How do I convert YouTube videos to audio on Android?

There are several benefits to converting YouTube videos to audio files on an Android device. Listening to YouTube audio offline is one of the main reasons people convert videos. By saving just the audio portion, you can listen to videos anywhere without needing an internet connection. This saves mobile data and allows you to listen while commuting, exercising or anyplace without WiFi.

Converting to audio also takes up less storage space on your phone compared to saving the video file. This frees up room for more audio content. Additionally, creating playlists and organizing your favorite YouTube audio is easier when it’s extracted from the video into a simple music file format.

Overall, converting YouTube videos into audio files allows more flexibility, portability and convenience when listening on the go from your Android device.

Prerequisites

In order to convert YouTube videos to audio files on an Android device, there are a few prerequisites that need to be met:

First, the Android device needs to be able to access YouTube. The minimum Android version required to run the official YouTube app is 5.0 Lollipop ^[1]. Older versions of Android will not support the latest YouTube app and features. If your device cannot be upgraded to Android 5.0 or later, you may need to use a third party YouTube app that supports older Android versions.

Second, the device needs to have enough available storage space for the audio files. A typical 3-5 minute YouTube video in MP3 format will be around 2-5MB. So make sure your device has enough free space before converting multiple videos to audio files.

As long as those prerequisites are met, you should be able to convert YouTube videos to audio using the methods described in the following sections.

Using a Third Party App

One of the easiest ways to convert YouTube videos to audio on Android is by using a third party app. There are many great options available on the Google Play Store. Some popular choices include:

Video to MP3 Converter – This simple app allows you to paste in a YouTube URL and download the audio in MP3 format. The interface is clean and easy to use.

TubeMate – This more full-featured app lets you download videos and convert to MP3, M4A or other audio formats. It also supports downloading from other sites beyond just YouTube.
VidCompact – Another good option for converting and downloading YouTube videos. It has options for different audio quality levels.

The main benefits of using a dedicated third party app are:

Simple and easy to use interface designed specifically for this purpose.
Fast conversion and download right on your Android device.
Ability to save audio files directly on your phone.

Multi-platform support beyond just YouTube in some apps.

Potential downsides include:

You have to trust the app with your YouTube usage data.

Possible ads in free versions.
Conversion limited to just audio output formats.
Need to download and install separate app just for this functionality.

Overall, a specialized third party app provides a quick and easy way to convert YouTube videos to audio files right on your Android device. Just be sure to use a reputable app without intrusive ads or privacy concerns.

Using Online Conversion Tools

One convenient way to convert YouTube videos to MP3 audio files on Android is by using free online conversion tools. Some popular options include:

OnlineVideoConverter – This tool allows you to paste in a YouTube URL and download the audio in MP3 format. It offers high-quality conversions and is very easy to use.

ClipConverter – Another simple online converter that supports many formats including MP3. Just enter the video URL and select MP3 as the output.

OnlineAudioConverter – Supports batch conversions so you can queue up multiple YouTube videos at once. Downsides are popups and slower speeds.

The main benefits of using an online tool are convenience and speed. There’s no software to install, and you can quickly get an MP3 just by entering the video URL. Drawbacks are quality limitations, ads, and slower speeds for large files.

Using VLC Media Player

VLC media player is a popular, free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that can be used to convert YouTube videos to audio files on an Android device. Here are the steps to do this:

1. Download and install the VLC media player app on your Android device from the Google Play Store.

2. Open the VLC app and tap on the three dots icon in the top right corner to access the menu.

3. Select “Open Network Stream” and paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to convert.

4. Tap on the “Play” icon to start playing the video.

5. Once the video starts playing, tap on the three dots icon again and select “Audio > Audio Track” > “Extract Audio Track”.

6. Choose the audio format you want to convert the file to, such as MP3. The audio will start saving to your device.

7. You can find the extracted audio file in your device’s Downloads folder.

That’s it! VLC media player makes it easy to convert YouTube videos to audio files on your Android phone or tablet. The process is quick and does not require any additional software. VLC is a powerful open-source tool for media conversion.

Using Command Line Tools

One of the most powerful options for converting YouTube videos to audio on Android is using command line tools like FFmpeg. FFmpeg is an open-source, cross-platform solution for handling multimedia files and streams. Here’s how you can use it to convert YouTube videos to audio on your Android device:

First, you’ll need to install FFmpeg on your Android device. You can download a build of FFmpeg for Android from a site like GitHub. Make sure to download a recent build that supports Android ARM processors.

Once FFmpeg is installed, you can use the following command to convert a YouTube video to an MP3 audio file:

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 -vn -ar 44100 -ac 2 -ab 192k -f mp3 output_audio.mp3

This will strip the video and convert just the audio track to MP3 format. You can replace mp3 with other formats like m4a or wav if desired.

