Yes, it is possible to download a YouTube playlist to your computer or mobile device. With the right tools and apps, you can save entire YouTube playlists for offline viewing or transfer them to other devices.
Why Download a YouTube Playlist?
There are several reasons you may want to download a YouTube playlist:
- Watch offline – Download playlists to view when you don’t have an internet connection.
- Save content – Playlists you love may get deleted or become unavailable over time. Downloading lets you preserve them.
- Manage storage – Streaming playlists takes up storage space on your device over time. Downloading allows you to free up space.
- Transfer to other devices – Move downloaded playlists from your computer to phone, tablet, TV, etc.
- Avoid ads – Get an ad-free viewing experience by downloading playlists.
- Listen to audio – Convert playlists to MP3 to listen to audio only versions.
Methods to Download a YouTube Playlist
There are a few different ways you can download a full YouTube playlist. Here are some of the main options:
1. Use a Free Online YouTube Downloader
This is often the quickest and easiest way to download a YouTube playlist. Online YouTube downloaders are web-based tools that allow you to paste in a playlist URL and download the videos.
Some popular free online YouTube playlist downloaders include:
The advantage of using an online downloader is it’s quick, easy, and you don’t need to install any software. The downside is you may be limited on download formats and video quality options.
2. Use a Desktop YouTube Downloader
Downloading and installing software on your computer is another option. Desktop YouTube downloaders usually offer more customizable download options than online tools.
Some top desktop YouTube playlist downloading software includes:
- 4K Video Downloader – Works on Windows and Mac.
- Freemake Video Downloader – For Windows.
- JDownloader – For Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Desktop software gives you more control over video formats, quality, subtitles, filenames, and more. The only real downside is having to install an application on your computer.
3. Use a YouTube Downloader Browser Extension
Browser extensions, or addons, offer another quick way to download YouTube playlists right from your web browser.
Some top options include:
- Video Downloader Professional – For Chrome
- YouTube Video and Audio Downloader – For Firefox
- YouTube Playlist Downloader – For Edge
The benefit of extensions is convenience – download playlists with just a click. The con is they often have limited features compared to standalone software.
4. Use a YouTube Downloading App
On mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, you can also find YouTube playlist downloader apps to use.
Top options for iOS include:
And top YouTube playlist downloader apps for Android:
The benefit of mobile apps is downloading playlists on the go. The downside is they often have ads, limited formats, and lack some features of desktop software.
How to Download a Full YouTube Playlist
Now that you know the main methods, let’s go through the general steps for how to download a full YouTube playlist using desktop software like 4K Video Downloader:
- Install and open the YouTube playlist downloading software on your computer.
- Copy the URL of the YouTube playlist you want to download.
- Paste the playlist URL into the software. It will usually detect and show all the videos in the playlist.
- Select the download format, video quality, and other options you want.
- Choose where you want to save the downloaded playlist.
- Click the “Download” button to start downloading the full YouTube playlist.
- The software will proceed to download every video in the playlist to the selected folder on your computer.
The process is very similar when using an online downloader, browser extension, or mobile app. You simply copy and paste the playlist URL, choose options, and click to download.
Important Tips for Downloading YouTube Playlists
Keep these tips in mind when downloading a full playlist from YouTube:
- Quality over quantity – Focus on playlists with videos you’ll actually watch vs just downloading huge playlists for the sake of it.
- Check video formats – Download videos in a format compatible with your devices like MP4.
- WiFi is better – Downloading playlists uses a lot of data, so use WiFi whenever possible.
- One by one – For very large playlists, download a few videos at a time vs all at once which can be slower.
- Tag and organize – Use a tool that lets you customize filenames and add metadata like descriptions.
- Back up – Keep downloaded playlists backed up on an external hard drive or cloud storage.
Is Downloading YouTube Playlists Legal?
There has been ongoing legal debate around downloading videos from YouTube. YouTube’s terms of service prohibit downloading to use their content outside the platform. However, many countries allow personal downloading of copyrighted material for private purposes under Fair Use exemptions.
It’s generally considered acceptable to download a YouTube playlist for your own offline viewing as long as you are:
- Not re-uploading or distributing the videos
- Not using the content commercially
- Downloading full videos vs audio only
However, technically any downloading does violate YouTube’s ToS. Many argue that given how commonplace downloading is, rights holders turn a blind eye so long as people don’t abuse or misuse content.
When in doubt, exercise caution and moderation when downloading YouTube playlists. Avoid sharing downloaded content publicly or using it in a way that may infringe on copyright.
Other Ways to Save YouTube Playlists
Beyond directly downloading, there are a couple other options for saving YouTube playlists:
YouTube Premium
A paid YouTube Premium subscription lets you download videos including full playlists for offline viewing on mobile devices. This gives you downloads directly within the YouTube app.
YouTube Playlist Bookmarks
You can use a bookmarking site or tool like Playlist Buddy to bookmark and organize playlists. This saves playlists online for anytime access vs downloading to your device.
Key Takeaways
Here are some top takeaways on downloading YouTube playlists:
- You can download entire YouTube playlists using free online tools, desktop software, browser extensions, or mobile apps.
- Reasons to download playlists include saving content, watching offline, avoiding ads, and transferring to other devices.
- Always use caution and moderation when downloading to avoid infringing on copyright.
- Focus on quality over quantity and organize your downloaded playlists.
- Alternatives like YouTube Premium allow saving playlists without direct downloads.
Overall, downloading gives you great options for managing your favorite YouTube playlists. With the right tools, you can build an offline collection of videos for anytime viewing and safekeeping.
