Be careful if you download any YouTube video!

YouTube allows you to download videos, but only through the YouTube Premium officially. And only if the creator allows it! Any videos you try to download will remain in your Downloads inbox. This means that although you can watch some of your favorite videos offline, you can only access them through the app. However, of course there are ways around things. There are third-party applications and online services that you can use to download any video from YouTube, however, you have to be very careful!

Be careful if you download any YouTube video!

There are several issues to take into account. Is it safe or even legal to use? Are you breaking any laws or risking the closure of your YouTube account by using one of these free downloaders? Here is a list of some of the important aspects that we think you should keep in mind before trying any of the online options.

It’s safe?

You should always be careful about the applications you download and install on your devices, especially anything capable of downloading files to your device. The same applies to the websites you choose to visit. How can you check if an app is safe to use? For starters, there may be signs that the app is fake.

In the same way that you would search the Internet for reviews about a new restaurant you want to try, this is exactly how you should research what other online users say about the download tool you would like to try. No matter how elegant a tool or service may seem, you should be careful not to expose your device to any malware. This is a huge risk for many of these third-party applications and online tools, like YouTube video downloaders.

Even if they are not malicious, poorly maintained software can also be prone to security holes. If these free downloaders do not receive regular updates or support, they become more vulnerable over time. Consider the security of your device before downloading any applications.

Different software and web tools have different privacy policies. Some may collect your personal information or browsing data and, when they do, they often have no control over its use or who they sell it to. Understand what data is collected and how it is used. If a downloading application asks for too many permissions, that is a warning sign.

Is it truly free?

Nothing that is free is truly free. Free apps and websites often rely on ads to earn revenue, but the problem is that these ads can be intrusive. They can really ruin your user experience and, in some cases, constantly redirect you to malicious and fraudulent websites.

Free versions may also limit the resolution of videos you can download or the number of downloads available. This limitation is usually a way to persuade you to upgrade to the premium version. If you’re thinking about upgrading to a paid version, be careful about recurring costs or subscriptions that may be difficult to cancel.

Another problem is the lack of subtitles or support for transcriptions. Transcripts and subtitles seem like small details, but they’re an essential part of the viewing experience, especially as an accessibility feature for viewers who rely on them due to hearing impairments or generally for better understanding.

Is it fair to the creator?

YouTube generates revenue from views and ads to pay its content creators. Every video that content creators upload to the platform gives them a slice of the revenue that YouTube earns. When people decide to use third-party tools to download these videos, these creators lose additional views. It may seem like anyone viewing YouTube outside of the platform is ignoring the effort and creativity that content creators put into creating their videos, depriving them of the reward they deserve for their efforts.

It is important to recognize that creating content involves time, effort and, in many cases, a considerable financial investment. Many creators, recognizing that their audience may want more, often provide links to legally download their content, sometimes through other platforms or directly from their own websites. Keep this in mind when watching your favorite YouTube creators: this way , you can support creators while staying within legal boundaries.

It’s cool?

The only completely legal way to download YouTube videos is through YouTube Premium. Many YouTube videos are protected by copyright, and downloading them without permission is a violation of YouTube’s terms of service and potentially illegal.

Third-party YouTube download sites and applications often state in their terms of use that you are solely responsible for the legal consequences of your actions. Their disclaimers often make it clear that they will not be responsible for their actions, since all they have provided is the technical means. While cases of private users being sued by YouTube are rare, they are not impossible.

In addition to all legal aspects, YouTube’s terms of service explicitly prohibit downloading videos from its platform using unauthorized means, including third-party software. If detected, this could lead to consequences such as suspension or even termination of your YouTube account.

Now that you are aware of these risks, consider them before using any free YouTube video downloader. If you regularly use your YouTube account personally and professionally, losing access to your account can be devastating.