Can't Download YouTube Videos Anymore? How to Fix

Is It Legal to Download YouTube Videos?

The authorized and legal way to download YouTube videos is through YouTube Premium's offline feature or when YouTube explicitly provides a download button for certain videos (PS: Creators can download their own videos via YouTube Studio). Apart from these methods, YouTube's Terms of Service prohibit video downloading by any other means. YouTube Premium subscribers can download videos for personal use. Sharing or redistributing these downloaded videos outside the app is not allowed. Once you download videos with YouTube Premium, these downloads are stored temporarily within the app itself and cannot be accessed as separate files on your device's storage. Additionally, these downloaded videos expire after up to 29 days. After expiration, they are automatically removed from your device.

Downloading videos using third-party tools without permission violates copyright law and YouTube's policies, which can lead to account suspension or legal consequences. Downloading is only allowed if you have explicit permission from the copyright holder or if you use it qualifies as fair use, such as for education or commentary. To stay fully compliant, it's best to get written permission, use downloads for personal use, and respect copyright laws.

Why Can't You Download Videos from YouTube Anymore

After understanding the legal considerations, it's time to learn why you are unable to download YouTube videos. We have divided this issue into two perspectives: for Premium users and third-party downloader users.

For YouTube Premium Users:

• Your subscription is not active or has expired.
• YouTube Premium allows downloads on up to 10 devices at the same time. You cannot download on additional devices until the limit resets.
• You have moved to a location where YouTube Premium is not available.
• The download quality is set too high, or you have set restrictions like 'Wi-Fi only.'
• You do not have sufficient device storage to download the file successfully.
• Some videos cannot be downloaded due to the creator's settings or copyright restrictions.
• App cache or network issues can cause download failures.

For Third-party Downloader Users:

• As said above, YouTube's Terms of Service prohibit downloading via unauthorized methods, which leads to frequent blocking or failure of these services.
• YouTube regularly updates its services and security measures to prevent third-party downloaders from accessing content.
• Some videos are DRM-protected, which prevents downloading.
• Unstable or poor network errors during download attempts can cause failures.
• Videos may be region-restricted or removed, making it impossible to save locally.
• Your YouTube downloader is not updated.

How to Fix YouTube Video Not Downloading - Common Fixes

If you can't download YouTube videos, several common fixes can help you solve the issue. Whether the problem stems from app glitches, network issues, subscription status, or device limitations, understanding these causes can help you quickly identify the right fix. Before getting frustrated, it's worth trying the following fixes.

Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if that helps. Restart your router if needed to refresh the connection.

Sign in to an Active YouTube Premium Account: Open the YouTube app, tap your profile, go to Purchases and memberships, and confirm your Premium subscription is active. If it has expired, renew it via youtube.com/premium.

Restart Your Device: Power off your phone or tablet completely, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on to clear temporary glitches affecting downloads.

Update the YouTube App: On your device's app store (Google Play or Apple App Store), search for YouTube and tap Update if available. Using the latest version fixes bugs that may block downloads.

Clear App Cache and Data:  

• On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage & cache, then tap Clear cache and Clear storage/data.
• On iOS: Uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app to clear cached data.

Check your location: If YouTube Premium is not available in your location, you cannot save videos from YouTube directly. Check the YouTube Premium memberships available locations.

Check Device Storage: Open your device's Settings > Storage to see available space. Delete unused apps or files if storage is low, or enable 'Use SD card' in YouTube settings if your device supports it.

Adjust Download Settings: Go to Settings> Background & downloads. Switch off the Download over Wi-Fi only.

Try to Download Another Video: Sometimes, specific videos have restrictions. Attempt to download another video to see if the problem is video-specific.

Reinstall the YouTube App: Uninstall the app from your device, then download and install it again from the app store. This resets the app and fixes corrupted files, causing download failures.

How to Download Videos with Safe YouTube Video Downloaders

After exploring the common fixes for YouTube video downloading issues, if you still can't download YouTube videos, it's helpful to consider alternative methods for saving YouTube content. There are several effective tools beyond the official YouTube app that can help you download videos directly to your device.

From a legal standpoint, downloading copyrighted content without permission violates YouTube's terms of service and copyright laws. Before downloading videos from YouTube, ensure you get permission first and use the downloaded content for personal use.

Top 1. Safe & Reliable Desktop Software

EaseUS Video Downloader, the video downloader for PC, works well for downloading video and audio files from YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. As a video downloader, it can:

• Download videos from YouTube and other popular sites, including Vimeo, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
• Download Videos from websites to your computer.
• Download online audio files using a URL.
• Download YouTube videos to MP3 directly.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Video Downloader on your PC. Go to "General" > "Download" to select the output format and press "Quality" for the resolution.

Step 2. Copy and paste the URL of the video you want to download and click "Paste Link" to proceed.

Step 3. After the downloading process finishes, you can check the downloaded video in the option "Finished."

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for personal use. EaseUS is in no way collaborated or affiliated with the video-sharing site and will never approve any copyright infringement action. The end-user should be solely responsible for their behavior.

Top 2. Online Video Downloaders

Here are some popular online video downloaders you can use to save YouTube videos locally.

• Y2Mate: a simple online YouTube video downloader that allows you to download YouTube videos to your computer in different resolutions, ranging from 144p to 1080p.
• SaveFrom.net: A widely used web-based downloader that lets you paste video URLs and download videos quickly in various qualities.
• KeepVid: A trusted tool available as both an online downloader and software, supporting downloads from 1000+ websites with a simple interface.
• SnapDownloader: Supports over 900 websites, batch downloads, and up to 8K resolution with fast speeds. Available for Windows and Mac.

Top 3. Browser Extensions

Here are some popular and reliable browser extensions that make downloading YouTube videos easy and convenient.

• Addoncrop YouTube Video Downloader: This extension adds a download button directly below YouTube videos, allowing you to save videos in multiple formats and resolutions, including 4K and 8K.
• Video DownloadHelper: This extension for Firefox detects downloadable videos on numerous websites, including YouTube. (This extension for Chrome does not work with YouTube videos.)
• Video Downloader PLUS: Compatible with Chrome, this extension can detect and download multiple video formats from almost any website.

The Bottom Line

If you can't download YouTube videos, fortunately, a variety of troubleshooting fixes and alternative ways to download YouTube videos successfully. However, it's important to stay mindful of legal considerations and potential security risks when using third-party tools. By choosing reputable downloaders and following best practices, you can safely and successfully enjoy your favorite YouTube content offline anytime, anywhere.

FAQs

1. Why is the YouTube downloader not working?

Maybe you have entered the wrong YouTube video URL. The video restrictions, such as copyright protection, age-restricted, or geo-blocked videos, can prevent you from downloading.

2. How do I enable YouTube to download videos?

Sign in to your premium account and follow the steps below: Go to your profile picture > Downloads > Settings > Smart Downloads. Toggle on the option of Smart Downloads.

3. Why does my YouTube downloader keep saying failed?

YouTube downloader keeps saying failed due to several common issues:

• Unstable or poor internet connection
• Outdated downloader software
• Incorrect or invalid YouTube video URL
• Conflicts with antivirus or browser extensions