How to Quickly Record YouTube Videos on Any Device?

Have you ever wanted to save a segment of a YouTube video for offline viewing, editing inspiration, or teaching sharing?

In fact, the device you have may already have the ability to record YouTube videos without installing additional software. Whether it is a Windows computer, Mac, Android phone, or iPhone, most systems have built-in screen recording tools that are sufficient to meet daily screen recording needs.

However, these functions are usually "hidden deeper", some are buried behind shortcuts, and some are hidden in the settings menu, which is not easy to find. If you are looking for more abundant functions, such as video editing, transcription, or one-click saving to different formats, third-party screen recording tools also have their unique advantages.

This article  will give you a comprehensive summary of how to quickly and easily record YouTube videos on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Whether you are a technical novice or an advanced user who wants to find a more efficient solution, you can find a method that suits you here.

How to record a YouTube video on iPhone/iPad?

⚠️ Tips: Please note that YouTube has strict rules on the use of content. Unauthorized recording or distribution of YouTube videos may violate its terms of service. It is recommended to check YouTube's "Fair Use Policy" before operation to ensure that your recording behavior is legal and compliant.

Step 1: Enable screen recording

Before you start recording, make sure the screen recording button is in the control center. Here's how to do it:

Open "Settings" and go to "Control Center".

Swipe down and find the "Screen Recording" option, and tap the "+" sign next to it to add it to the control center.

Step 2: Start recording

Go back to the home screen and swipe down (from the top right corner for iPhone X and above, and from the bottom for other models) to open the control center.

Find the circle icon (screen recording button), tap to start recording, and the screen will count down for 3 seconds before officially starting recording.

If you want to record system sounds or external sounds, you can long press the recording button to turn on the microphone.

 

Step 3: Play YouTube videos and record

Switch to the YouTube App and open the video content you want to record.

At this point, the screen recording is running in the background and will fully record the content being played.

Step 4: End recording and save

After the video is recorded, open the control center again and tap the recording icon to stop. The recorded video will be automatically saved to the "Photos" App > Recent Projects" and can be viewed or edited at any time.

How to Record YouTube Videos on Android?

Most new Android phones (especially those running Android 10 and above) have built-in screen recording capabilities, without the need to download a third-party app. If you just want to record a YouTube video clip for personal use, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the screen recording function

Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full Quick Settings menu (Control Center).

Check to see if there is a "Screen Recording" or "Record Screen" button.

If not, tap the pencil icon or "Edit button" in the upper right corner and drag "Screen Recording" to the quick menu.

 

Step 2: Start recording

Open the YouTube app and prepare the video you want to record.

Tap the Screen Recording icon in the quick menu and select whether to record audio and whether to show touch controls.

Tap "Start" and the system will count down for 3 seconds before recording begins.

Step 3: Play and record

Go back to YouTube and start playing the video you want to save.

The screen recording function will record the entire picture and audio (depending on device support).

Step 4: End and save the recording

After recording, click the "Stop" button in the top status bar, or open the shortcut menu again to stop manually.

The video will be automatically saved in the "Album" or "File" App > Screen Recording" folder.

Tips

Some brands (such as Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi) may integrate the screen recording function into their own systems, with slightly different names, but the usage is roughly the same.

If your device does not have a built-in screen recording function, you can also consider installing third-party apps such as AZ Screen Recorder and Mobizen, but pay attention to application permissions and advertising issues.

How to Record YouTube Videos on Windows and Mac?

Compared to smartphones, screen recording on Windows and Mac is a little more complicated, but the good news is: both come with built-in screen recording tools, so you can easily record YouTube videos without installing third-party software.

Record YouTube videos on Windows 10/11

The built-in Xbox Game Bar in Windows was originally designed for game recording, but it can also be used to record web videos, including YouTube.

Step 1: Start the screen recording tool

Open the YouTube video page in the browser and pause it at the time you want to start recording.

Press the Windows + G shortcut keys at the same time to open the Xbox Game Bar.

Step 2: Start recording

In the pop-up interface, click the "Start Recording" button (circular icon), or directly press the shortcut keys Windows + Alt + R.

After the recording starts, you will see a small floating window in the upper right corner of the screen to show the recording status.

Step 3: Stop and view the recording content

Click the stop icon in the floating window, or press Windows + Alt + R again to stop recording.

Open "Xbox Game Bar" and click "My Capture" to view and play the video you just recorded. The video is saved in the "Video > Capture" folder by default.

Record YouTube videos on Mac (using Snipping Tool)

Mac provides two native ways to record screens: QuickTime Player and Screenshot Tool (macOS Mojave and above). Here we recommend the latter, which is more convenient.

Step 1: Open Snipping Tool

You can launch it in any of the following ways:

Use the shortcut: Command + Shift + 5

Or open "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Screenshot"

Step 2: Select the recording option and start recording

In the pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen, select "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion".

Click the "Record" button, then quickly switch to the browser and play the YouTube video.

Step 3: End the recording and save

Click the Stop button (⏹️) in the top menu bar, or press Command + Control + Esc again to stop.

The video will be automatically saved to the Desktop, and you can play, edit or share it directly.

Tips

If you need to record sound at the same time, please make sure the microphone or system audio is enabled.

For more advanced screen recording needs (such as editing, subtitling, noise reduction, etc.), you can consider using professional tools such as OBS Studio, Camtasia, ScreenFlow (Mac), etc.

How to use third-party screen recording tools?

While both Windows and Mac come with built-in screen recording tools that handle basic tasks well, they do have limitations, such as:

• Inability to record internal system audio easily (especially on Mac)
• Lack of video editing features like trimming, annotations, or adding subtitles
• No options for scheduled recording or advanced output formats

If you need high-quality recordings or plan to edit and share your videos professionally, using a third-party screen recorder is highly recommended. Here are some popular tools worth considering:

If you just want to see the text in a YouTube video, you can use the handy VidText AI tool, which helps you transcribe the video directly into text.

FAQs

1. Can I record YouTube videos without third-party software?

Yes. Windows provides the Xbox Game Bar, Mac has a screenshot tool (Command + Shift + 5), and iPhone and Android devices also have built-in screen recording functions, which basically meet daily recording needs.

2. Is it illegal to record YouTube videos?

If it is for personal learning purposes, it usually does not involve infringement. However, if the content is used for dissemination, commercial purposes or uploaded to other platforms without authorization, it may violate YouTube's Terms of Service. Please be sure to review and comply with YouTube's Fair Use Policy.

3. Why is there no sound when I record the screen?

Some devices (especially Mac) do not support recording system internal audio by default, and may only record microphone sound. It is recommended to use a virtual audio plug-in (such as BlackHole) or use a third-party tool that supports internal audio recording.

4. Where are the screen recorded videos saved?

• Windows: Usually saved in the Videos > Capture folder
• Mac: Saved on the desktop by default
• iPhone/iPad: Saved in the Photos app after recording
• Android: Depends on the brand, usually in the File Manager or Gallery