How to download YouTube Music for free?

With over 77 million subscribers, YouTube Music has become an incredibly popular way for people to listen to music online. Many users enjoy the ability to easily search for and play their favorite songs and albums. However, some people wish to download the audio files to their own devices so they can listen offline. There are a few reasons why someone may want to download YouTube music tracks rather than stream them:

• To save money on data usage and listen without an internet connection
• To integrate the music into their own local libraries and playlists
• To listen on devices that don’t support the YouTube Music app
• To remix or sample the audio for DJing or content creation

While it may be tempting, it’s important to note that downloading copyrighted content without permission may be considered digital piracy. YouTube’s terms of service prohibit downloading videos or extracting audio from them. Users wishing to acquire music legally should purchase and download from authorized sources.

YouTube Policies

YouTube’s Terms of Service prohibit downloading videos from the platform without permission. Specifically, the terms state that users shall not “download any Content unless you see a “download” or similar link displayed by YouTube on the Service for that Content.”

Violating this policy can result in consequences such as your YouTube account being terminated or even legal action. As stated in the summary of YouTube’s terms, “YouTube may terminate your access, or suspend your ability to use parts of the Service, for any reason, including your violation of these Terms.”

Overall, it is against YouTube’s policies to download videos without authorization. Users should be aware of the Terms of Service and avoid using third party apps or tools to download YouTube videos, as this can potentially lead to account termination.

Using a YouTube to MP3 Converter

YouTube to MP3 converters are websites that allow you to enter the URL of a YouTube video and convert the audio track to an MP3 file. These sites work by downloading the video file from YouTube, extracting the audio track, and converting it to MP3 format. Some popular YouTube to MP3 converter sites include video2mp3.net, youtube-mp3.org, and 4kdownload.com.

While these sites provide an easy way to download audio from YouTube videos, there are some risks and issues to be aware of. Many of these sites have intrusive ads, and some have been known to install malware on users’ devices. There are also legal concerns, as downloading copyrighted content from YouTube without permission violates YouTube’s terms of service.

Additionally, YouTube to MP3 conversion results in a loss of audio quality, as MP3 is a lossy format. The audio quality of the downloaded file will likely be lower than the original audio track. For best results, it’s better to download the original audio file rather than converting to MP3.

Video Download Helper Browser Extensions

Browser extensions like Video DownloadHelper allow you to download videos and music from YouTube and other sites directly in your web browser. The Video DownloadHelper extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and other major browsers. Once installed, it will detect videos on many sites and provide a download button on the video player to save the files to your computer.

The Video DownloadHelper extension has numerous useful features, including:

• Ability to download videos in different formats and resolutions
• Option to extract audio into MP3 format
• One-click downloading with intuitive interface
• Support for downloading entire YouTube playlists or channels
• Available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari and other browsers

To use Video DownloadHelper:

1. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store – https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/video-downloadhelper/lmjnegcaeklhafolokijcfjliaokphfk
2. Go to YouTube or another supported site and find the video you want to download
3. The Video DownloadHelper icon will appear on the video player – click it
4. Select your desired format and resolution and click the Download button
5. The video will begin downloading to your computer

Using browser extensions like Video DownloadHelper provides a quick and easy way to save videos from YouTube and other sites. Just make sure to use them legally and ethically.

Online Audio Ripping Tools

There are a number of free online audio ripping tools and websites that allow you to enter a YouTube link and convert or “rip” the audio into an MP3 file.

Some popular online YouTube rippers include:

• OnlineVideoConverter.com – Supports downloading audio in MP3 up to 320kbps.
• Online YouTube Converter – Can convert YouTube to MP3 and download audio up to 256kbps.
• YTMP3 – Straightforward YouTube to MP3 converter.
• ClipConverter – Converter supports multiple formats including MP3 up to 256kbps.

These online ripping tools are free and easy to use. Simply enter the YouTube link, choose MP3 as output format, and click convert or download. The audio track will be extracted and made available for download as an MP3 file that you can play on any device.

However, be aware that downloading copyrighted audio may be illegal depending on local copyright laws.

