You want to watch a YouTube tutorial on a flight, keep a lecture for a study session with spotty Wi-Fi, or save a copy of a video you uploaded yourself. YouTubeās own offline feature only works inside its app, so a desktop downloader is the next step for many people.
This guide walks through downloading YouTube videos with 4K Video Downloader Plus on Windows, macOS, or Linux. It covers single videos, quality and format choices, subtitles, and whole playlists, plus what YouTubeās rules actually allow.
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What Youāll Need
- A computer running Windows 11, macOS 12 or newer, or Ubuntu 22.04 64-bit (GNOME only) or newer. Thereās also a separate Android app.
- The link to the YouTube video, playlist, or channel you want to save.
- Free disk space. 4K and 8K files are much larger than 1080p copies, so check your drive before grabbing long videos.
- Permission to download the content. See the legality section below before you start.
How to Download a YouTube Video With 4K Video Downloader Plus
The basic workflow takes four actions: copy a link, paste it into the app, choose your settings, and click Download. Hereās each step in detail.
Step 1: Install 4K Video Downloader Plus
Download 4K Video Downloader Plus from the developerās official site and run the installer for your operating system.
Stick to the official download page rather than third-party mirrors, which sometimes bundle extra software. If you decide the app isnāt for you later, you can remove it like any other program: through Uninstall a program in Control Panel on Windows, by dragging it to the Trash on a Mac, or through your software manager on Ubuntu.
Step 2: Copy the YouTube Video Link
Open the video on YouTube in your browser and copy the URL from the address bar. Right-click the address and pick Copy, or select it and press Ctrl + C (Cmd + C on a Mac).
The same works for a playlist or a channel page. Youāll see how to handle those in Step 6.
Step 3: Paste the Link Into the App
Launch 4K Video Downloader Plus and click the green Paste Link button in the top-left corner. The app picks up the link you copied and loads the videoās details.
Prefer not to switch windows? The app also has a built-in browser. Click the YouTube icon in the main window, find the video there, and download it without leaving the app.
Step 4: Choose the Format and Quality
A Download Video dialog opens. Work through it from top to bottom:
- Download: Leave this on Video to save the full video, or switch to audio if you only want the soundtrack. Audio can be saved as MP3, M4A, or OGG.
- Container: Choose MP4 or MKV. MP4 plays almost anywhere, while the developer recommends MKV for longer, high-quality videos. Our MKV vs. MP4 comparison explains the trade-offs.
- Quality: Pick a resolution from the list. Depending on the video, options range from 720p and 1080p up to 4K and 8K, and each row shows the estimated file size.
- Output folder: Click the folder icon at the bottom of the dialog to choose where the file will be saved.
Youāll only see resolutions that the uploader actually provided. A video uploaded in 1080p wonāt appear as a 4K option, and thatās normal. The dialog also has Codec and Frame Rate menus; leaving them on their defaults is fine for most people. If codec names like AV1 and H.264 are new to you, see our guide to common video formats and codecs.
Step 5: Add Subtitles (Optional)
If the video has captions, open the Subtitles menu in the same dialog and pick one or more languages from the list. The app saves them as SRT files, a common subtitle format most video players can load.
According to the developer, you can choose from more than 50 subtitle languages, and you can grab subtitles for an entire playlist or channel, not just a single video.
Step 6: Download a Whole Playlist or Channel (Optional)
To save a full playlist, copy the playlistās URL instead of a single videoās and click Paste Link. The app asks what you want to do:
- Download the Video saves only the video in the link.
- Download the Playlist saves every video in the playlist with the format and quality you choose.
- Subscribe to the Playlist downloads videos as theyāre added to the playlist.
Channels work the same way. You can also save your Watch Later and Liked videos lists, along with private playlists you have access to, after signing in to your YouTube account inside the app. Note that downloading private content requires a paid license.
Step 7: Start the Download
Click the green Download button and wait for the download to finish. The file is saved to the folder you picked in Step 4.
Open the file in any media player. If your current player struggles with high-resolution files, try one from our list of the best video players for Windows 11.
Save Time With Smart Mode
If you usually download in the same format, turn on Smart Mode. Click the light bulb icon in the toolbar at the top of the app and set your preferred format, quality, subtitles, and destination folder once.
After that, every link you paste downloads straight away with those settings, with no dialog to click through. Thatās handy when youāre saving several videos in a row.
Is 4K Video Downloader Plus Free?
Thereās a permanent free version, called Starter, that covers basic features with limits on how much you can download. It doesnāt require a card or a trial period. New users can also try the premium features free for 7 days.
At the time of writing, the product page lists these paid licenses:
- Lite: $15 per year, for personal use.
- Personal: $25 one-time, for personal use.
- Pro: $45 one-time (listed down from $60), which adds all features and a commercial use permit.
Prices can change, so check the product page for current pricing before you buy.
Is It Legal to Download YouTube Videos?
This is the part most download guides skip. YouTubeās Terms of Service donāt allow you to download content unless YouTube shows a download button or link for it, or you have permission from YouTube and the rights holder. Copyright law also applies, and it varies by country.
In practice, keep your downloads to these safe cases:
- Videos you uploaded yourself.
- Videos the creator has released under a Creative Commons license, or that are in the public domain.
- Videos you have the ownerās permission to save.
Even then, keep copies for personal, offline viewing. Donāt re-upload, sell, or share downloaded videos, and donāt use them in your own projects without the rights holderās permission.
If you just want to watch YouTube offline, the official option is YouTube Premium. It adds a download button inside YouTube itself. Those downloads stay inside YouTube, and you need to reconnect to the internet periodically to keep them available, but itās fully within YouTubeās rules.
Other Ways to Save YouTube Videos
4K Video Downloader Plus isnāt the only route. Other options include:
- Browser extensions that add a download button to video pages. Read reviews and permissions carefully, since some are pulled from stores or carry adware.
- Online converter websites. They need no install, but theyāre often covered in aggressive ads and fake download buttons.
- Open-source command-line tools. Theyāre powerful and free, but youāll need to be comfortable typing commands and updating the tool regularly.
- Screen recording. This works for short clips, but it records in real time and quality depends on your screen.
For most people who want a point-and-click app with quality, subtitle, and playlist options, a dedicated desktop downloader is the simplest choice.
FAQ
Can I download YouTube videos in 4K or 8K?
Yes, but only if the uploader published the video in that resolution. The quality list in the Download Video dialog shows exactly which resolutions are available for each video.
Can I download just the audio from a YouTube video?
Yes. Change Download from Video to audio in the Download Video dialog and choose MP3, M4A, or OGG.
Can it download private YouTube videos?
Only videos and playlists your account already has access to. You need to sign in to YouTube inside the app, and private downloads are a premium feature.
Does it work on a Mac or Linux?
Yes. The desktop app supports Windows 11, macOS 12 or newer, and Ubuntu 22.04 64-bit (GNOME only) or newer. Thereās a separate app for Android.
Is YouTube Premium a better option?
If you only need offline viewing and want to stay within YouTubeās rules, yes. Premium downloads stay inside YouTube, though, so you canāt move them to other devices or players.
Wrapping Up
Downloading a YouTube video with 4K Video Downloader Plus comes down to copying a link, clicking Paste Link, choosing a format and quality, and clicking Download. Subtitles, playlists, and Smart Mode are there when you need more.
Just keep it legal: download your own videos, openly licensed content, or videos you have permission to save, and use YouTube Premium when you simply want to watch offline.
