How to Download Audio from YouTube: 5 Easy Methods for PC, Mac, and Android

YouTube is one of the largest platforms for videos, music, and podcasts. Sometimes, you may only need the audio from a YouTube video to listen to offline. That’s why many users search for ways to download audio from YouTube and save it as an MP3 or other audio format.

In this guide, we’ll explore 5 effective methods to download YouTube audio, each with clear step-by-step instructions. Whether you want to save YouTube audio on Windows PC, Mac, or mobile devices such as Android phones, this article has you covered. By following these methods, you can easily extract audio from YouTube videos and save it for offline listening in your preferred format.

Is It Legal to Download Audio from YouTube?

Downloading audio from YouTube is not always illegal, but it depends on the type of content and how you use it. Here are the main situations where downloading audio is generally considered acceptable:

Your Own Videos

If you are downloading audio from videos you personally uploaded, you have full rights to access and reuse that content. This is completely legal since you own the material.

Public Domain Content

Videos that are in the public domain are free from copyright restrictions and content where the copyright has expired. You can legally download and use the audio from these videos without needing permission, but always verify the specific license type before proceeding.

Offline Listening via YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium provides an "offline mode." Using YouTube Premium to download videos or audio for offline listening within the app is fully legal and compliant with YouTube’s terms of service. However, these downloads are restricted to the app and cannot be used as standalone audio files.

Method 1: How to Download Audio from YouTube Using VidiCable

VidiCable is a powerful desktop tool available for both Windows PC and Macs. With its built-in audio extraction feature, users can easily download audio from YouTube by simply pasting a YouTube URL. The program quickly converts YouTube videos into high-quality MP3 files while preserving the original sound quality, supporting MP3 bitrates up to 320 kbps.

In addition to saving audio, VidiCable also works as a YouTube video downloader, allowing users to download YouTube videos in MP4 or MKV format with resolutions of up to 8K. Whether you want to enjoy high-quality music or watch ultra-HD videos offline, VidiCable offers a reliable solution for both audio and video downloads.

Features of VidiCable YouTube Audio/Video Downloader:

• Support downloading audio from YouTube in MP3 format.
• Support saving YouTube videos in 2K/4K/8K.
• Support over 1,000 popular streaming services.
• Save streaming content as MP3, MP4 or MKV format.
• Bulit-in player enables you to watch and download within the app.
• No plugs or ads.

Download Win Download Mac

Step 1 Launch VidiCable and Choose YouTube

Open VidiCable on your computer. On the platform selection page, select YouTube from the list of supported services.

Step 2 Set Up Download Settings

Before starting the download, click the Settings icon in the upper-right corner. Here you can configure your preferences, such as the output format (MP3 for audio), save location, and other quality settings.

Step 3 Locate the YouTube Video

Use the built-in browser to browse YouTube and open the video that contains the audio you want to download.

Step 4 Choose the Audio Option

After opening the video, click the Download button. Select Audio if you want to extract the audio. You can then choose between MP3 format for wider compatibility or Original Audio to keep the source sound quality.

Step 5 Download YouTube Audio

Click Download to start saving the audio from Instagram. Once the process finishes, the audio file will be stored on your computer, allowing you to play it offline anytime without expiration.

Method 2: How to Use VLC to Extract Audio from a YouTube Video

VLC Media Player is also a useful tool that can convert videos and extract audio files. To extract audio from a YouTube video using VLC, follow the steps below.

1. Go to the YouTube website and open the video you want to extract audio from. Copy the video URL from the browser’s address bar.
2. Open VLC Media Player on your computer. Click Media in the top menu and select Convert/Save. In the new window, click Add to select the video you want to extract audio from.

3. In the Profile section, choose your preferred audio format, such as Audio – MP3, depending on your needs.

4. Under Destination File, click Browse to select the folder where you want to save the file, then enter a custom file name.
5. Click Start to begin the conversion. VLC will process the file, and once finished, the extracted audio will be saved to your chosen location.

