Download YouTube Videos Using VLC
VLC Media Player, a free and popular video player, has a hidden feature that lets you download YouTube videos without additional software.
What is VLC Media Player?
- Free, open-source media player
- Available for Windows, Mac, Linux
- Plays virtually all video/audio formats
- No ads or spyware
- Download from videolan.org
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Install VLC
- Visit videolan.org
- Download for your operating system
- Install (it's completely free)
2. Copy YouTube Video URL
- Open YouTube video in browser
- Copy URL from address bar
- Example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
3. Open Network Stream in VLC
Windows/Linux:
- Open VLC
- Click Media → Open Network Stream
- Or press Ctrl+N
Mac:
- Open VLC
- Click File → Open Network
- Or press Cmd+N
4. Paste YouTube URL
- Paste YouTube URL in the box
- Click "Play" button
- Video will start playing in VLC
5. Get Download Link
- While video is playing, go to Tools → Codec Information
- Or press Ctrl+J (Windows) / Cmd+I (Mac)
- Find "Location" field at bottom
- Copy the long URL shown there
6. Download the Video
- Paste the copied URL into your browser
- Video will start playing
- Right-click → "Save Video As"
- Choose location and save
Alternative VLC Download Method
Direct Save from VLC:
- Tools → Preferences
- Click "Show Settings: All" (bottom left)
- Expand "Stream Output"
- Enable "File" option
- Specify save location
- Play YouTube video via network stream
- VLC will save while playing
Advantages of VLC Method
- ✅ No additional software needed
- ✅ Completely free and safe
- ✅ No ads or malware
- ✅ Works on all platforms
- ✅ No account required
Limitations
- ❌ Can only download one video at a time
- ❌ More steps than dedicated downloaders
- ❌ May not work with all YouTube videos
- ❌ Can't choose quality (gets default)
- ❌ No playlist support
Troubleshooting
VLC Won't Play YouTube Video:
- Update VLC to latest version
- Try different YouTube video
- Check internet connection
- Restart VLC and try again
Can't Find Location URL:
- Make sure video is playing
- Check Codec Information window carefully
- Scroll down in Location field
- URL is very long - copy entirely
URL Expires Quickly:
- YouTube URLs expire after a few hours
- Download immediately after getting URL
- Get new URL if expired
Better Alternatives to VLC Method
While VLC works, these are easier:
- 4K Video Downloader: One-click downloads
- yt-dlp: Command-line power user tool
- Online tools: No installation needed
See our recommended tools comparison.