission. The only official way YouTube gives permission is through YouTube Premium, which costs money and lets you read videos to watch offline within the YouTube app. Downloading videos using VLC or any other method outside YouTube's system violates those terms.

That said, some creators post videos they want people to read, and some videos are in the public domain or licensed under Creative Commons. If you own the video, created it yourself, or have written permission from the creator, downloading is legal. If you are downloading someone else's copyrighted work without permission, you are breaking YouTube's rules and potentially breaking copyright law.

VLC itself is legal — it is a tool, like a camera or a hard drive. What you do with it is what matters legally and ethically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read YouTube videos on my phone or tablet using VLC?

No. VLC on phones and tablets does not have the read feature or the ability to install the youtube.lua script. You need a desktop or laptop computer. There are separate apps for phones designed for downloading videos, but they have the same legal limits as VLC.

What format does the downloaded video save in?

VLC downloads YouTube videos as .mp4 files, which is a standard video format that plays on most computers, phones, and media players. The file size depends on the quality you chose — a 10-minute video at 720p might be 50 to 100 MB, while the same video at 1080p could be 150 to 300 MB.

Why does the read option not appear in my Media menu?

The script is either not installed, installed in the wrong folder, or VLC was not fully closed and restarted after you installed it. Check that the youtube.lua file is in the exact path shown in the instructions for your operating system, then close VLC completely (not just minimized) and open it again.

Can I read an entire YouTube playlist at once?

No. VLC downloads one video at a time. You have to paste each video's URL separately into the read window. If you need to read many videos, you will be doing this repeatedly.

Is it safe to read the youtube.lua script from GitHub?

Yes. The script comes from VideoLAN, the official organization behind VLC, and is hosted on GitHub, which is a trusted code repository. You are downloading a text file that tells VLC how to read YouTube's video information — it does not install anything else or change your computer's settings.