May 30, 2008 in Popular, Video | 51 Comments
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Most of us like to watch YouTube, right? (Hope so). And it's surprisingly simple and easy to download those YouTube videos. Do you want to know? Follow next three steps.
Step 1. Open YouTube
No need further explanation for this step. But only need to remember this: use Safari!
Step 2. Open Activity Window
To open activity window, you can use either keystrokes Command-Option-A or paths Safari: Window ▸ Activity.
Look at activity from YouTube.com and then search for the biggest file size which is obviously the video file. Found it already? Try to double-click it.
Step 3. Renaming to FLV
Soon you will realize that a file named get_video is downloaded. This is the YouTube video you want to download. Rename it to something.flv (you can replace something with anything).
Finally, you got the video file. Open it with FLV Player to watch the video.
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51 Comments
macuser
Use this bookmarklet: javascript:if%20(document.getElementById('download-youtube-video')==null%20&&%20!!(document.location.href.match(/http:\/\/[a-zA-Z\.]*youtube\.com\/watch/)))%20{var%20yt_mp4_path='http://www.youtube.com/get_video?fmt=18&video_id='+swfArgs['video_id']+'&t='+swfArgs['t'];%20var%20div_embed=document.getElementById('watch-embed-div');div_embed.innerHTML=div_embed.innerHTML+'%3Cbr%20/%3E%20%3Cspan%20id=\'download-youtube-video\'%3E%3Ca%20href=\''+yt_mp4_path+'\'%3EDownload%20as%20MP4%3C/a%3E%20(right-click%20and%20select%20%3Ci%3ESave%20'+%20(navigator.appName=='Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer'?'target':'link')%20+'%20as%3C/i%3E)%3C/span%3E';}void(0); Should be one line. A new link will appear to the left of the YouTube video, which lets you download the vid in mp4. Have a great weekend!
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Richard
Awesome tip!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried doing this with Youtube Sock but it was only a demo. This is much better!
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Andrew
You can also use an application called isquint. its free and only 5.5MB. all you do is drag the file download thats on your desktop or in a folder into the isquint window and there you go!
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Evan
That's a great tip, thanks! Much easier than downloading YouTube videos on Windows.
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kelly
wow cool!
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Mark B
macuser: I don't understand how to use your script as a "bookmarklet" Can you give me a tep-by-step of what to do?
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TiBo
This tip works for quite every multimedia content on any website : Dailymotion, Myspace for MP3s, etc...
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macuser
@ Mark B: Ooops, sorry, I was offline but now you have this: http://www.usingmac.com/2008/6/1/bookmarklets-for-mac-safari :-)
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nomi
I tried to do this and it kept coming up with forbidden, in downloads and in speed download.... any suggestions?
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Wendy <Webmaster>
Most probably your access has been blocked by the source of the video. Is there any problem in download any other youtube videos?
If you really want to download that video, you can try the bookmarklet (simple javascript) suggested by macuser on the #1 comment above.
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fdg
how do you change it to a .flv file
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Wendy <Webmaster>
Rename a file and put .flv extension, it will be converted :D
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???
When i click on the one i want it doesn't download it goes and refresh youtube on the video
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steveking
YouTubeRobot.com today announces YouTube Robot 2.0, a tool that enables you to download video from YouTube.com onto your PC, convert it to various formats to watch it when you are on the road on mobile devices like mobile phone, iPod, iPhone, Pocket PC, PSP, or Zune. YouTube Robot allows you to search for videos using keywords or browse video by category, author, channel, language, tags, etc. When you find something noteworthy, you can preview the video right in YouTube Robot and then download it onto the hard disk drive. The speed, at which you will be downloading, is very high: up to 5 times faster than other software when you download a single file and up to 4 times faster when you download multiple files at a time. Manual download is not the only option with YouTube Robot. You may as well schedule the download and conversion tasks to be executed automatically, even when you are not around. Downloading is followed by conversion to the format of your choice and uploading videos to a mobile device (if needed). For example, you can plug in iPod, select the video, go to bed, and when you wake up next morning, your iPod will be ready to play new YouTube videos. Product page: ww w.youtuberobot.com Direct download link: w ww.youtuberobot.com/download/utuberobot.exe web-site: ww w.youtuberobot.com E-mail: support@youtuberobot.com
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Bi11
WinAVI FLV converter does better then youTubeRobot. The convert is much more faster.
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^ () ^
Can you get safari to work on youtube without having to download anything?
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leah
once you change it to .flv, what do you use to open it? i ried quicktime but that didnt work.
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nita
great tip! tried it out, works very well. Thank you
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wft
try zamzar.com it takes a much longer time than the javascript but you can choose what format you want (also converts files so click on download video option) ;)
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Heléne
AWESOME!!!!!
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rafael reynoso
thanks! these tip was very useful....
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download youtube video
nice article thanks.
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karolr41
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! YOU SAVED MY DAY!!!! IS EASIER THAN DOWNLOADING THEM ON WINDOW!!!!! THANK YOU!!!
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Patrick94FR
I use VLC to watch videos from youtube now! Simply drag severals url or link from safari into the vlc icon in the dock. Play it. Save your favorites videos in playlists! Another great app is MacTubes…
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Tumified
God bless you. this is very helpful.
