Converting YouTube playlists to MP4 can be a great way to save your favorite videos locally and watch them offline. MP4 is a popular video format that can be played on most devices. By converting entire YouTube playlists, you can easily archive multiple videos you want to keep. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the steps for converting YouTube playlists to MP4 format. We will cover creating a playlist, downloading software to do the conversion, configuring the settings, and finally exporting the playlist. With the right approach, you can seamlessly convert even large YouTube playlists to MP4 in bulk.
Create a YouTube Playlist
The first step is to create a playlist on YouTube with all the videos you want to convert to MP4 with a YouTube to MP4 converter. Playlists allow you to organize multiple videos into a collection that can be played back-to-back.
To create a new playlist, simply log into your YouTube account and go to the video you want to add. Under the video title, click on “Save” then select “Create new playlist”. Give the playlist a name and description. Continue searching for other videos to add to the playlist. The videos will be added to the bottom of the playlist when you save them.
You can create as many playlists needed to organize your video collection. Once you have the playlists ready, it’s time to convert them.
Install Converter Software
In order to convert your saved YouTube playlists, you will need to download converter software. There are many great options available, both free and paid. Look for a program that allows batch conversion, which will enable you to convert entire playlists at once.
Some of the top software choices include Adobe Express, Freemake Video Converter, WinX HD Video Converter, or 4K Video Downloader. Read reviews to choose one that fits your needs. Be sure to download the software from the official website to avoid bundled add-ons. The installation process is quick and easy.
Configure Settings
Once you have the converter program installed, open it and check the settings. Look for options related to output format and quality. Set the output format to MP4, then adjust the quality settings as needed. Higher quality settings will result in larger file sizes.
You may also want to configure the save location. Set your MP4 playlist files to be exported into a designated folder where they will be easy to find. Some software may allow you to automatically name the exported files based on the YouTube video titles.
Add YouTube Playlist
Now it’s time to add your YouTube playlist for conversion. Most converters will have a spot to paste in a playlist URL. Simply go back to the playlist you created in YouTube, click “Share” and copy the URL.
Paste this playlist URL into the converter software. It will then load all the videos from that playlist. You can repeat this to add multiple playlists if needed.
Run the Conversion
With your settings configured and YouTube playlist URL added, all that’s left is to run the conversion. Hit the “Convert” or “Download” button in the software. It may take some time depending on the length of the playlist and quality settings.
The software will work through each video in the playlist sequentially, downloading them from YouTube and converting them to MP4 format based on your configured settings. The converted MP4 files will be saved in the designated output location as the process completes.
Further Tips and Tricks
- Check file sizes – Once the conversion finishes, spot check some of the exported MP4 files. Verify that the file sizes are reasonable based on your quality settings. Very large or very small files may indicate an issue.
- Test playback – Try playing back some of the finished MP4 files before deleting the original YouTube playlists. This ensures the conversion worked properly and videos play back smoothly.
- Troubleshoot issues – If you run into any errors or quality issues, tweak the software settings and try the conversion again. Refer to the user documentation for your specific program.
- Update metadata – Use a metadata editing tool to add details like titles, descriptions, thumbnail art to the exported MP4 files. This makes the local copies more complete.
- Re-convert poorly encoded videos – Some YouTube videos may not convert well or lose quality. Re-add these individual videos to the software queue at higher encoding settings as needed.
- Automate backups – Look into automating the process with task scheduling so you can periodically and automatically back up your latest YouTube playlists.
Converting your favorite YouTube playlists to MP4 for offline playback is straightforward with the right software.