The key is specifying the -vn flag, which tells FFmpeg to ignore the video stream. You can also adjust the audio encoding parameters like bitrate and sampling rate as needed.

FFmpeg provides a powerful command line interface for batch processing and automating video/audio conversions. With some basic scripting, you can easily convert multiple YouTube videos to audio files on your Android device.

Using Automation Tools

One way to routinely convert and save YouTube videos to audio is by using automation apps like MacroDroid. MacroDroid allows you to set up automated routines on your Android device that can run in the background. This means you can schedule it to regularly check for new videos from certain YouTube channels or playlists and automatically convert and download just the audio in MP3 format.

Some key advantages of using an automation tool like MacroDroid include:

– It saves you time by automatically fetching new audio content on a schedule. You don’t have to manually run conversions each time.

– You can customize triggers like new uploads from channels you follow or based on playlists.

– You can set the download location, filename conventions, file formats, etc.

– It works in the background so you don’t have to keep the app open.

– You can restrict downloads to WiFi only to manage mobile data usage.

The basic steps to set up automated YouTube to MP3 downloading using MacroDroid would be:

Install MacroDroid and give it permission to detect notifications and accessibility access.
Set up a trigger like YouTube notifications for new uploads.
Add actions to convert the video, extract MP3 audio, and save to your preferred folder.

Specify constraints like WiFi-only, filename format, etc.
Test and adjust as needed before letting it run routinely.

With the right setup, MacroDroid can automatically grab just the audio from your favorite YouTube channels on a schedule. It takes the manual work out of converting videos to MP3 format.¹

Choosing a File Format

When converting YouTube videos to audio, you have several options for the output file format. Three of the most common are MP3, M4A, and WAV.

MP3 is the most widely compatible format and provides a good balance of audio quality and file size. However, it is a lossy format, meaning some audio data is discarded during compression. This can result in lower overall quality. (Source 1)

M4A, also known as AAC, is an audio coding format that provides better quality than MP3 at similar bitrates. The audio quality can be nearly as good as the original source. M4A files are also reasonably small in size. This makes M4A a good choice if you want better quality while maintaining a manageable file size. (Source 2)

WAV is an uncompressed audio format, so it retains the highest audio quality. However, WAV files are much larger, often significantly bigger than the original video file. This may be impractical for many mobile uses where storage space is limited.

For most purposes, M4A offers the best combination of quality and file size. The audio will sound nearly as good as the original while not taking up excessive space on your Android device. M4A is recommended in most cases for converting YouTube videos to audio on Android. (Source 3)

Troubleshooting Issues

Converting YouTube videos to audio files on Android can sometimes run into problems. Here are some common issues and potential solutions:

Slow or Failed Conversion

Large or high-quality YouTube videos can take a long time to convert or may fail to convert properly. Try converting shorter videos or lower quality versions. Also check your internet connection speed – slower connections will lengthen the conversion time.^[1]

Large Output File Size

Converting to a lossless format like WAV can result in huge file sizes. Converting to a compressed format like MP3 will greatly reduce the file size with minimal impact on audio quality. You can also try trimming down the length of the video before converting.

Audio Format Compatibility

Some apps may not support certain audio formats. If you have issues playing the converted file, try using a more compatible format like MP3 instead of FLAC or WAV, or use a different audio app.

Missing Metadata

ID3 tags for song title, artist, etc may not transfer properly during conversion. Look for an app that preserves metadata to maintain this info.

Incorrect Output Filename

The output audio file may get assigned a random name instead of using the YouTube video title. Rename the file manually or use an app that keeps the original filename.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several different ways you can convert YouTube videos to audio on Android, each having their own advantages and disadvantages.

Using a third party app like Video to MP3 Converter or YTD Video Downloader is likely the easiest method for most users, as they provide a straightforward interface and don’t require any technical know-how. However, these apps often contain ads and may have limitations on file size or length.

Online conversion tools like OnlineVideoConverter.com also offer a simple way to convert YouTube videos to audio, and work on any device with an internet browser. But you are limited by internet speeds, may need to upload large files, and have less control over output options.

For advanced users comfortable with some light technical tasks, using VLC media player or command line tools like FFmpeg provide free options with more customization over the output audio file format and settings. But they involve a bit more effort to set up and use.

Automation tools like TunesKit YouTube Downloader can batch convert multiple files at once, which can save time for power users with many videos to convert. However these tools are often paid apps with premium features.

Overall the best method depends on your comfort with technology, how many files you need to convert, and your desired audio output format. But with the range of options covered here, most Android users should be able to find a suitable way to extract the audio from their favorite YouTube videos.