Python

Download YouTube Videos Easily with Python

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There are many times when you might want to download a video that you really like from YouTube. Especially when you want to save short and impactful videos like YouTube Shorts. In this article, we’ll introduce a simple method to download YouTube videos using Python. Instead of using complicated paid tools, try the `pytube` library in Python. With just a few lines of simple code, you can easily download the videos you want.

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Getting Started: Download YouTube Videos with Python

First, you need to install `pytube`, the tool required to download videos from YouTube. The installation is straightforward. Just enter the following command in your terminal:

pip install pytube

Once the installation is complete, you’re ready to download videos.

Download a Single YouTube Video

Let’s start with how to download a single YouTube video. You can download the desired video using the code below.

from pytube import YouTube

def download_video(video_url):
    yt = YouTube(video_url)
    yt.streams.filter(adaptive=True, file_extension='mp4').first().download()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    video_url = 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID_HERE'
    download_video(video_url)

When you run this code, the YouTube video specified in the `video_url` variable will be automatically downloaded. The file format will be MP4, saved in the best possible quality.

Using Various Download Options

Now, let’s look at how to download videos in different resolutions or file formats. For example, if you want to download an MP4 video in 720p resolution, you can use the code below:

from pytube import YouTube

def download_video(video_url):
    yt = YouTube(video_url)
    yt.streams.filter(res='720p', file_extension='mp4').first().download()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    video_url = 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID_HERE'
    download_video(video_url)

By modifying this code, you can save videos in various formats that suit your needs.

Download All Shorts Videos from a YouTube Channel

YouTube Shorts are short-length videos that many people find interesting. How can you download all the Shorts videos from a particular YouTube channel at once? This can be easily done using the code below:

import os
import google.auth
from googleapiclient.discovery import build
from pytube import YouTube

def download_shorts(channel_id):
    credentials, project = google.auth.default()
    youtube = build('youtube', 'v3', credentials=credentials)
    channel_response = youtube.channels().list(part='contentDetails', id=channel_id).execute()
    uploads_playlist_id = channel_response['items'][0]['contentDetails']['relatedPlaylists']['uploads']

    playlistitems_request = youtube.playlistItems().list(part='snippet', playlistId=uploads_playlist_id, maxResults=50)
    while playlistitems_request is not None:
        playlistitems_response = playlistitems_request.execute()
        for playlist_item in playlistitems_response['items']:
            video_id = playlist_item['snippet']['resourceId']['videoId']
            video_response = youtube.videos().list(part='snippet', id=video_id).execute()
            video_tags = video_response['items'][0]['snippet']['tags']
            if 'Shorts' in video_tags:
                print(f'Downloading {video_id}')
                video_url = f'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v={video_id}'
                yt = YouTube(video_url)
                yt.streams.filter(adaptive=True, file_extension='mp4').first().download()
        playlistitems_request = youtube.playlistItems().list_next(playlistitems_request, playlistitems_response)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    channel_id = 'INSERT_YOUTUBE_CHANNEL_ID_HERE'
    download_shorts(channel_id)

When you run this code, all Shorts videos belonging to the inputted channel ID will be downloaded. By combining the YouTube API with the pytube library, you can manage your videos more efficiently.

Copyright and License Considerations

When downloading YouTube videos, you must be aware of copyright issues. Ensure that the downloaded videos are used only for personal purposes and not for commercial purposes. Additionally, if you edit or redistribute the downloaded videos, make sure to obtain permission from the original creator.

Conclusion

We have explored various ways to download YouTube videos using Python. By using this method, you can save and manage the videos you want without any additional cost. Now, enjoy richer content by leveraging pytube and the YouTube API.

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