With those caveats in mind, let's check out a few websites and programs that can convert YouTube videos into audio files. Before you try using any website to convert a YouTube video, make sure you’re running dependable and updated antivirus software.

A site may start off as safe and reliable but then become malicious over time. Many of them can be buggy or will even attempt to infect your system with malware. You should also be very cautious with online video conversion sites. Once notified of an infringing tool or service that allows the downloading of a YouTube video without permission from the content owner, we take appropriate action.' Beware Buggy and Malicious Sites Otherwise, you can't legally convert and download copyrighted videos without the owner's permission.Īs a word of warning, a spokesperson for Google had this to say: 'Our Terms of Service prohibit the downloading or copying of videos on YouTube without explicit consent from the copyright holder.

You’ll find “free” content by searching YouTube for 'public domain' and 'non-copyrighted' content or filtering your search to include videos with music licensed by Creative Commons.

You can certainly convert and download your own personal YouTube videos, as well as public domain and non-copyrighted videos. Before diving in, let's get one thorny issue out of the way: Is this type of conversion and download legal? That depends on the video.