Converting YouTube videos to MP4 format provides tremendous advantages for permanently downloading and saving clips for enjoyment across all your devices – phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and more. The MP4 file container enjoys rich support and works smoothly even as software changes in the future.
Unlike YouTube’s restrictive FLV file format only intended for streaming, MP4 encoding allows true long-term ownership of your favorite videos impervious to later platform changes. An Youtube to MP4 conversion today will continue properly playing decades from now when YouTube, codecs, resolutions or any other variables shift. This preserves beloved memories in a lossless and future-proof manner.
Transforming YouTube videos into MP4 files also unlocks options for advanced features impossible on the locked-down YouTube platform itself:
- Full offline viewing whenever no network available
- Watch on devices lacking capable web browser like ebook readers
- Slow motion, fast forward/rewind repeatedly without rebuffering delays
- Unrestricted sharing over email, AirDrop, messaging apps, etc
- Backup irreplaceable memories before accidental channel deletion
- Avoid losing access from copyright claim purges
- Higher image quality than YouTube streaming at same resolutions
- Augment video libraries searched by media apps
- Portable encoding for syncing across all your current and future laptops, desktops, mobile gadgets
- Password protection of private videos
- Automation workflows when new content gets posted
With easy step-by-step instructions, anyone can leverage free MP4 video converter sites for enhanced ownership. Simply copy and paste the YouTube video URL into conversion tools. A few minutes later your very own MP4 file emerges ready to store in organized video archives.
Why Convert YouTube Videos to MP4 Files
Converting your favorite YouTube videos to MP4 file format provides a plethora of benefits compared to other formats like FLV. MP4 encoding is designed for optimal viewing, sharing, and storage across all modern phones, tablets, computers, TV streamers, media streamers, and even some ebook readers and game consoles. The versatile and compressed MP4 container enjoys nearly universal device support.
Unlike FLV format which YouTube uses when you try downloading straight from their site, MP4 files work smoothly across Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and pretty much any computing platform. MP4 also reliably plays back in common media apps like VLC, QuickTime, Windows Media Player, etc. This cross-platform format compatibility ensures you will have no issues watching saved YouTube videos for decades to come even as devices change.
MP4 encoding also allows higher quality than competing formats occupying the same file size. Advanced video and audio compression algorithms shrink larger raw video data like 1080p or 4K down to smaller package files ideal for sharing on messaging apps, social platforms, email, or transferring to phones and tablets with limited capacity. The smaller encoded file footprint also saves massive storage space versus less efficient containers like AVI or MOV. You can stockpile more downloaded YouTube memories without costly external hard drive upgrades.
Combining broad compatibility, versatile high-quality, and efficient compression, YouTube to MP4 format hits the sweet spot for converting and permanently saving YouTube videos. You get reliable future-proof playback assurance as you build up your forever accessible video library. Deep encoding flexibility also custom tailors conversions to any resolution or filesize need. Skip cumbersome FLV downloads and unneeded video editing – MP4 encodes clips perfectly optimized right from your handy web converter.
Most Used YouTube to MP4 Converter Websites
Many excellent free websites batch convert YouTube links to downloadable MP4s. These converters are quick, easy to use, and completely free. Simply paste YouTube video URLs or channel URLs and download your preferred clips. Highly recommended MP4 converters include:
SaveFrom
SaveFrom is one of the most popular and fastest online YouTube to MP4 converter websites. It has a clean and simple interface that allows batch downloads of multiple videos or full playlists with just a pasted link. No software installs needed as it runs fully online.
Features:
- Fast processing and downloads, even for 8K and 360 degree videos from YouTube. Leverages powerful cloud encoding servers.
- Downloaded MP4s available in multiple quality options from 144p to high definition 1080p. Helpful for balancing quality and file size.
- Can subscribe to YouTube channels and automatically download new uploads through integrated RSS feed parsing tools. Great for podcast channels releasing regular content.
ClipConverter
ClipConverter provides an easy drag and drop interface for converting YouTube videos to not just MP4 but also MP3 and many other formats. Useful browser extensions further simplify saving clips.
Features:
- Intuitive user interface centered around dragging in links to rapidly queue and convert multiple videos after upload.
- Clipboard detection automatically starts conversion when copying a YouTube URL on the web. Handy browser extensions shorten workflow.
- Downloads audio in complementary formats like MP3. Conversion and compression optimize files for mobile device syncing.
OnlineVideoConverter
True to its name, OnlineVideoConverter supports over 1000 websites hosting video beyond just YouTube. Sports one of the most versatile format rosters around for downloading and encoding.
Features:
- Expansive format compatibility, converting from and downloading to nearly any contemporary video file extension. Covering both lossy and lossless quality options.
- Additional video editing tools allow trimming, effects, filters, cropping, rotating, adding text, and more before finalizing MP4 conversion.
- Extract audio track option compresses and downloads sound clips into playable music file types seamlessly in parallel.
VideoProc
VideoProc is a full-featured yet easy to use YouTube to MP4 converter software for Windows and Mac. With no ads or popups interrupting encoding workflows.
