4 Methods to Download Music from YouTube for Desktop and Mobile

If you want to download music from YouTube to listening offline on computer or phone, you got multople solutions. This guide will explain some handy methods to download YouTube music. 

Method 1: Download YouTube Music by Changing URL

If you don’t want to install anything and only need to download a song or two from YouTube, try this quick method. The idea is simple: a small change to the YouTube URL redirects you to a download page.

What to change: Replace youtube with yout in the URL—in other words, delete “ube.”

1. Open the YouTube music video you want to download in a desktop or mobile browser. (Note: This method does not work inside the YouTube app.)

2. Click the address bar, delete “ube” from the URL, and press Enter.

3. Once you’re redirected, select MP3 or WAV and click Convert.

4. Confirm your selection, then download the file to your phone or computer.

👍 Pros

• No installation required

• Works in desktop and mobile browsers.

👎 Cons

• Higher-quality audio usually requires payment

Method 2: Download Multiple Tracks with SurFast Video Downloader

If you want to download multiple songs or an entire YouTube music playlist, then a good option is SurFast Video Downloader. 

SurFast Video Downloader is a YouTube downloader available for Windows and Mac. It supports extracting audio from YouTube videos and downloading YouTube playlists. It can easily convert YouTube to MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, AAC, ALAC, OGG, and OPUS for different devices. 

How to use it

1. Install and launch SurFast Video Downloader.

2. Copy the authorized YouTube video or playlist link.

3. Paste the link into the application.

4. Select Audio and choose an output format. Set the available quality options and destination folder. Click Download.

5. Open the completed file from the download history.

👍 Pros

• Batch downloading and playlist support

• Multiple audio output formats

👎 Cons

• Installation required and available for computer only
• Only 3 free downloads in the Trial version

Method 3: Download with Open-spource tool: JDownloader

If you prefer a free yet powerful YouTube music download, you can have a try of JDownloader, an open-source YT-DLP GUI. The tool supports not only YouTube, but also a vast number of other websites like Facebook and TikTok. The tool is ideal for advanced users who don't mind some technical configuration during installation. 

👍 Pros

• Useful for organizing larger collections of links

• More control over which files enter the download queue

👎 Cons

• A learning curve to use the downloader
• No direct report of MP3 files, and conversion is needed 

Method 4: Convert a Single Video with YTMP3

YTMP3 is an online YouTube to MP3 converter that can download YouTube music as well. The tool provide a simply yet straightforward process to download song from YouTube. 

👍 Pros

• No desktop application required

• Convenient for occasional single-file tasks

👎 Cons

•  No bulk downloading or playlist support
• Occasional conversion failures

Which Method Should You Choose?

For most listeners, YouTube Music Premium is the simplest official route. If you want to get the music files, third-party tools are a better option. The key is to choose based on the result you need: offline playback inside an app, a standalone audio file, or a repeatable workflow for managing content you are authorized to download.