As the most popular video streaming platform, YouTube has 2.1 billion monthly active users worldwide and includes nearly all kinds of videos, from entertainment to educational videos. Sometimes, you might need to record YouTube videos to watch offline. Unfortunately, YouTube doesn't offer the option to download or record videos.

Thus, to capture YouTube videos, you need to use a third-party YouTube video recorder. This post will share how to record YouTube on PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, Android, or online.

How to record YouTube videos on Windows PC and Mac

You can choose from many screen recorders if you want to record YouTube videos on your Windows PC. Although QuickTime Player can help Mac users record the screen, it is not the best choice to record YouTube videos as it cannot record internal audio. So, if you are a Mac user, you are also suggested to try a third-party screen recorder.

Since YouTube is a web-based platform, you can try a web-based screen recorder to make the screen recording as simple as possible. Just have a look at Awesome Screenshot & Recorder, a screen recorder browser extension that allows you to record YouTube videos and any screen with audio. It works well on both Windows and Mac.

Check below to learn how to record YouTube videos on Windows and Mac.

Step 1. Download and install the Awesome Screenshot & Recorder extension to your browser.

Step 2. Launch Awesome Screenshot & Recorder app and sign in or create an account.  This will allow you to enjoy unlimited recording time for cloud recordings. You can choose not to sign in, but you will only be able to use the local recording function. Click "Record" > "Custom(This Tab)" mode, select video quality and storage method, choose whether you want to record sound or camera, and adjust other recording settings.

Step 3. Open a new browser tab and open the YouTube video you wish to capture. Click on the icon of Awesome Screenshot & Recorder and hit the blue "Start Recording" button.

Step 4. You will see a cross cursor. Just drag it to adjust the size of the capturing area. Once satisfied, you can hit the "Record" button in the recording control bar to start recording.

Step 5. When you want to stop the recording, you just click the "Pause" button in the control bar. Then a red "Stop" button will show. You just click on it.

Step 6. In the following page, you can preview the recorded YouTube video, download it locally as MP4, or generate a share link.

How to record YouTube videos on iPhone or iPad

iPhone/iPad comes with a screen recorder available in iOS 11 or later versions. So, you can use its built-in screen recorder to record any YouTube videos on your iPhone with ease.

Before learning how to record YouTube videos on your iPhone or iPad, please ensure that you have enabled the screen recording feature. To check it, please go to "Settings" > "Control Center". If screen recording is not in the list, you just find "Screen Recording" in "More Controls" and press "+" to add it.

If you have enabled screen recording on your iOS device, you can follow the steps below to learn how to capture YouTube videos or live streams.

Step 1. Open the YouTube app on your iPhone/iPad and find the video you want to record.

Step 2. Go to the control panel by swiping down or up. Then tap the Recording icon to start recording.

Step 3. The recording is on and you will see a red bar on the screen. When you want to stop the recording, tap this red bar or press the "Record" button in the "Control Center" again.

Step 4. The recorded YouTube video is saved in the Photos app. You can check it anytime.

How to record YouTube videos on Android

Android 11 or any higher version also comes with a built-in screen recorder which can help you record YouTube videos on your Android phone. You are suggested to use the built-in tool because you don't need to download any other third-party apps.

Follow the steps below to learn how to record YouTube videos on Android using its built-in screen recorder.

Step 1. Open the YouTube app on your Android phone and find the video you want to capture.

Step 2. Access your "Quick Settings" menu by swiping down the Notifications panel.

Step 3. Tap on the "screen recorder" icon. If you can't find it, tap on the Plus symbol, select the "screen recorder" symbol and drag it onto your "Quick Settings" menu. You'll be asked if you want to record audio. You can choose to record media sounds, the microphone, or no audio. Once done, tap "Start recording".

Step 4. The recording will start after the countdown. You can play the YouTube video so it will be recorded.

Step 5. To end your recording, please tap the red recording icon at the top of your screen and press "Tap here to stop recording". Find the recorded YouTube video in your Gallery app.

If your Android device is too old to offer the built-in screen recording option, you can download and use the screen recorder apps to help you record YouTube videos. Just try AZ Screen Recorder.

How to record YouTube videos Online

If you don't want to install software or extensions to your PC or laptop, you can still try to record YouTube videos online.

Many online screen recorders work great in capturing YouTube videos. We suggest Awesome Screenshot & Recorder's online recorder because it can record videos online and save them to the cloud. So, you can access your recordings anytime, anywhere.

Here is how to record YouTube videos online for free.

Step 1. Open YouTube on your browser and find the video you want to capture.

Step 2. Go to awesomescreenshot.com and sign in. Then click "My Items" at the top of the page.

Step 3. In the following page, click on "New item" > "Record video".

Step 4. In the pop-up window, you can choose "Desktop", set the video resolution. Once done, just click the blue "Start Recording" button.

Step 5. In the "Choose what to share" window, you can choose "Chrome Tab" and select the YouTube video. Once done, click "Share" to start recording.

Step 6. To end the recording, hit the blue "Stop sharing" button at the top of the page.

Step 7. You can check the recorded YouTube video in "My items". And you will also have the option to save it locally as MP4.

Conclusion

This post has shared how to record YouTube videos on any device. In short, if you want to record YouTube videos or live streams on Windows, Mac, or online, you can try Awesome Screenshot & Recorder, which provides both extension and an online screen recorder. If you want to capture YouTube videos on mobile, try the built-in screen recorder with your phone.

FAQs

1. Can I record from YouTube?

Of course, you can record videos or audio from YouTube. However, YouTube doesn't offer the option to download or record videos. You are recommended to use a third-party screen recorder tool to record any YouTube videos.

2. Is it legal to record YouTube videos?

It is illegal to record, convert or download copyrighted YouTube videos for further usage and distribution. However, recording YouTube videos for personal use, such as watching offline is legal.

3. What do you need to record a YouTube video?

To record a YouTube video, you need a high-quality streaming video recorder to record both video and audio on a PC, Mac, or mobile. Awesome Screenshot & Recorder is one of the most helpful screen recorders for users to record any YouTube video from Windows or Mac.