Downloading a single YouTube video is straightforward. Downloading an entire playlist — potentially hundreds of videos — requires a tool built for batch operations. This guide covers the best methods for every platform.
The Best Tool: yt-dlp
Install
winget install yt-dlp # Windows
brew install yt-dlp # Mac
sudo apt install yt-dlp # LinuxDownload a full playlist
# All videos at best quality
yt-dlp "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID"
# Audio only as MP3
yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 "PLAYLIST_URL"
# Organized into folders with numbered filenames
yt-dlp -o "%(playlist)s/%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" "PLAYLIST_URL"
# Resume interrupted downloads (create archive.txt first)
yt-dlp --download-archive archive.txt "PLAYLIST_URL"Downloading Individual Videos from a Playlist
For individual videos, AllMediaTools YouTube Downloader handles any YouTube URL. Click the video you want, copy its URL, and paste into AllMediaTools.
Downloading a Full YouTube Channel
# All videos from a channel
yt-dlp "https://youtube.com/@channelname/videos"
# Last 10 uploads only
yt-dlp --playlist-end 10 "https://youtube.com/@channelname/videos"Batch Convert Downloaded Videos to MP3
# Linux/Mac — convert all MP4s in folder to MP3
for f in *.mp4; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -q:a 0 "${f%.mp4}.mp3"; doneFor single files: AllMediaTools MP4 to MP3 Converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some playlist videos skipped?
Deleted, private, or geo-restricted videos are skipped. Add --ignore-errors to continue downloading without stopping on unavailable videos.
Does downloading a large playlist get my IP blocked?
YouTube may rate-limit heavy downloaders. Add --sleep-interval 3 (3-second pause between videos) or use NordVPN to rotate IP addresses.
Can I resume a partially downloaded playlist?
Yes — use --download-archive archive.txt from the start. Re-run the same command and yt-dlp skips already-downloaded videos automatically.