Desktop Software

There are a number of desktop applications you can download to your computer that allow you to download YouTube videos for free. Some popular options include:

• 4K Video Downloader – This program is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It allows you to download videos in their original quality or convert them to MP3 files. You can download whole YouTube playlists or channels. Basic downloading is free.

• WinX YouTube Downloader – Works on Windows and Mac. Allows downloading of videos in HD 1080p or 4K quality. Can also extract MP3 audio from videos. Has a browser extension for quick downloading.

• aTube Catcher – Free YouTube downloader for Windows that can download in a variety of formats and extract audio. Easy to use interface.

Most desktop downloader apps are quick and easy to use. Simply copy the YouTube video URL, paste it into the software, choose your settings, and download. Some may have advanced features like the ability to queue up multiple downloads.

Desktop software gives you full control and the ability to save YouTube videos to watch offline. Just be mindful of YouTube’s terms of service when downloading copyrighted content.

Smartphone Apps

There are many smartphone apps that allow downloading YouTube videos or converting them to audio files. Some popular options include:

• Snaptube – An Android app that lets you download YouTube videos in different formats and resolutions. It also allows converting videos to MP3 format.
  Check it out here: https://www.snaptubeapp.com
• Videoder – A free app for Android that enables fast downloading and conversion of YouTube videos. You can save videos in MP4 format or extract MP3 audio.
  Learn more at: https://www.videoder.com
• TubeMate – This Android app has an option to download YouTube videos in MP4 format or convert them into MP3 audio files.
  Get TubeMate: https://tubemate.net
• 4K Video Downloader – Available for Android, iOS and Windows, this app can download YouTube videos up to 4K resolution and extract MP3 audio.
  Download from: https://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader

Alternative Options

There are several legal alternative options to download music from YouTube for free:

Get a YouTube Premium subscription, which allows you to download videos and songs from YouTube to listen offline. With YouTube Premium, you can download music directly within the YouTube Music app.

Use streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, or Deezer to listen to music legally. While these services require a paid subscription, they have large catalogs of songs that you can download and listen to offline.

Purchase songs, albums or music videos from stores like iTunes, Amazon Music Store or Google Play Music. By buying music legally, you support the artists while getting high-quality audio files.

Consider using free streaming sites like Pandora or iHeartRadio which allow you to listen to music for free with ads. While you can’t download songs, this is a legal free option.

The best approach is to use legal platforms to search for the music you want. This avoids any potential issues while supporting the artists.

Risks and Consequences

While downloading YouTube videos may seem harmless, there are some significant risks and consequences to consider before doing so illegally.

One major risk is that you may unknowingly download malware or viruses onto your device. The file you download could contain harmful programs that infect your computer, smartphone, or other devices when opened (source: https://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-dangers-of-downloading-YouTube-videos).

You also risk having your YouTube, Google, or Gmail account terminated if you violate their Terms of Service. YouTube strictly prohibits downloading videos from their platform, and they monitor for any unauthorized copying or distribution (source: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/is-it-legal-to-download-youtube-videos/). Getting your account shut down means losing access to all of your subscribed channels and playlists.

In addition, you may face legal consequences for copyright infringement. All videos on YouTube are protected by copyright, so downloading them without permission is illegal. You could be sued by the content creator for substantial damages (source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2021/12/16/illegal-online-activities-you-may-breaking-law-and-not-know-it/6453069001/).

To avoid these risks, it’s best not to use illegal YouTube downloading methods. There are better options to enjoy music and videos legally.

Conclusion

The safest and best option for enjoying YouTube music legally is to subscribe to their official YouTube Music streaming service. They offer unlimited music, including all songs that are also on YouTube as official audio-only tracks. YouTube Music also provides various pricing tiers, including a free, ad-supported option [1].

However, there are many great alternatives if you don’t want to pay or just prefer a different music app. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others provide vast catalogs of licensed music and competitive pricing [2]. Just remember to avoid downloading YouTube videos or ripping audio without permission, which violates copyright law. Ultimately, it’s best to access music through official channels that properly compensate artists.