Can you download a whole playlist from youtube?

Yes, it is possible to download an entire YouTube playlist all at once. While YouTube does not offer a built-in way to download full playlists, there are several reliable third-party tools and browser extensions that can help you easily download all the videos in a playlist with just a few clicks.

Why Download a Full YouTube Playlist?

There are a few key reasons you may want to download a full playlist from YouTube:

• Watch offline – If you want to watch the videos without an internet connection, downloading them allows you to view them anytime, anywhere.
• Avoid losing access – Playlists can be changed or deleted by the owner at any time. Downloading means you’ll have permanent access to the videos.
• Save money on data – Watching videos online uses a lot of data. Downloading them once allows you to watch them repeatedly without using more data.
• Improve playback – You can enjoy smooth, uninterrupted playback by downloading videos instead of streaming them.

YouTube’s Policy on Downloading Videos

YouTube’s Terms of Service prohibit downloading videos from their platform. However, YouTube generally turns a blind eye to individual users downloading a reasonable number of videos for personal offline use. Just don’t share or distribute the downloaded videos publicly.

Methods to Download a Full YouTube Playlist

Here are some of the best and most popular tools to download entire YouTube playlists:

1. Downtube

Downtube is a free web-based tool that allows downloading unlimited YouTube videos and playlists. To use it:

1. Go to Downtube’s website and paste the playlist URL into the box.
2. Click “Download” and select MP4 as the format.
3. Click the download button next to each video to save them individually, or click “Download All” to get them all at once in a ZIP file.

Downtube is quick, easy to use, and can download HD quality videos. The only limitation is you have to download each video individually if you don’t want them in one big ZIP file.

2. 4K Video Downloader

4K Video Downloader is a popular free desktop application available for Windows, Mac and Linux. It offers premium paid versions, but the free version works great for downloading playlists. To use it:

1. Copy the playlist URL and click “Paste Link” in 4K Video Downloader.
2. Select the video quality you want to download.
3. Click the “Download” button and the entire playlist will be downloaded to your computer.

4K Video Downloader downloads playlists quickly, supports pausing/resuming downloads, and can even extract audio into MP3 format.

3. youtube-dl

youtube-dl is a free open source command line program that downloads videos and playlists from YouTube and over 1000 other sites. To use it:

1. Install youtube-dl following the instructions for your operating system.
2. Open a terminal/command prompt window and run: youtube-dl -f mp4
3. This will download the entire playlist in MP4 format to your current directory.

youtube-dl is fast and extremely versatile, but requires some technical know-how to install and use compared to graphical tools.

4. VideoProc

VideoProc is a paid desktop app for Windows and Mac. It provides an intuitive interface for downloading and converting YouTube video and playlists. To download a playlist:

1. Launch VideoProc, click the “YouTube” icon and paste in the playlist URL.
2. Select MP4 as the download format.
3. Check the videos you want to download, or click “Select All.”
4. Click “Download Selected” to save the videos to your computer.

VideoProc downloads quickly, allows downloading 4K videos, and has advanced video editing features – making it a good option for power users.

5. SaveFrom.net Helper Extension

SaveFrom.net Helper is a handy browser extension available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Edge. Once installed:

1. Go to the YouTube playlist page and click the extension’s icon.
2. Select MP4 as the video format.
3. Click “Download” – the full playlist will be downloaded to your computer.

As a browser extension, SaveFrom.net Helper is super quick and easy for downloading playlists. Just note it only downloads in one video quality.

Factors When Downloading Playlists

Here are some important factors to keep in mind when downloading full YouTube playlists:

• Video Quality – You can typically download playlists in 720p or 1080p HD quality. Higher video quality uses more storage space.
• File Size – A 1 hour playlist may easily be 5GB+ in HD. Make sure you have enough disk space.
• Download Speed – The time to download a full playlist also depends on your internet connection speed.
• Audio Only – If you just want the audio, most tools allow extracting just the audio track to MP3 format.

Alternatives to Downloading Full Playlists

While the tools covered above are great for downloading YouTube playlists, there are a couple alternatives worth mentioning:

YouTube Premium

A YouTube Premium subscription allows you to download individual videos to your mobile device for offline playback. This is an option if you only need a few videos from a playlist.

YouTube Music Premium

For audio-only playlists, YouTube Music Premium lets you download and listen offline. This saves storage space compared to video downloads.

Is Downloading YouTube Playlists Legal?

Technically downloading videos violates YouTube’s Terms of Service. However, copyright law permits downloading a copy for personal use. Just don’t share, upload or distribute the downloaded videos publicly.

Many artists and creators actually encourage downloading their YouTube videos to support their work. Just be sure to respect the copyright owner’s wishes.

In Conclusion

Downloading full YouTube playlists for personal offline playback is easy to do using the various free tools available. Just be mindful of video quality, file sizes, download speeds and copyright restrictions when saving playlists from YouTube.

The ability to download provides flexibility to fans and viewers. At the same time, responsible downloading helps support the artists and creators that put time into making great video content available on YouTube.