The digital historic period is a dream come true for hoarders and collectors. No matter how much digital information or information you amass, it won't take up a lot of infinite. This ways you don't have to control your primal instinct to search and collect, you can requite rein to it.

Sometimes, however, there are technical obstacles. If you're looking for a way to download YouTube videos and view them in Windows Media Player, read on. This article volition explain how to best excerpt YouTube videos and subsequently enjoy them on Windows Media Player.

How It Works

YouTube streams content using wink video engineering. The respective file format is .flv. To download and view a YouTube video, you basically have three options:

  1. Download and playback the video in .flv file format.
  2. Download and playback in an alternative file format.
  3. Download the .flv file and convert it to another file format for playback.

This commodity is mainly concerned with how to view YouTube videos in Windows Media Player, regardless of how yous obtained the files and what file format they are in. Hence, we can neglect the tertiary option.

All-time Download Options For YouTube Videos

To limit the defoliation, I have selected only 2 tools. 1 is a website, the other a plan. Both piece of work flawlessly. You should go with the 2d one, VDownloader, if yous want to download multiple videos in parallel.

Kiss YouTube

Kiss YouTube is a straight frontward style to download YouTube videos because y'all do not demand to install any software. In improver, Buss YouTube can download YouTube videos in iii different file formats: 3GP, FLV, and MP4. Paired with ease of use, that'due south enough of slap-up features for an online service.

You lot can either copy and paste the URL of the YouTube video into the respective field on the Kiss YouTube homepage (see screenshot below); OR you tin rename the YouTube URL, adding the discussion 'osculation' between 'www.' and 'youtube.com/...'.

In both cases you will be directed to a page that lets you select your download format.

download youtube videos to computer

To proceed, click the download link of your preferred file format.

VDownloader

This is a software option, which is more user-friendly if you want to download multiple videos or wish to download from more sources than but YouTube. Attending! The installation comes with lots of extra software options and adware, all of which y'all can opt out of. Be sure to carefully screen all your options and go with a custom installation to opt out of the Ask toolbar and homepage.

Once you take completed the installation, VDownloader is a great tool. Equally shortly as you copy a URL, it is pasted into the program's > Video URL field. Next select your preferred > Output Format and hitting the > Download button. While your starting time video is already downloading, you tin can proceed to add the next 1.

youtube video download

The available output formats include .flv (no conversion), .avi, .mpeg, .mp3 (sound), and several more.

VDownloader was as well reviewed by Karl in this article: VDownloader - Really Easy Video Downloader Software.

Now that you have downloaded your videos, here comes the tricky role. Per default, Windows Media Player only recognizes a express corporeality of file formats, the standard video file format being .wmv. Nonetheless, none of the options in a higher place download YouTube videos in that format. Then what can you do?

You need to download and install codecs then that Windows Media Player can read all those file types. Don't sweat, information technology's a quick and easy three-pace-program:

  1. Go to Codec Guide and download any of the K-Lite Codec Packs, the basic one is sufficient.
  2. Install the downloaded Chiliad-Lite Codec Pack.
  3. Enjoy downloaded videos in Windows Media Histrion.
how to play youtube videos in windows media player

That'south it.

Also bank check out the following YouTube-related manufactures on MakeUseOf:

  • 3 Complimentary Ways To Download YouTube Movies To Your iPhone (& Other Mobile Phones) by Jeffry
  • 10 Youtube URL Tricks Y'all Should Know About by Varun

Conclusion

If y'all're now wondering, why you would want to employ Windows Media Player in the first place, I congratulate you. The answer is, I don't know. Fact is, it's much easier to download a media player that naturally supports all these file formats. Apparently, you will relieve yourself the hassle of installing codecs and trying to make it work with WMP. If yous tin can live without WMP and would prefer an like shooting fish in a barrel choice, I highly recommend [NO LONGER WORKS] VLC Media Player.

Here are some more MakeUseOf recommendations:

  • Top 5 Costless Media Players For Windows by Volition
  • Kantaris - A Great New Media Role player Based On VLC by Simon
  • Splayer - A Portable Play-All Media Histrion for Windows past Jessica

This is the fourth dimension to fess up! Do yous download YouTube videos to your calculator and in case you practise, what is your reason? Do yous mind sharing how many gigabytes the YouTube videos accept up on your hard drive?

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Virtually The Author

Tina Sieber (848 Articles Published)

While completing a PhD, Tina started writing virtually consumer technology in 2006 and never stopped. Now also an editor and SEO, y'all tin find her on Twitter or hiking a nearby trail.

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