How to Download Long YouTube Video on PC/Mac

YouTube hosts a wide range of long videos, from gaming livestreams to event streams and interviews. But how can you efficiently download lengthy YouTube videos on your Windows PC or MacBook/iMac?

Of course, you can! This article will clear up any confusion, and guide you on how to easily download long YouTube videos on both PC and Mac while maintaining quality even without a YouTube Video Premium. Let’s get started!

Part 1. Download Long YouTube Videos for Free 🔥

Most YouTube videos require a YouTube Premium to watch offline. If you don’t want to pay for a subscription or yours has expired, this section introduces 2 methods of downloading long videos from YouTube for free.

Use Desktop YouTube Downloader

Considering the time and process involved in downloading long YouTube videos, we believe the best option is to use the professional tool TuneFab VideoOne YouTube Downloader. This software combines stability, convenience, and high quality. It has embedded web players for platforms like YouTube. So, you can browse YouTube directly and easily add videos to your download list for batch downloading.

Unlike some downloaders that may compromise video and audio quality during download, TuneFab can preserve the original quality, and even support downloading YouTube live videos in 4K resolution. That’s why it is often considered by users as the best long YouTube video downloader. With TuneFab VideoOne YouTube Downloader, you can download YouTube videos for free and keep them forever.

Now, let’s see how to quickly download long YouTube videos using TuneFab VideoOne YouTube Downloader:

Step 1. Download and install TuneFab VideoOne Downloader, then run it. On the main page, you’ll see logos for four streaming platforms. Select the “YouTube service”.

Step 2. You will need to log in to your YouTube account using the embedded web player. Then, use the URL or keyword to search for any type of YouTube video you want.

Step 3. While browsing the videos you wish to download. Select the video and either click the red “+” icon or drag the video to the designated area to add it to the conversion list.

Step 4. Before starting the download, click the arrow next to “Convert all files to” in the upper-right corner to choose your preferred export format.

Step 5: Finally, click “Convert All” in the lower-right corner to download all the selected long YouTube videos to your computer in one go.

Use Online YouTube Downloader

Besides desktop downloaders like TuneFab VideoOne, you can also use the online downloader YT1D YouTube Downloader to free download YouTube long videos. This online tool works on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows as long as you have an internet connection. It supports downloading YouTube videos in MP4, WEBM, WMV, and 3GP, with video quality ranging from HD to 1080P.

However, like most free online downloaders, YT1D YouTube Downloader has some drawbacks in video parsing and often fails to download. Additionally, its download speed is relatively slow, which is not very friendly if you have various long videos to download at a time.

Step 1. Navigate to the YouTube website and locate the video you wish to download. Click on the “Share” button below the video and then select “Copy”.

Step 2. Proceed to the YT1D YouTube Downloader page and paste the copied YouTube link into the search box. Click on “Start”.

Step 3. After the platform has parsed the link, you will see various download options available in different formats and qualities. Choose the one that suits your needs and click “Download” to initiate the download process.

Part 2. Download Long YouTube Video with Premium

If you have a YouTube Premium subscription, then naturally, using the YouTube app on your computer or mobile device to download long videos is the best option. This way, you don’t need to download third-party software or endure the slow download speeds of online downloaders.

However, downloading videos from the official platform also comes with several limitations. Videos downloaded on YouTube are only saved for 29 days by default, after which they must be re-downloaded. Additionally, these videos are protected and can only be watched within the YouTube app. You’re unable to access them on other devices or players. Furthermore, purchased movies and YouTube Shorts are also not available for download.

If you don’t mind these limitations of the YouTube platform, follow the steps below to download long videos via the YouTube website or app.

Step 1: Log in to your YouTube Premium account on the YouTube website or app.

Step 2: Choose the video you want to download. Find the “Download” button below the video and click it.

Step 3: Once the download is complete, you can find it under the “Downloads” tab on the left side.

Part 3. FAQs About Downloading Long YouTube Video

Can I Save Long YouTube Videos on Android/iPhone?

Yes, if you have a YouTube Premium subscription, you can directly download and save long videos using the YouTube app on your mobile device. Without a Premium subscription, you can use TuneFab Video Downloader or online tools to download videos to your computer first, then transfer them to your Android or iPhone for offline viewing. This method ensures that the downloaded videos are permanently saved on your device without restrictions.

Why Can’t I Save YouTube Video Longer Than Hours?

There are several reasons you might be unable to download YouTube videos exceeding a certain duration. First, the video could be a live stream, a private video, or a copyrighted video, which may not be downloadable without the creator’s permission. Additionally, your region might not support downloading such videos. If you have a subscription, check if your membership has expired or if there are other restrictions on your account.

Final Words

YouTube offers a vast collection of content, and in this article, we’ve covered how to download long videos with and without a YouTube Premium subscription. We highly recommend TuneFab VideoOne YouTube Downloader for its ease of use, ability to preserve original video and audio quality, and the option to save videos permanently. Though it requires additional software, it’s a reliable solution for all your YouTube download needs—well worth a try!