Downloading YouTube Videos

This guide explains how to download educational videos from YouTube for offline use in the classroom. There are 2 methods available: using a recommended command-line tool or a simple browser add-on.

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Before You Begin

Downloading videos can significantly impact your school’s network and computer storage. Follow these guidelines:

• Copyright Guidance: Only download videos that are explicitly permitted for educational use or fall under “Fair Use” policies. Avoid downloading commercial movies or copyrighted music without permission.
• Storage Caution: High-quality videos (1080p and above) use a lot of disk space. Regularly delete old videos from your public folders to ensure there is enough room for new content.

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Method 1: Using the Command Line (Recommended)

This method is recommended for its power and reliability. It uses a command-line tool called yt-dlp.

Firewall Must Be Temporarily Disabled

To download from YouTube using this method, you must first stop the firewall. As the admin user, run rsv stop nftables. This is the only step that requires admin privileges. The rest of the process should be run as the guest user.

1. Install yt-dlp

   First, you need to add the asdf plugin for yt-dlp and install it. This only needs to be done once.

   # Add the plugin
   asdf plugin add yt-dlp
   
   # Install the latest version
   asdf install yt-dlp latest
   
   # Set it as the global default
   asdf set yt-dlp latest
   
   # Export the asdf shims to your PATH for the current session
   export PATH="/srv/guest/asdf/shims:$PATH"

2. Navigate to Download Directory

   Change to the directory where you want to save the videos. By default, downloads are saved to the current folder you are in.

   # Save to a teacher's public folder so others can access them
   cd /srv/public/teachers/jdoe

3. Download the Video(s)

   You can now download a video using its URL. The -f best flag tells the tool to download the best available merged video and audio quality.

   Single Video:

   yt-dlp -f best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg1ml3aHAM4

   Batch Download (Multiple URLs): You can download multiple videos at once by listing the URLs separated by spaces, or by pointing to a text file containing one URL per line.

   # Using multiple URLs
   yt-dlp -f best URL1 URL2 URL3
   
   # Using a text file (e.g., videos.txt)
   yt-dlp -f best -a videos.txt

   Tip

   For the absolute highest quality (which might download video and audio separately), use -f bestvideo+bestaudio. You can also list all available formats with the -F flag (e.g., yt-dlp -F <URL>).

4. Restart the Firewall

   Important: Once you have finished downloading your videos, you MUST restart the firewall to ensure the computer remains protected.

   # As the admin user
   rsv start nftables

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Method 2: Using a Firefox Add-on (Alternative)

This is an alternative method for users who prefer a graphical interface. It involves temporarily adding a video downloader tool to the Firefox web browser.

Caution

The add-ons listed in the Firefox store are developed by third parties. TechLit does not own, endorse, or provide support for any specific add-on. Use them at your own discretion.

Firefox add-on steps

Note

Add-ons installed in the guest session are temporary. They will be automatically removed when you log out or reboot the computer. You will need to repeat these steps for each new session.

1. Open Firefox Add-ons

   • Open the Firefox browser.
   • Click the menu button (☰) in the top-right corner and select Add-ons and themes.
   • Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Shift + A.

2. Find a Downloader Add-on

   • In the “Find more add-ons” search box, type youtube downloader and press Enter.
   • Browse the search results and choose an add-on that looks suitable. Read the descriptions and reviews to help you decide.

3. Add the Add-on to Firefox

   • Once you’ve chosen an add-on, click on it, and then click the Add to Firefox button.
   • A permission pop-up will appear. Click Add to confirm.

4. Download the Video

   • Navigate to the YouTube video you want to download.
   • The add-on will typically add a “Download” button near the video player. Click it and follow the on-screen instructions to save the video file to the computer.

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Troubleshooting

If your download fails, check the following:

• Firewall: Did you run rsv stop nftables as the admin user? yt-dlp cannot connect to YouTube if the firewall is active.
• Disk Space: Check if the computer has enough space. You can run df -h /srv/public to see available space in the public folder.
• Private/Deleted Videos: Ensure the video is public and hasn’t been removed by YouTube.
• Update the Tool: YouTube often changes how they deliver videos. If downloads consistently fail, you may need to update yt-dlp by running asdf install yt-dlp latest again.