The Y2mate routine, without the clutter
Y2mate keeps the routine that made it popular: paste a YouTube link, choose a format, press Download. What changed is everything around it. This YouTube downloader now runs in a lighter page, answers faster, and lays the options out in one clear table, so the thumbnail, title, length and every available quality are in view before you save a thing.
You do not install a program or register for anything. One page serves Android phones, iPhones, iPads, Windows PCs, Macs and Linux machines alike, which makes it an easy way to download YouTube videos wherever you happen to be. Want the sound only? The Audio tab saves the track as MP3.
How to download a YouTube video
Copy, paste, pick. Most downloads are ready within a few seconds.
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Copy the video link
Grab the address of the video. In the app that means Share, then Copy link; in a browser, copy the URL from the address bar. Shorts links are fine too.
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Paste it into Y2mate
Use the Paste button inside the field, or Ctrl+V on a keyboard. Once a valid link lands in the field, Y2mate begins the lookup on its own.
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Choose a quality and save
Stay on the Video tab for an MP4 resolution or switch to Audio for MP3, then hit Download on the row you want.
Why people use Y2mate
Everything you need to save a video, and nothing you do not.
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Free to use
Look up and download videos at no cost, with no trial period and no card details.
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No sign-up
No account, password or email address. Open the page and start right away.
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MP4 in every quality
See each resolution YouTube offers for a video, up to 1080p where available.
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Audio as MP3
Keep only the sound of a song, talk or podcast and play it in any music app.
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Shorts supported
Shorts links go in the same box and get the same Video and Audio choices.
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Works in your browser
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge or Samsung Internet. No app or extension needed.
Which quality should you choose?
Higher resolutions look sharper but take more space. Use this guide to pick the right size for your screen.
| Resolution | Best for | Typical size per minute |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p FHD | Large monitors, TVs and laptops | 4 to 10 MB |
| 720p HD | Laptops, tablets and most phones | 2 to 6 MB |
| 480p | Phones, and saving storage | 1.5 to 3 MB |
| 360p | Small screens and slow connections | 1 to 2.5 MB |
| 240p | Talks and slides where detail matters less | 0.5 to 1 MB |
| 144p | Keeping a very small copy | 0.2 to 0.5 MB |
| MP3 · 128 kbps | Music, podcasts and audiobooks | About 1 MB |
Sizes depend on the video itself: fast-moving sport or gaming footage needs more space than a calm interview. Y2mate shows the exact size of every option before you download.
Why Y2mate is fast
Speed comes from doing less work, and doing it closer to you.
- You paste a link
- Nearby edge server looks it up
- File downloads from YouTube
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Edge servers near you
Lookups run on a global edge network with servers in hundreds of cities, so your request never travels far. Recently requested videos are remembered for a short while, which makes popular links even quicker.
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No sign-up, no waiting room
There is no login screen, no captcha and no countdown between you and the file. Paste the link and the options appear, usually within a couple of seconds.
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Everything in the browser
Y2mate does not re-encode or queue your video. The Download button points straight at the file on YouTube’s own servers, and nothing needs to be installed or updated.
Shortcut Watching on YouTube in a browser? Replace “youtube.com” in the address bar with the Y2mate address and press Enter to jump straight to the download options.
Works on every device
If it has a modern web browser, it can download YouTube videos with Y2mate.
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Android
Chrome or Samsung Internet. Files go to Downloads.
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iPhone & iPad
Safari saves files to the Files app.
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Windows
Edge, Chrome or Firefox on Windows 10 and 11.
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Mac
Safari, Chrome or Firefox on macOS.
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Linux
Any up-to-date Firefox or Chromium.
Frequently asked questions
Is Y2mate free?
Yes. Every lookup and every download listed in the table is free of charge, and Y2mate never asks for a card or any payment details.
Do I need an account or an app?
No. Everything happens in the browser tab you already have open. There is no registration, no password and no extension or desktop program to set up.
How do I download YouTube videos on my phone?
Copy the link from the Share menu of the YouTube app, switch to your phone’s browser and open Y2mate. Tap Paste, wait for the table, then tap Download beside the quality you want. iPhones keep the file in the Files app under Downloads, while Android phones put it in the Downloads folder.
Which video qualities can I download?
Whatever YouTube has stored for that video. For most recent uploads that means 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p, 240p and 144p, while older or low-resolution clips come with fewer rows. Each row shows its file size.
Can I download YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Copy the Short’s link from its Share button and paste it as you would any other link. Shorts get the same Video and Audio tabs as regular videos.
How do I save only the audio?
Paste the link, switch to the Audio tab and press Download on the MP3 row. If audio is what you usually want, start from the YouTube to MP3 page, where the Audio tab is already open.
Where are my downloaded files saved?
That is up to your browser. Computers normally use the Downloads folder, Android phones list the file in Files or My Files, and iPhones and iPads keep it in Files under Downloads. If the video starts playing in a new tab instead, use that tab’s Download or Save option.
Why did a download link stop working?
YouTube file links expire a few hours after they are created. When you return to an old result, Y2mate spots the expired links, quietly fetches new ones and asks you to tap Download once more.
Is it legal to download YouTube videos?
That varies with the video and with the law in your country. Keeping your own uploads, Creative Commons videos or anything the owner lets you save is usually fine. Respect copyright and YouTube’s terms, and never pass on someone else’s work without their consent.
Does Y2mate keep copies of the videos?
No. Y2mate never stores video or audio. It looks up which formats exist, keeps that list for up to an hour so repeat visits are quicker, and the file itself always comes from YouTube’s servers.