How to Download YouTube Videos as MP4 (Free & HD, 2026)

YouTube doesn't give you a download button — at least not one that saves a real file to your device. So when you want a video for offline viewing — a tutorial before a flight, a lecture for the commute, a clip you're editing — you need a tool that pulls the MP4 cleanly. Here's exactly how to do it, free and in full quality.

The quick way: paste a link, get an MP4 #

The whole process takes under a minute with the YouTube to MP4 tool:

1. Copy the video's URL from YouTube (address bar or Share button).
2. Paste it into the box at linksconverter.com/convert/youtube-to-mp4.
3. Choose your resolution — 720p, 1080p, or 4K where the source has it.
4. Download. Save the clean MP4. No account, no watermark, no ads.

That's it. The file is the original video, nothing stamped on it, and it's automatically deleted from the server after 2 hours.

Choosing the right quality #

The resolution you pick is a trade-off between sharpness and file size:

One honest rule: a downloader can't beat the source. If a video was only uploaded in 720p, no tool can hand you a real 1080p or 4K version — anything claiming otherwise is just upscaling or padding the file. Pick the highest resolution YouTube actually lists for that video and you've got the best possible copy.

Just want the audio? #

If it's a song, a podcast, or a lecture and you don't need the picture, skip the video entirely. The YouTube to MP3 tool keeps only the soundtrack as a compact audio file — perfect for listening offline. There's also an “Original audio” option that grabs the native stream without re-encoding, for the cleanest possible quality.

What about just watching it? #

Sometimes you don't need to save anything — you just want to watch a link without the clutter of the YouTube app. The free online video player lets you paste a link and play it instantly in your browser, no download required.

Why use a clean tool #

Search “YouTube downloader” and most results are a minefield of pop-ups, fake download buttons, and redirects to casino or malware pages. LinksConverter is built to be the opposite: no ads, no watermark, no sign-up, and powered by the open-source yt-dlp and ffmpeg under the hood — the same tools professional video workflows rely on. Because yt-dlp is patched constantly, it keeps working when YouTube changes its protection and older sites break. It also handles 1,000+ other sites, so the same paste-and-download flow works for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and more.

The legal reality, briefly #

YouTube's Terms of Service prohibit downloading without permission, and copyright law covers the content itself. In practice, saving a video for personal, offline viewing sits in a grey area that generally isn't pursued at the individual level — but redistributing, re-uploading, or commercially using downloaded content clearly isn't allowed. If you download regularly and want a fully clean route, YouTube Premium includes offline downloads inside the official app.

No tool — this one included — can download private, age-restricted, or DRM-protected videos. Those need a logged-in session or aren't accessible at all.

Ready to download? #

Paste your link and grab a clean MP4 in seconds:

Download a YouTube video as MP4 →