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scofy
i recommend this free youtube downloader for mac tool
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zaq
Excellent tip! Works great most of the time ... however, if the video I want to download is encoded as .mp4, then when I double-click from the activity window it takes me to the .mp4 file, but it's playing in quicktime and I can't select "Save As" unless I have Quicktime Pro. Is there any way around this? How do I save a .mp4 file?
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Matt
There is a cool free YouTube Downloader for Mac. This Free Online Video Downloader for Mac is developed by Wondershare. It can download online video automatically from all popular websites, such as YouTube, Yahoo, Google Video, Break, Metacafe, MySpace, Gofish. Youku, 56, Tudou, etc. This downloader sniff online video real address by analysing video data packet. It's the best online video downloader I used ever.
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youtubeluvr
OH MY GOSH! THIS IS A LIFE SAVER! THANKS
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maccolar
Nice guide, it works pretty well for me. I found a guide about how to do that job with free online converter, and here is a guide about it http://www.mac-dvd.com/mac-guide/how-to-download-youtube-video-on-mac-for-free.html
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sehire
Thanks Matt, I used the [ free YouTube Downloader for Mac] that you recommend. So easy tool for a computer newbie.
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Enter Your Name
You may try www.zamzar.com , it's a nice free online video converter that works for both windows and mac, and here is a guide about how to use it http://www.mac-dvd.com/mac-guide/how-to-download-youtube-video-on-mac-for-free.html
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n3
You may try www.zamzar.com , it's a nice free online video converter that works for both windows and mac, and here is a guide about how to use it http://www.mac-dvd.com/mac-guide/how-to-download-youtube-video-on-mac-for-free.html
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pame
http://startube.mobi is the site where we can search and download YOUTUBE videos without softwares (NO SOFTWARE NEEDED) just a click you can download it to your MOBILE PHONE, iPHONE and PC in the formats u like...
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Sunshine
Yes, I have used Free YouTube Downloader for Mac as Matt said.It is cool ,and I also want to convert the videos from YouTube to my iPod. I found a nice Video Converter for Mac from Google:It help me convert my favourite videos to my iPod.
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Sunshine
Yes, I have used Free YouTube Downloader for Mac as Matt said.It is cool ,and I also want to convert the videos from YouTube to my iPod. I found a nice Video Converter for Mac from Google:It help me convert my favourite videos to my iPod.
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moonwalker
See here: Watch YouTube videos with QuickTime http://codesnippets.joyent.com/posts/show/1875
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Morpheus
NICE NICE NICE NICE .......................! Great Tip
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Scarborough
I must be a moron, but every time I download a video, I get just a page full of code. Each time, I locate the largest file and double click and then it just downloads the code. Any suggestions?
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mrpop
Just try: playurl 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfER3jhUC2E' see: http://codesnippets.joyent.com/posts/show/1896
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Carl
MacUser: Should I put the "bookmarklet" into the browser window? That doesn't work for me. This one I mean: javascript:if%20(document.getElementById('download-youtube-video')==null%20&&%20!!(document.location.href.match(/http:\/\/[a-zA-Z\.]*youtube\.com\/watch/)))%20{var%20yt_mp4_path='http://www.youtube.com/get_video?fmt=18&video_id='+swfArgs['video_id']+'&t='+swfArgs['t'];%20var%20div_embed=document.getElementById('watch-embed-div');div_embed.innerHTML=div_embed.innerHTML+'%3Cbr%20/%3E%20%3Cspan%20id=\'download-youtube-video\'%3E%3Ca%20href=\''+yt_mp4_path+'\'%3EDownload%20as%20MP4%3C/a%3E%20(right-click%20and%20select%20%3Ci%3ESave%20'+%20(navigator.appName=='Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer'?'target':'link')%20+'%20as%3C/i%3E)%3C/span%3E';}void(0
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Wendy <Webmaster>
Let me clarify this, you can save bookmarklet by dropping it to either bookmarks menu or bookmarks bar so that you can use it anytime you want. Simply drop/save this link to your bookmarks.
When you want to download YouTube video, just click this link to open bookmarklet (and then the script written inside will be executed).
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jeffcard
Nice guide, it works pretty well for me, I'd also recommend this free mac youtube downloader, it can help you download youtube video to mac for free.
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somebody
Me too! What's up with that?!
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Denise
Can someone help me? I am trying to do the free download from u tube to my Mac Book. I tried to download and change the name but don't seem to have a FLV player. Help
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MoonRiver
If you want to convert Youtube Videos to DVD for a saving on Mac,just follow this cool guide about : "How to burn YouTube Videos to DVD on Mac"
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he who must not be named
this is amazing it is so much better than get tube and other programs ive used this is another point for mac being better than windows! all Hail the MIGHTY MACINTOSH!!!!!
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wnry
Direct download youtube video here http://www.dooclip.net
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Santos23
Hi. I use www.vid2pc.com - simple and good
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John Smt
Hi. I use www.vid2pc.com Very fast and simple.
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Pmills
I am a barely computer literate dad helping his daughter w/ school project., so bear with me.... We have an IMAC. Can the downloaded MP4 be put on a thumbdrive or CD ROM or DVD and then played on a MAC at her school????
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