This is the complete guide to downloading YouTube videos free in 2026. Covers every device and every major browser. No YouTube Premium needed, no paid software, no account required anywhere.
Open Safari and go to dltkk.to. Paste your YouTube URL, select MP4 or MP3, and tap Download. When complete, tap the download arrow in Safari's toolbar, then tap the file and choose Save Video (for MP4) or Save to Files (for MP3) to store it permanently on your device. Full guide: YouTube download in Safari.
Open Chrome and go to dltkk.to. Paste your YouTube URL, select MP4 or MP3, tap Download. The file saves automatically to your Downloads folder and appears in Gallery (for video) or your music app (for MP3) without any extra steps. This is the smoothest device for YouTube downloads — no manual save step required.
Go to dltkk.to in Chrome or Edge. Paste the YouTube URL, select your format and quality, and click Download. Press Ctrl+J to open the downloads panel and watch progress. Files save to your Downloads folder in C:\Users\YourName\Downloads. For Firefox on Windows: same process, press Ctrl+Shift+Y to open Firefox downloads. Full Windows guide: Windows 11 download guide (process is identical for YouTube).
In Safari on Mac: go to dltkk.to, paste URL, select format, click Download. Press Cmd+Option+L to open the Safari downloads window. Files save to ~/Downloads. In Chrome on Mac: same process, press Cmd+Shift+J for Chrome downloads. Full Mac guide: Safari YouTube download guide.
YouTube Premium costs $13.99 per month and includes offline downloads, but with strict limitations: downloads only play in the YouTube app, they expire if you stop paying for Premium, you cannot transfer the files to other apps or devices, and you cannot keep them permanently. dltkk.to is completely free and gives you actual MP4 or MP3 files saved permanently to your device that play in any app, any player, and on any device you transfer them to. For the vast majority of users, the free browser-based approach gives more utility than a paid YouTube Premium subscription for the specific purpose of offline access.
For offline viewing, select MP4 at 720p — best balance of quality and file size for most content. For tutorials and reference material where on-screen detail matters, select MP4 at 1080p. For listening to music, podcasts, or audio-heavy content, select MP3 or FLAC audio-only — dramatically smaller file with all the audio value. For highest possible audio quality from a music video or concert, select FLAC. For content you want to edit or repurpose in video editing software, select MP4 at 1080p for the most editing flexibility.
Private YouTube videos, content blocked in your region, and some age-restricted content that requires account verification cannot be downloaded through dltkk.to. Live streams that are currently in progress cannot be downloaded as a complete file (only the completed VOD replay can be downloaded after the stream ends). Content behind YouTube Memberships or channel-exclusive paywalls also cannot be accessed. For publicly accessible non-restricted content, dltkk.to works reliably in 2026.