Yes, it is possible to export your YouTube playlists. YouTube provides a couple different options that allow you to download or export your YouTube playlists.
Using YouTube Playlist Downloader Websites
One of the easiest ways to export your YouTube playlists is by using a third party YouTube playlist downloader website. These sites allow you to simply enter the URL of your YouTube playlist and then download the playlist as a zip file containing all the videos in MP4 format.
Some of the most popular YouTube playlist downloader sites include:
- YTMP3.cc
- PlaylistConverter.net
- PlaylistDump.com
- TubeNinja.net
These sites provide a quick and easy way to export your full YouTube playlists. Just copy the playlist URL from YouTube, paste it into one of these sites, and click download. You’ll get a zip file with all the videos from your playlist downloaded to your computer.
The advantages of using these YouTube playlist downloader sites include:
- Very fast and easy to use – just copy and paste the playlist URL
- Downloads all videos in playlist quickly
- Automatically converts videos to MP4 format
- Allows downloading full playlists with unlimited number of videos
The downsides are:
- Quality limited to 720p HD
- Requires downloading software or extensions
- Too many downloads can be demanding on your computer
Overall these YouTube playlist downloader sites provide a quick and convenient way to export and download your YouTube playlists to watch offline.
Using YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium subscribers can download full YouTube playlists on their mobile devices using the YouTube mobile apps. This provides an easy way to export and watch YouTube playlists offline if you are a paid YouTube Premium member.
To download a YouTube playlist using YouTube Premium:
- Open the YouTube app on your iPhone, Android, or tablet.
- Tap on the playlist you want to download.
- Tap the download icon next to the playlist title.
- Select “Download” to download all videos in the playlist.
This will download the full playlist to your device’s storage so you can access it offline. The advantages of using YouTube Premium playlist downloads include:
- Easy one-click download right from the YouTube app
- Syncs across devices – access downloads on phone, tablet, etc.
- Unlimited downloads
- High quality HD formats up to 1080p
- Works offline – no internet required
The only real downside is that you have to pay for a YouTube Premium subscription. But for frequent YouTube viewers it can be worth it for the convenience of offline playlist viewing.
Using VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player provides a simple way to export and download YouTube playlists on your desktop computer. VLC is a free, open-source video player available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
To use VLC to download a YouTube playlist:
- Install VLC Media Player on your computer.
- Open VLC and click Media > Open Network Stream.
- Paste your YouTube playlist URL into the box.
- Click Play to start playing the playlist.
- Under Tools, click Codec Information to see available download links.
- Right-click each link and save the videos to download them.
VLC grabs each video from your YouTube playlist and allows you to export and save them individually right from the player. The advantages of using VLC include:
- Totally free and open source
- Works on any desktop operating system
- Doesn’t require any browser extensions or software
- Allows downloading videos in original quality
Downsides are that it can be a bit slow, and requires manually exporting each video file. But overall VLC provides an easy zero-cost way to export YouTube playlists.
Using Browser Extensions
There are various browser extensions available that allow exporting and downloading YouTube playlists right from your web browser. These work by integrating download options right into YouTube.
Some top options include:
- Video DownloadHelper (Chrome)
- Easy YouTube Video Downloader Express (Chrome)
- YouTube Playlist Downloader (Firefox)
To use these extensions to export a YouTube playlist:
- Install extension on Chrome or Firefox.
- Go to the YouTube playlist URL
- Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar.
- Select to download the full playlist.
The extensions will detect the playlist and provide an option to download all videos with just a couple clicks. The advantages of using a browser extension include:
- Seamless YouTube integration
- Very fast and easy downloading
- Quality options up to 4K
- Wide format support
Potential downsides are that they require installing extra software, and some limit the number of videos you can download.
Using YouTube Studio
Uploading YouTube creators can download their own playlists through YouTube Studio. This allows channels to export their own playlist videos.
To use YouTube Studio to download a playlist:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio
- Go to Playlists and select your playlist
- Click Export at the top
- Select to download the videos
YouTube Studio provides full quality downloads and maintains your video metadata. However, it only works for your own uploaded videos. You cannot use it to export other channels’ playlists.
The advantages of YouTube Studio include:
- Original quality downloads
- Keeps video metadata intact
- Easy migration to other platforms
The only real downside is it only works for your own uploaded playlists.
Other Methods
There are a couple other ways to export YouTube playlists as well:
- YouTube Music – Paid YouTube Music subscribers can download mixes and playlists for offline listening in the mobile app.
- YouTube API – Developers can use the YouTube API to programmatically extract playlist content.
- Online Converters – Sites like YTConverter.io allow pasting playlist links to download.
- Desktop Apps – Programs like 4K Video Downloader can download entire YouTube playlists.
These provide additional options for specific use cases. However, the methods listed earlier are generally the easiest ways for everyday users to export their YouTube playlists.
Factors to Consider
When looking to export and download a YouTube playlist, here are some factors to consider:
- Cost – Some options like YouTube Premium require a paid subscription.
- Devices – Make sure the tool supports your computer OS or mobile device.
- Video Quality – Check if you can download HD, 4K, or only lower quality.
- Number of Videos – Some options limit how many videos you can download.
- Playlist Privacy – Private or unlisted playlists may not download correctly.
Evaluate your specific needs in terms of these factors when choosing the best playlist export option.
Conclusion
Exporting YouTube playlists for offline viewing, backup, or transfer is easy with the range of tools available. YouTube playlist downloader sites offer a fast browser-based option. YouTube Premium and VLC allow exporting right from the mobile and desktop apps. Browser extensions integrate downloads into YouTube directly. And YouTube Studio enables you to download your own channel’s playlists in original quality. Consider which factors like cost, device support, and video format are most important to choose the best playlist export method for your specific needs.
