# YouTube downloads **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 17, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952 "2023-02-17T17:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952/1 "2023-02-17T17:03:38Z")
I use Real Downloader to download YouTube videos. In normal times, it works fine. However - today, nothing will download. I get a message “Real Player cannot download videos on this page”. It even happens with videos that I successfully downloaded two days ago. Has YouTube blocked Real Downloader? 1. I can download videos from other sites with Real Downloader (it works with PornHub 🙂 ) 2. I can use other dubious software to download YouTube videos - e.g. sstube (put “ss” in front of “youtube” in the video link, and if you’re careful - selecting the right “Download” button, and closing any screens that ask you to download software - you can save the video). Probably upgrading to YouTube Premium solves the problem, but has anyone else encountered my problem recently? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952/2 "2023-02-17T17:37:15Z")
Haven’t used Real Downloader in eons, but it was one of the many many downloaders I’ve used. Traditionally, YouTube never made it possible for the videos they host to be downloaded, so it has been a neverending tech fight. Their YouTube Premium thingie may be a capitulation on their end, although they hope to make money on it if they’re gonna allow it. I would assume they found a way to block the version of Real Downloader you’ve been using; that Real will eventually update their method to get it working yet again; and that YouTube will block that technique as well. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952/3 "2023-02-17T20:07:42Z")
4 posts were split to a new topic: [Youtube Downloads, illegal help posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads-illegal-help-posts/979963) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952/7 "2023-02-17T20:04:20Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952/8 "2023-02-17T20:06:19Z")
As it is against You Tube Terms of Service to download videos posted there, and doing so could result in a lawsuit. This thread is closed and and suggestions will be cornfielded. [Is It Legal to Download YouTube Videos? The Truth Explained](https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/is-it-legal-to-download-youtube-videos/) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-downloads/979952/9 "2023-02-17T21:09:35Z")
Good point raised by @Charlie_Tan > [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/979965/1): > > Hi > It’s a really small nit to pick, but subscribers to YT premium can in fact download videos. The button for it is at the lower right of the playback window, between share and […]. > From the context of the thread I agree with the ruling. Using 3rd party software to DL is clearly a way to get around the subscription. Thank you.