Yesdownloader entered the online space in 2009, created by Ankit Pradhan. During this period, YouTube had exploded into the premier destination for both uploading and watching online video content. However, YouTube at the time lacked any official tools for users to download and save videos offline.
Thus, a rising public demand emerged for third party software to archive favorite viral snippets, music videos, movie teasers and the wealth of footage people wanted to replay or repurpose outside of the YouTube platform itself. Poor rural internet infrastructure also drove interest in downloading capabilities.
Yesdownloader quickly established itself as a straightforward solution for extracting and storing YouTube video files onto your own computer. As global online connectivity steadily improved in the late 2000s, bitrates for streaming video likewise ramped up. This resulted in vastly higher fidelity YouTube footage over predecessors like 240p resolution. With streaming quality at an all-time high, Yesdownloader adoption swelled.
Yesdownloader’s Impact on Content Consumption
The advent of Yesdownloader video downloader and software allowing easy YouTube downloads indelibly changed how everyday consumers interacted with and utilized online video content. Transitioning from a purely streaming-centric experience, users could now curate vast permanent collections of video files comprising their favorite viral moments.
Unburdened from constant buffering or relying on stable connections, Yesdownloader downloads guaranteed smooth ad-free playback when re-watching saved videos. This cultivated digital hoarding behaviors as users liberally downloaded anything that might get deleted off platforms later on. Yesdownloader also opened creative doors for editing mashups and musical sampling via its suite of editing tools.
However, by enabling what ultimately constituted unauthorized duplication and distribution of copyrighted YouTube videos, ethical issues around Yesdownloader inevitably surfaced…
The Purpose of a Online video downloader like Yesdownloader
While YouTube offers streaming access, there are limitations that drive users toward third-party downloading tools. Yesdownloader fills key gaps.
1. Offline Viewing
Downloading enables offline access:
- Rural users with sparse internet rely on downloads for buffer-free viewing
- Frequent travelers unable to stream still access video libraries
- Viewers struggling with data caps depend on local storage
Without robust connectivity, streaming falters. Yesdownloader bridges these infrastructure gaps.
2. Preserve At-Risk Content
YouTube fails to guarantee long-term access:
- Uploads get deleted by users all the time, breaking links/embeeds
- Accounts get banned, making their videos inaccessible
- Yesdownloader saves personal copy before takedowns
This empowers personal archivists and historians to retain cultural touchstones.
3. Creative Reuse Potential
The YouTube platform restricts reuse options:
- Editing unique mashups and composites from multiple sources
- Sampling video dialog and music into new derivative works
- Re-editing footage to sharpen comedy and commentary
Downloading opens doors for “remixed” art that stimulates creativity.
In summary, while convenient for streaming, YouTube has limitations. Yesdownloader fills availability, archiving, and creative needs through customizable downloading capabilities not natively offered.
General Features of Yesdownloader
Yesdownloader provides a robust set of capabilities when it comes to downloading videos from YouTube and other sites:
Download Videos
- Download individual videos by pasting the YouTube URL
- Batch download entire YouTube playlists or channels
- Select exact file format and quality up to 4K
- Simultaneously queue up multiple videos
Convert Files
- Extract and convert to MP3 audio only
- Output downloaded files to formats like MP4, AVI, FLV, and more
- Useful for playback across different devices
Edit Videos
- Built-in editing tools like trimming, cropping, rotating
- Cut unwanted intro/outros after downloading
- Basic filters, text overlays, blurring, and audio adjustments
- Screen record new voiceovers or commentary
Access Features
- Browser extensions for easy one-click downloads
- Mobile app allows downloads while on the go
- URL/link converter one-stops downloading
- No need to sign up for an account
Covering downloading, converting, editing, and access – Yesdownloader aims to provide an end-to-end solution for getting YouTube videos offline and personalized. These expanded details better showcase Yesdownloader’s diverse functionality.
Is it Safe to Use Yesdownloader for YouTube Video Downloads?
While Yesdownloader delivers helpful functionality for downloading YouTube videos, there are controversies around the legality of some of its core features that users should consider:
Terms of Service Violations
YouTube expressly prohibits downloading their videos in their Terms of Service without permission. By ripping and saving YouTube content without authorization, Yesdownloader violates these terms which can carry risk.
Copyright Infringement Dangers
Downloading under fair use laws may be permissible, but re-uploading entire videos saved from YouTube via Yesdownloader and elsewhere can constitute copyright infringement if duplicating copyrighted material without transformation. Users could face DMCA takedown requests or legal penalties for unauthorized duplication and distribution.
