How to Download YouTube Playlist
Batch Download
Updated Jan 2026
6 min read
Downloading an entire YouTube playlist is more efficient than downloading videos one by one. This guide covers the best tools and methods for batch downloading playlists on all devices.
Best Tools for Playlist Downloads
- Desktop: 4K Video Downloader, JDownloader 2, yt-dlp
- Online: Limited options (most don't support playlists)
- Mobile: Specialized apps required
Method 1: 4K Video Downloader (Easiest)
Steps:
- Install 4K Video Downloader from 4kdownload.com
- Open YouTube and navigate to playlist
- Copy playlist URL from address bar
- Click "Paste Link" in 4K Video Downloader
- Choose "Download Playlist" option
- Select quality and format for all videos
- Click "Download" to start batch process
Features:
- Downloads entire playlist automatically
- Maintains playlist order
- Skips previously downloaded videos
- Creates folder with playlist name
- Can download up to 1000 videos per playlist
Method 2: yt-dlp (Most Powerful)
yt-dlp offers the most control and handles playlists of any size.
Basic Playlist Download:
# Download entire playlist
yt-dlp "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID"
# Download specific format
yt-dlp -f "best[height<=1080]" "PLAYLIST_URL"
# Download to specific folder
yt-dlp -o "%(playlist)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s" "PLAYLIST_URL"
Advanced Options:
- Download specific videos:
--playlist-items 1-5,10,15 - Reverse order:
--playlist-reverse - Start from video #:
--playlist-start 10 - Skip errors:
--ignore-errors - Limit speed:
-r 1M
Method 3: JDownloader 2
- Install JDownloader 2 from jdownloader.org
- Copy YouTube playlist URL
- JDownloader automatically detects and adds all videos
- Review video list in Link Grabber tab
- Right-click → Start Downloads
Advantages:
- Automatic clipboard monitoring
- Parallel downloads (multiple videos at once)
- Resume capability
- Scheduler for off-peak downloads
Tips for Large Playlists
Storage Planning:
- Check total size: Use yt-dlp with
--simulateflag - 1080p estimate: 500MB per 10-minute video
- 4K estimate: 1.5GB per 10-minute video
- Recommended: Have 20% extra space as buffer
Download Strategy:
- Start with lower quality to test
- Download during off-peak hours (faster speeds)
- Use wired connection for large playlists
- Enable resume/retry options
- Consider splitting very large playlists
Organizing Downloaded Playlists
File Naming:
- Use descriptive folder names
- Include video numbers for ordering
- Add upload date if needed
- Keep consistent naming scheme
yt-dlp Output Template:
# Organized structure
yt-dlp -o "%(playlist)s/%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" "URL"
Common Issues & Solutions
Some Videos Fail to Download:
- Videos may be private, deleted, or region-locked
- Use
--ignore-errorsto continue despite failures - Check video availability manually
Download Stops Midway:
- Enable auto-resume in downloader settings
- Check internet connection stability
- Restart download (most tools skip completed videos)
Playlist Too Large:
- Download in batches using
--playlist-items - Use lower quality to save space
- Consider external storage
Mobile Playlist Download
Android:
- NewPipe: Supports playlist downloads
- TubeMate: Batch download feature
- Requires sufficient storage space
iPhone:
- Limited options due to iOS restrictions
- Documents by Readdle + online tools
- Consider using desktop for large playlists
Legal Considerations
Downloading YouTube content may violate Terms of Service. Only download playlists you have permission to access. Consider YouTube Premium for official offline playlist functionality.