Is it illegal to download videos from YouTube?
Many users have asked online whether downloading videos from Youtube is illegal, either for listening to music or keeping the video on their computers and playing it offline. The answer is a clear yes.
Downloading videos from Youtube is illegal, although it often depends on the laws of your country. Downloading videos from this platform is prohibited by Google, so the company does not provide a tool for doing so. Additionally, Google has threatened legal action against websites that provide the ability to download videos from the platform.
Remember that Google wants content creators in the company to feel safe when uploading their content to Youtube, so it is the company’s responsibility to protect the intellectual property of YouTubers, artists, and all individuals who upload their videos to the Youtube platform.
For this reason, the only legal way to download a video on Youtube to watch it without an internet connection or use it to listen to music is to pay for the Youtube music or YouTube Premium services, as the video is protected and Youtube also grants permission to keep it on your device.
However, sharing content downloaded by YouTube Premium users is also prohibited. Therefore, those who pay for the subscription are banned from sharing downloaded content, so those who do so from third-party sites and use it for profit are actually committing an illegal act.
While many people download Youtube videos for personal use, such as enjoying content without an internet connection, using it for educational purposes, or for entertainment, this activity is still considered illegal because only the content owner is allowed to download the video.
Nevertheless, many users download Youtube videos daily for various reasons, and most of them do not face any legal issues as a result. However, this does not mean that you will not have any problems at any time, so everything you do will be at your own risk.