How to Download YouTube Movies in HD Quality [Full Guide]
By Gisela Werber
Updated on Oct 12, 2024
52.5K views
5min read
Downloading YouTube movies, especially those purchased or rented, is more challenging than typical videos due to added protections. To download full-length HD-quality YouTube movies, you need the right tools and methods to enhance efficiency.
In this guide, we’ll introduce two main methods: downloading purchased/rented YouTube movies on mobile devices and downloading any YouTube movies for free on a computer. We’ll also address important FAQs and legal considerations surrounding online movie downloads. Keep reading to get started!
Method 1. Download Purchased/Rented YouTube Movie
If you’ve purchased or rented movies on YouTube, the official app is your best option for downloading. Below is a guide covering everything from buying or renting to downloading on YouTube.
Keep in mind that while you can purchase or rent movies on both a computer and mobile device, downloading is limited to mobile devices running iOS 11+ or Android 16.23+. Rented movies must be watched within 30 days, and higher-resolution movies may cost more. UHD versions are not available for download.
The steps below will explain how to achieve a movie download from YouTube.
Step 1. Go to the homepage of the YouTube website and input the name of the movie you want to buy/rent. You’re suggested to click the “Filter > Movie” for a more accurate match of the results.
Step 2. You’ll see the “Buy/Rent” option next to each title. Click it, choose the option you want to go on with, and proceed with the payment as instructed.
Step 3. You can find all the purchased content on your mobile device by launching the YouTube app and tapping “Profile icon > Your movies > Purchased”. Then, select the title you want to download, tap the “Download” button to choose the video quality, and confirm your download.
Tip: If provided, you can also download YouTube subtitles (/blog/download-youtube-subtitles.html) in multiple languages.
Method 2. Download Movies from YouTube for Free 🔥
As there are so many restrictions to downloading purchased/rented movies, you may ask: “Is there any method to download YouTube videos for free, including movies?” Definitely yes. We are here to introduce the second method to download YouTube movies on your computer.
First, let’s get to know the tool we’ll employ: TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader. It is the best YouTube movie downloader to elevate your downloading experience. With it, you can effortlessly obtain almost all kinds of YouTube videos including singles, playlists, channels, and shorts to your computer (Windows & macOS), whether they are long or short in length, unlisted or age-restricted.
Key Features of TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader:
- An embedded web player for easy search and a simplified downloading process
- Download any YouTube video including movies, playlists, channels, and shorts to MP4/MKV/MOV
- Save YouTube videos with up to UHD 4K resolution without a subscription to YouTube Premium
- Retain original audio and subtitles with multilingual options for immersive offline watching
- Offer 3 options for subtitle downloading: soft, hard, or external
Below you will find step-by-step instructions for getting high-quality HD YouTube videos with TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader.
Step 1. Download, install, and launch TuneFab VideOne Downloader on your device (Windows/macOS). To proceed, please select the “YouTube” icon and log into the web player with your YouTube account.
Step 2. Input the name of the movie you want to download. You can also copy & paste the URL of the movie for a more accurate match.
Step 3. Go to the movie’s detail page and click the big red floating “+” button to add it to the queue. As TuneFab VideOne supports batch downloading, you can add several videos at one time.
Step 4. Customize the output parameters. First, select the video format from the dropdown menu “Convert all files to” in the top right corner. Then, click the settings button to customize video quality, languages for audio/subtitles, and more.
Step 5. Click the “Convert All” button and TuneFab VideoOne will download the added movies. You can check the download history by going to the “Finished” column (next to “Converting”). You can click “View Output File” next to each finished title to find the video files.
FAQs About How to Download Movies from YouTube
Can I Download YouTube Movies Online?
Unfortunately, no. While online tools perform well for downloading long YouTube videos, most fail when it comes to streaming movies, which are protected by encryption. It is too difficult for basic tools to bypass technical barriers. As a result, online tools frequently stop working or keep sending error messages due to parsing failures.
For a more reliable solution, professional desktop tools like TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader are highly recommended. Designed to download YouTube content, this tool stands out for its versatility. With it, you can effortlessly save all YouTube content including streaming movies to compatible MP4/MKV/MOV. The up to 4K HD resolution, original audio effects, and multilingual subtitles surely deliver theater-grade enjoyment at home.
Is It Legal to Download a Movie from YouTube?
It depends. Generally, downloading movies from YouTube without the copyright holder’s permission is illegal, as it violates YouTube’s terms of service and copyright laws.
However, there are exceptions. The case falls within fair use guidelines if you’re downloading content for non-commercial use and not redistributing it for profit. Therefore, it is legal to download YouTube videos for personal use.
Conclusion
Downloading YouTube movies for offline viewing is a convenient way to avoid buffering and enjoy content on the go. If you’ve purchased or rented a movie, you can safely download it through the YouTube app on your mobile device. However, limitations like device restrictions, lower resolutions, and video quality make this method less ideal.
For a more flexible solution, TuneFab VideOne YouTube Downloader is highly recommended. This desktop tool allows you to download YouTube movies in MP4, MKV, or MOV formats with up to 4K quality, giving you the freedom to watch offline on any device at any time. Try it now for a smooth viewing experience!