Malware Potential
Some users have reported malware risks from specific Yesdownloader download links, pop-up ads, or bundled installer versions. Users should only install Yesdownloader from verified reputable sources and be vigilant of any browser red flags during setup.
In summary – while helpful for offline viewing, exercise caution with Yesdownloader. Avoid simply re-uploading downloaded YouTube videos in their original form, monitor for shady installer activity, and understand YouTube’s terms don’t permit its use. Evaluate your risk tolerance and consider alternative legal download options as well.
What Formats are Supported by Yesdownloader?
Yesdownloader can download YouTube videos in formats like:
- MP4: Standard high quality video format
- FLV: Flash video files
- 3GP: Lower quality for mobile device compatibility
- MKV: Higher quality pairing video with audio
- AVI: Compatible with range of media players
- MP3: Extract just the audio from videos
Additional conversion outputs are available too. This range of formats allows users to store YouTube videos to align with their preferences and intended playback devices.
How to Save Videos from YouTube to Your Computer Using Yesdownloader
Using Yesdownloader to download YouTube videos follows three simple steps:
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Copy the URL of the YouTube video you want to download. This is the web address found in your browser’s address bar while viewing the video on YouTube. |
| 2 | Open Yesdownloader and paste the video URL into the search bar. Hit enter or click the search icon. |
| 3 | The video title and thumbnail will appear. Choose your desired file format and video quality from the drop downs. (MP4 at 720p is recommended.) |
| 4 | Click the circular “Download” icon. In the prompt, choose where to save the file on your computer. |
| 5 | The download will now begin automatically. Monitor progress from both the Yesdownloader dashboard and your file browser. |
| 6 | Once completed, you can locate the downloaded YouTube video file saved locally onto your computer storage. |
The program also allows batch downloading entire YouTube playlists or channels with the click of a button. Straightforward.
Top Online video downloader Alternatives To Yesdownloader
1. 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is favored for its performance and format flexibility, including:
- High speed YouTube downloads up to 8K quality
- Advanced MPEG, MP4, and 3GP encoding options
- Unique ability to grab channel subscribers, captions, and annotations
- Simple one-click playlists and batch downloading
Reviews cite consistently fast performance. But the interface may not be as friendly for novices as other options.
2. aTube Catcher
aTube Catcher stands out for its all-in-one editing and conversion features:
- Built-in video editing tools like splitting, cropping, rotating, and watermarking
- Hundreds of output formats supported
- Screen recording and ability to burn videos to DVD
- Aidnoyance ad filtering to remove disruptive YouTube ads
Great for creative projects that need light editing and format flexibility beyond just grabbing YouTube clips.
3. WinX YouTube Downloader
Zero frills program for clean ad-less downloading:
- No bundled bloatware or adware. Strict privacy policy
- Fast processing thanks to CPU/GPU acceleration
- Titles and thumbnail previews for easy video review
- Unlimited simultaneous 1080p downloads
Trusted for secure and reliable YouTube video capture with no speed caps.
4. ClipGrab
ClipGrab wins for sheer downloading simplicity:
- Extremely basic streamlined one-click interface
- No signups or configuration – just click and save
- Active open source community development
If you just want to download a YouTube clip without any fuss, ClipGrab is the ticket.
Final Thoughts
Yesdownloader is a popular software tool, launched in 2009, that allows downloading videos from YouTube and other sites for offline viewing and storage. It emerged as a solution when YouTube lacked native downloading capabilities to meet growing user demand for archiving and repurposing video content.
Key capabilities Yesdownloader offers include downloading videos, playlists, and channels from across 30+ streaming sites, extracting MP3 audio files, link/URL conversion, basic editing features, and browser extensions for simplified use. Reasons users seek out a tool like Yesdownloader include facilitating offline access, preserving at-risk content before takedowns, and enabling creative remix projects.
While very functional for downloading videos, Yesdownloader has faced controversy for enabling what some view as unauthorized duplication and distribution of copyrighted material. Users are advised to exercise caution and avoid reuploading full videos saved via Yesdownloader without proper creator attribution.
Yesdownloader supports formats like MP4, FLV, 3GP, MKV, and AVI. Usage follows a simple workflow – paste in the YouTube video URL, select preferences, and click download. Comparable alternative YouTube video grabbers exist too with varying specialties like faster speeds, editing tools, and streamlined interfaces.
In summary – Yesdownloader pioneered the space of third-party YouTube video downloads to serve offline viewing and creative needs, though not without legal debate. With the basics as well as competitive landscape covered here, users can make an informed choice if such a tool aligns with their use case.