Method 3: How to Download Audio from YouTube on Mac with QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player does not directly download audio from YouTube, but you can use its built-in screen recording feature to record and save the audio from a YouTube video on your Mac. Please follow these steps:

1. Go to YouTube in your browser and open the video you want to save the audio from. Pause the video at the beginning so it is ready to play.
2. Open QuickTime Player on your Mac. From the top menu bar, click File and select New Screen Recording.

3. In the screen recording window, click the Options button (or the arrow next to the record button). Choose the Microphone you want to use for recording audio.
4. Click the Record button in QuickTime Player. Then go back to the YouTube video and click Play to start recording the audio.
5. When the video finishes playing, click the Stop Recording button in the menu bar.
6. Click File > Save, choose a location on your Mac, and save the recording file.
7. If you only need the audio, you can convert the recorded file to an audio format such as MP3 or M4A using an audio converter.

Method 4: How to Download Audio from YouTube with yt-dlp

yt-dlp is a powerful open-source command-line tool that allows users to download videos and extract audio from YouTube and many other websites. Follow the steps below to download audio from YouTube using yt-dlp.

1. First, download and install yt-dlp on your computer.
2. Find the video you want to extract audio from, and copy the video URL from the address bar.
3. Open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt / PowerShell (Windows). Navigate to the folder where yt-dlp is installed if necessary.
4. Run the command to extract audio: yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 "YouTube-Video-URL". Replace "YouTube-Video-URL" with the actual link of the YouTube video.
5. yt-dlp will download the video and automatically convert it to an MP3 audio file. After the process finishes, the audio file will be saved in the current folder.

Method 5: How to Download Audio Files from YouTube on Android Device

Using your Android device’s built-in screen recorder is a practical method if you’re unable to directly download audio from YouTube. While it’s not a true “download” method, it allows you to capture audio from YouTube videos for offline listening.

1. Open the YouTube app or website and find the video you want to capture.
2. Swipe down to access the Quick Settings panel and tap Screen Recorder.
3. Enable system sound recording (if available) to capture the internal audio.
4. Start recording, then immediately play the YouTube video. Once the video finishes, stop the recording.
5. Then you can use a third-party audio converter app to extract the audio file as an MP3 or convert it from the recorded video file.

FAQs about Downloading Audio from YouTube

How to download audio from YouTube for free?

There are many free tools available to download audio files from YouTube, such as QuickTime Player and VidiCable. If you’re looking for a simpler download process, VidiCable is a better choice. It allows you to download YouTube audio as high-quality MP3 files, including options to preserve the original audio quality. In addition, it also works as a YouTube video downloader, enabling you to save videos in MP4 format with resolutions up to 8K.

Is it legal to download audio from YouTube?

Downloading audio from YouTube can be legal in certain cases, but it depends on the content and how it is used. According to YouTube’s Terms of Service, downloading audio is generally not allowed unless YouTube provides an official download option, such as through YouTube Premium.

However, downloading audio may be acceptable if it involves your own uploaded videos, public domain content, or Creative Commons videos that allow reuse. To avoid copyright issues, always make sure you have permission from the content owner and use the audio for personal purposes only.

Can you download audio from YouTube playlists?

Yes, it is possible to download audio from YouTube playlists by using some tools that support playlist downloads. VidiCable is a tool that allows you to extract the audio from multiple videos in a playlist and save them as MP3s for offline playing.

How to download audio from YouTube Shorts?

There are several ways to download audio from YouTube Shorts, and one of the most common options is using online downloaders. However, many of these websites can be unreliable and may redirect users to suspicious pages, which could expose your device to ads or malware.

For a safer and more stable experience, it’s recommended to use a trusted desktop tool such as VidiCable. With VidiCable, you can easily download audio from YouTube Shorts and save it as an MP3 file, while maintaining high audio quality. Compared with many online tools, desktop software offers better security, fewer interruptions, and better download performance.

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered 5 easy ways to download audio from YouTube, ranging from media players and command-line tools to mobile solutions and desktop software. You can choose a method depending on your device, technical experience, and audio quality requirements.

If you want a fast, stable, and high-quality YouTube downloading solution, VidiCable can make the process much easier by letting you save YouTube audio as MP3 while preserving the original sound quality. No matter which method you choose, always make sure to respect copyright rules and use downloaded content responsibly.