Features:
- Downloads entire YouTube playlists or channels with a single click automatically converting to MP4 format.
- Optional video editing tools enable trimming footage, adding subtitles, inserting effects, merging videos, rotating orientation, and more before finalizing MP4.
- Hardware acceleration utilizes powerful GPUs for blazing fast video conversion, even when handling 8K resolution lengthy content.
DVDVideoSoft YouTube to MP4 & MP3 Converter
DVDVideoSoft offers dedicated PC software specifically tuned for grabbing YouTube videos as MP4 files. Ideal for beginners wanting simple one-click desktop converters with no complex web tools.
Features:
- Straightforward software interfaces focused solely on downloading MP4 videos from YouTube and similar streaming websites.
- Saves MP4 files directly to local folders instantly prepared for permanent storage and offline playback.
- Adds fetching thumbnail images and descriptive metadata automatically taken from YouTube to embellish downloaded MP4 file properties.
Steps for Converting YouTube to MP4
Any YouTube video URL can easily become a permanently saved MP4 file in just a few minutes. Here is the full workflow from start to finish:
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Choose Your Video
Pull up YouTube in your internet browser and find the exact video to convert to MP4. This allows you to selectively convert your favorite clips out of entire playlists or channel libraries. You can save these MP4s for decades while YouTube often deletes older videos.
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Copy The Full Video URL
Click your browser address bar to highlight the entire URL, also called the video link. Right click the highlighted text and select “Copy” (or press Control+C on a Windows computer or Command+C on Macs). This copies the full URL to your computer clipboard, getting it ready for pasting into the converter site.
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Paste URL Into Converter
Open your preferred MP4 converter site in a new browser tab. Look for a text box saying something like “Enter YouTube URL Here.” Right click or press paste (Control+V or Command+V). The video URL will fill the box automatically.
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Select MP4 Format
Some converters automatically default to MP4 downloading, optimizing for ideal format compatibility. Other sites may prompt you to select MP4 from a list of formats. Ensure you choose MP4 before proceeding.
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Convert YouTube Video to MP4
Lastly, press the prominent convert, download, or start button. The website will now analyze the YouTube URL, process the video file, extract and encode the audio and video streams into a shareable MP4 file, and prepare your converted file for download.
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Download Your MP4
A popup prompt will allow you to save the file, preview it online, or open it immediately in your media player software. Remember where you save the MP4 – your PC’s downloads folder by default.
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Enjoy Your YouTube MP4 Offline!
Once saved locally, you can now double click your MP4 file to play it anytime without internet access or YouTube availability. Congratulations – you now have preserved favorite YouTube memories safe for offline viewing and archival!
Community Q&A Boards
Most converter sites feature community discussion boards for asking questions and getting help. Monitor the conversations for useful tips from veteran users and site administrators. Staff often quickly reply clarifying any issues like:
- Troubleshooting conversion problems
- Requesting missing video formats
- Site bugs and new feature requests
- Changes to YouTube affecting conversion
- Announcements of new sister sites and tools
Don’t see an answer to your question? Post a new thread explaining your issue for fast help from the community.
Handy Tips for Smooth YouTube to MP4 Conversions
Follow these tips when downloading YouTube as MP4 files:
| Tip | Description |
| Check Copyright Restrictions | Some clips like music videos and brand content may be copyrighted, preventing downloads. YouTube conversion sites fully comply with DMCA takedown requests. Consider alternatives like free-use audio content or public domain media. |
| Test Files Before Storage | Preview your converted MP4s before permanently saving to your hard drive or cloud storage. Check both video and audio portions played back properly throughout every clip length. This ensures fully successful format conversion. |
| Adjust Quality Settings | Look for resolution toggle controls on your converter site, if available. Higher resolutions produce clearer large screen playback but consume massive storage capacity. Find an optimal quality balance for each use case. |
| Expect Lengthy Conversion Times | Long videos and Ultra HD resolutions require extensive processing time. An hour long 4K video could take up to an hour to process on underpowered converter servers. Budget ample total conversion durations accordingly. |
Warnings to Avoid Problems
While legally downloading free YouTube videos is perfectly safe under fair use rights, some risks still exist:
Never Pay for Converters
Countless completely free YouTube to MP4 converter sites exist online. Never get tricked into supplying credit card details or PayPal payments to shady websites. Stick with well known reputable converter services instead.
Do Not Share Certain Downloads
Respect privacy laws regarding copyrighted material, confidential discussions, footage exposing identities, and other legally or morally protected content. Keep such restricted downloads solely for your own personal offline viewing.
Verify Website Legitimacy
Fake converter websites and downloaded PC software may inject viruses, install ransomware, expose your personal data, or steal financial information. Triple check site security certificates match their domain during access and carefully virus scan executable installation files before opening.
Stay vigilant, follow local regulations, and keep your favorite YouTube videos safe forever with MP4 conversions. With these helpful instructions, you now can easily save beloved clips, comedy sketches, memorial moments, music videos, entire courses, DIY tutorials, and more for enjoying without any internet access required well into the future.
