Guide · YouTube

How to download YouTube videos (free, in HD)

Published September 2026 · 4 min read

Want to save a YouTube video to watch offline, keep a copy of your own upload, or grab a whole playlist? Here's the simplest way to do it on Windows: free, up to 4K, and none of those ad-filled "downloader" sites.

The easy way: use GrabMonkey

Browser-based YouTube downloaders are slow, capped in quality, and buried in ads and fake buttons. A desktop app is faster and cleaner. GrabMonkey is a free video downloader for Windows that saves YouTube videos in one click.

  1. Install GrabMonkey. Download the app and run the installer. No Python, no setup, it's all bundled in.
  2. Copy the YouTube link. On the video, copy the URL from your browser's address bar (or the Share button).
  3. Paste it into GrabMonkey. Open the app, paste the link, and pick your quality (up to 4K), or just hit Download for the best available.
  4. Done. The video saves to your PC, automatically named by its title. Click "Open folder" to find it.
💡 Even faster: install the one-click browser button from GrabMonkey's Extension screen. A Download button then sits right on the YouTube video. Click it, and it's on your PC.

Download a whole playlist or channel

GrabMonkey isn't limited to single videos. Paste a playlist URL to grab every video in it, or use Download all on a creator's page to save their whole catalogue in one go. You can also paste many links at once for batch downloads.

Save just the audio (YouTube to MP3)

Just want the sound? A song, a podcast, a lecture? Pick the MP3 option and GrabMonkey pulls out the audio on its own, so you end up with a music file instead of a video.

What quality can you get?

  • Up to 4K / 2160p where the original supports it
  • 1080p and 720p HD for everyday use
  • MP3 audio-only extraction

GrabMonkey always pulls the original file. No re-encoding, no quality loss, and nothing stamped on top.

Is it legal to download YouTube videos?

Download content you own, that's in the public domain, or that the creator permits you to save (for example, your own uploads or offline-enabled videos). Avoid downloading copyrighted content you don't have the rights to. See our disclaimer for details.

Get GrabMonkey free

YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and 1,000+ other sites. One click each.

⬇ Download for Windows

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