Popular music streaming services like Spotify have made it easy to listen to music online and on multiple devices. But, it can be hard to find certain songs or specific versions of songs that you like to listen to. That’s where YouTube comes in.

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YouTube has just about every song and version that you can think of. How do you download music from YouTube so you can listen to it whenever and wherever you want?

In this guide, we’ll show you how to download and convert YouTube videos to MP3 music in easy steps. These steps will be completed using Google Chrome on a Macbook, but you can use these steps no matter what web browser and laptop or desktop you use.

Let’s get into it!

Before we talk about how to convert and download music from YouTube, it’s important to discuss the legalities of downloading music online.

YouTube’s Terms of Service states that you can’t download audio or video content, unless “permitted by the Service.” In other words, you would need to get written permission from YouTube themselves, or whoever created the video or music.

This is to prevent piracy and copyright infringement from YouTube users. But, YouTube hasn’t seemed to penalize users for downloading videos in the past, so you may be safe if you’re listening to music in your own home with your own apps. 

It’s important to note that using a converter could mean that you’re taking a risk and pirating music, especially if you’re sharing the music with friends and family, or adding it to a service like Spotify.

With that being said, let’s talk about how you can download music from YouTube.

Steps to Download Music from YouTube

Step 1: Pick a YouTube Video Converter (Carefully)

First, if you don’t want to download any software to convert YouTube videos, you’ll need to choose a safe website in order to convert MP4 videos to MP3 music. This can be hard to do, as many websites have malware and ads that can cause issues with your computer.

However, the website that we recommend, YT5S, is safe and easy to use. However, you should be aware that it does include pop-up ads, and those can be annoying. Just be sure not to click on them and you should be good to go.

Next up, you’ll need to copy the video link of the music you want to convert to MP3. You can do this by clicking on the video, then finding the Share button, clicking that button, and copying the URL that pops up. We’ve included some screenshots below of what this should look like on your screen.

Now that you’ve copied the link of the music that you’d like to download, you’ll need to add it to the converter that we discussed in step one.

Step 4: Convert the Video to MP3

Now that you’ve added the link to the converter, you’re ready to convert the video to MP3. To do this, simply click the Start button. When you hover over it, it will turn grey, letting you know that you can click it and convert your video.

Once the converter works its magic, it will show on your screen that the conversion is complete and that you can now download your music. Luckily, this converter lets you download music in many different ways, including MP3 and MP4. For the purposes of this guide though, we will download the song as an MP3.

Step 6: Download Your MP3

Once you click the Get link button, the converter will automatically create the MP3 from your YouTube video and give you the option to download it straight to your desktop or laptop. From there, you’ll click the Download button. If you’ve done it correctly, the MP3 will start downloading immediately and you’ll see it in your files as well as at the bottom of your screen.

Step 7: Listen to Your New Music

Yay, you’ve done it! Your music should have been downloaded and is now ready to listen to. But wait, before you start another conversion, you’ll want to make sure that the download works properly.

Click on the download and open it up with Apple Music. Of course, the app that your music plays on automatically will depend on your operating system. That’s it!

You can also rename the song to be anything you want. You can do this right in your folder where you hold your music by right-clicking your mouse or trackpad and choosing the Rename option in the drop-down menu.

What if I Want to Use a Desktop Program to Download Music from YouTube?

If you’d prefer to use a converter on your desktop, and not an online converter, it’s almost as easy to do! However, you’ll want to ensure that you download a legit and malware-free converter.

We Recommend:

  • 4K YouTube to MP3Wondershare UniConverterFree YouTube Download

These converters are free to download and use, but some also have premium options if you want to download videos and MP3s from different websites (including websites like Vimeo).

Wrapping Up

While it will take a little bit of work, it’s fairly easy to download music from YouTube in many different ways. Using an online converter is one of the easiest options and can be completed using almost any operating system, desktop, or laptop. But of course, the choice is yours on how you’d like to get your music!