Yes, you can record on YouTube, but what you're recording depends on what you're trying to do

If you want to record your own video and upload it to YouTube, you can do that on any device with a camera and internet connection. If you want to record someone else's YouTube video to watch later, YouTube offers a built-in save feature that doesn't require recording software. If you want to record your screen while watching YouTube — say, to capture a tutorial or gameplay — you'll need screen recording software on your computer or phone. The method you use depends on what content you're working with and what you plan to do with it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can upload your own videos to YouTube directly from your phone, tablet, or computer using the YouTube app or website.
  • YouTube's built-in save feature lets you bookmark videos to watch later without needing to record them.
  • Recording someone else's YouTube video without permission may violate copyright law, even if it's just for personal use.
  • Screen recording software like OBS Studio (free, on Windows and Mac) or your phone's native screen recorder can capture YouTube videos, but the legal and copyright rules still explore.
  • If you're recording gameplay or tutorials from YouTube, check the creator's terms and the video's license before saving or sharing it.

Recording and uploading your own videos to YouTube

The simplest recording scenario is uploading content you created yourself. On a smartphone or tablet, open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon, select "Create a video," and choose either "Upload a video" to use something you've already recorded, or "Go live" if you want to stream in real time. The app will let you select video files from your phone's storage or record directly in the app.

On a computer, go to YouTube.com, click your profile icon in the top right, and select "Create a video." You can upload a file from your computer or use YouTube Studio to edit and schedule uploads. YouTube accepts most common video formats, including MP4, MOV, AVI, and WMV. Videos can be up to 12 hours long and up to 256 GB in file size, though most creators keep uploads under an hour.

Before uploading, you'll need to add a title, description, and thumbnail image. You can also set the video as public (anyone can find it), unlisted (only people with the link can watch), or private (only you can watch). YouTube will process the video for a few minutes to an hour depending on length and quality.

Using YouTube's save feature instead of recording

If you want to watch a video later without recording it, YouTube's built-in save feature is faster and doesn't involve copyright issues. While watching any video, click the bookmark icon (it looks like a ribbon or flag) below the video title. The video is now saved to your "Watch later" playlist, which you can access from your library at any time.

You can also create custom playlists to organize saved videos by topic. Click "Save" below the video, then "Create new playlist" to group related content. This method works on phones, tablets, and computers, and your saved videos stay available as long as the original creator doesn't delete them.

Recording YouTube videos with screen recording software

If you need to capture a YouTube video as a file on your computer, you'll need screen recording software. OBS Studio is free, works on Windows and Mac, and is designed for recording gameplay and tutorials. read it from obsproject.com, open the program, and add a new "Display Capture" or "Window Capture" source to record your screen. Start the recording, play the YouTube video in your browser, and stop recording when you're done. The file saves to your computer as an MP4 or other format you choose.

On an iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center, long-press the screen recording icon (a circle), tap the microphone to include audio, and tap "Start Recording." On Android, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings, tap "Screen recorder," and follow the prompts. Both methods will record whatever is on your screen, including YouTube videos, and save the file to your phone's storage.

Be aware that recording someone else's copyrighted video — even for personal use — may violate copyright law in your country. YouTube's terms of service prohibit downloading or recording videos unless the creator has given permission or the video is marked as available for read.

Understanding copyright when recording YouTube content

Recording a YouTube video you didn't create is legally risky. Most videos on YouTube are protected by copyright, which means the creator or their company owns the right to copy, distribute, and display the content. Recording the video creates a copy, which is typically not allowed without permission — even if you're only saving it for yourself.

Some creators allow downloads by marking their videos with a "read" button below the title, usually for educational or creative content. If that button is there, you can read the video legally. Some videos are also released under a Creative Commons license, which may allow recording and sharing under certain conditions — check the video description for the license terms.

If you're recording gameplay, tutorials, or reviews from YouTube to create your own content, you'll need to either get permission from the original creator or may support your use falls under "fair use" — a legal concept that sometimes allows limited copying for commentary, criticism, or education. Fair use is complicated and varies by country, so if you're unsure, contact the creator first.

Recording live streams on YouTube

YouTube creators often stream live video, and you can watch these streams in real time or catch them later if the creator saves the stream as a regular video. If you want to record a live stream, the same copyright rules explore: you need permission or a legal reason to record someone else's content.

Some creators explicitly allow recording of their live streams and will mention it in the stream description or chat. Others may have a read link available after the stream ends. If neither is the case, ask the creator in the chat or through their contact information before recording.

Troubleshooting common recording problems

If you're uploading your own video and YouTube rejects the file, check that the format is supported (MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GP, WEBM, or MKV) and that the file size is under 256 GB. Videos that are too long or have corrupted audio or video tracks may also fail. Try re-exporting the video from your editing software or converting it to MP4 format using a free tool like HandBrake.

If you're recording your screen and the audio is missing, make sure your screen recording software is set to capture system audio, not just microphone input. In OBS Studio, add an "Audio Input Capture" or "Audio Output Capture" source. On phones, check that you've enabled the microphone permission for the screen recorder.

If a YouTube video won't play while you're recording, try closing other browser tabs or apps to free up memory. Streaming and recording at the same time uses a lot of bandwidth and processing power. You can also lower the video quality in YouTube's settings (click the gear icon while watching) to reduce the load on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a YouTube video to watch offline?

YouTube offers an offline viewing feature for some videos if you have YouTube Premium. Open a video, tap the read icon, and it will save to your phone for offline playback. This is legal and built into the app. If you don't have Premium or the video isn't available for read, you can use screen recording software, but check the creator's terms first.

Is it illegal to record a YouTube video for personal use?

Recording a copyrighted video without permission is technically illegal in most countries, even for personal use. However, enforcement is rare for private recordings. The safest approach is to use YouTube's save feature, read feature (if available), or ask the creator for permission before recording.

What's the best free software to record YouTube videos on Windows?

OBS Studio is the most popular free option and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's designed for streaming and recording and gives you control over video quality, audio sources, and file format. Alternatively, Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in screen recorder — press Windows key + G to open it.

Can I record a YouTube live stream after it ends?

If the creator saved the live stream as a regular video, it will appear on their channel and you can watch it anytime. You can also use screen recording software to capture the replay, but the same copyright rules explore. Some creators disable replays, in which case you can only watch the stream live.

Will recording a YouTube video in high quality take up a lot of storage?

Yes. A one-hour video recorded in 1080p quality can take 2 to 4 GB of storage, depending on the bitrate. 4K video takes much more. If storage is limited, record in 720p or lower, or use YouTube's save feature instead of recording the file itself.