How to Download YouTube Videos on Chromebook (2026)

Here is how to download YouTube videos on Chromebook without installing anything: open the video in Chrome, copy its link, paste it into a web downloader, and save an MP4 at 1080p or lower. Those qualities use H.264, the MP4 video codec Chromebook Help lists. The file lands in Downloads in the Files app. Move it to another folder soon, because a Chromebook can delete files in Downloads when it runs out of space.

We tested this on October 23, 2026: a 10:35 video at 720p saved in 19 seconds. Below are the steps, which quality to pick, how to save just the audio, the YouTube Premium option, and what to do on a school Chromebook.

Two ways to save YouTube videos on a Chromebook

Chromebooks can't run the Windows programs many PC guides recommend. A web downloader works in Chrome, so nothing needs installing.

How to download a YouTube video on a Chromebook, step by step

1

Copy the video link

Open the video on youtube.com in Chrome. Click in the address bar and copy the link with Ctrl + C, or click Share → Copy under the video.

Done

2

Paste it into the downloader

Open the YouTube video downloader, paste the link with Ctrl + V and press Enter. The title, length and thumbnail show up in a few seconds.

Done

3

Pick MP4 at 1080p or lower

Keep MP4 selected and choose a quality. On a Chromebook, 1080p or 720p is the safe pick. Both are H.264 with AAC sound. Our 4K and 2K files use the AV1 codec, which Chromebook Help doesn't list for MP4. Storage matters too: many Chromebooks have small drives, and 720p takes far less space than 4K.

Done

4

Download and wait for Saved

Click Download MP4. The Transfers box shows progress and then Saved with the file size.

Done

5

Move the file out of Downloads

Chromebook Help calls Downloads a temporary folder: files there can be deleted when space runs low. To keep the video:

1. Open the Files app from the Launcher.
2. On the left, select Downloads.
3. Drag the video to another folder, such as My Drive.

To skip this every time, open Chrome Settings → Downloads, click Change and pick a permanent folder. Or turn on Ask where to save each file before downloading.

Done

6

Play it offline

In the Files app, find the video and double-click it. It plays with or without internet.

Done

Which quality plays on a Chromebook?

Chromebook Help lists H.264 as the video codec for MP4 files. Here is how our MP4 qualities line up with that list:

If you need 2K or 4K, try the WebM tab instead: Chromebook Help lists WebM with VP8 and VP9. For most Chromebook screens, 1080p already looks sharp.

How to download audio from YouTube on a Chromebook

Want only the sound, like music or a lecture? To convert a YouTube video to MP3 on Chromebook, open the Audio · MP3 tab in the downloader, or use YouTube to MP3 directly. MP3 and M4A are both on the Chromebook Help list of media files, so they open straight from the Files app. Our full guide on how to download music from YouTube covers tags, covers and quality.

How to download YouTube videos without Premium on a Chromebook

The web downloader above doesn't need Premium. It saves a normal file you can keep, copy or play in any app. Use it for your own uploads, Creative Commons videos and anything you have permission to save.

Downloading with YouTube Premium on a Chromebook

If you pay for Premium, YouTube Help says you can download in Chrome on a computer:

1. Go to youtube.com, signed in to your Premium account.
2. Open the video and click Download below it.
3. Find your videos later under Downloads in the left menu.

These downloads stay inside YouTube. They play only while signed in to the same account, and up to 29 days offline before you must reconnect. More on that in our guide to watching YouTube offline.

Can you download YouTube videos on a school Chromebook?

Maybe not. Chromebook Help warns that on work or school Chromebooks, some files might not work, and points you to your administrator. Schools can block downloads or sites. If a download is blocked, ask your teacher or IT team. Don't try to get around school rules.

Troubleshooting

Is it legal to download YouTube videos on a Chromebook?

The device doesn't change the rules. Download your own videos, Creative Commons videos and videos you have permission to save. For everything else, YouTube Premium is YouTube's own way to watch offline.

What we'd do

Paste the link, save MP4 at 1080p or 720p, then move the file from Downloads to a folder you keep. Use MP3 for audio only, and leave extra room for 60 fps videos. On a laptop that isn't a Chromebook, see how to download YouTube videos on a PC.