How to download a YouTube playlist or channel on your Mac
Updated · For Fetchii 1.1 · 2 min read
Short answer
Paste the playlist or channel link into Fetchii and press Enter. A Playlist Detected window lists every video; untick the ones you don't want and click Download. Videos you've already downloaded with Fetchii start unticked, and each playlist gets its own folder.
Step by step
1
Copy the playlist or channel link
Open the playlist on YouTube and copy the page address. For a channel, copy the address of the channel's videos page.
2
Paste it into Fetchii and press Enter
Fetchii opens Playlist Detected and shows how many videos are available. Click Load Metadata to fetch the details of each entry.
[Screenshot: Playlist Detected window with a list of videos, checkboxes and the Download button]
3
Choose the videos
Every video has a checkbox, and the checkbox at the bottom (for example 24 selected) ticks or unticks them all. Use the search field to find entries in long lists. If you've downloaded some before, switch between All, New and Downloaded to see only what's missing.
4
Choose how to download
Under Download as, keep Separate downloads to get each video as its own item you can retry or remove, or choose Combined download for one download that is gentler on the site, best for many items.
5
Click Download
The button shows the count, for example Download 24 Videos. Videos download in playlist order into a folder named after the playlist (turn this off in Settings → Downloads → File Names & Folders → Create playlist folders).
Please note:Download only playlists and channels you have the right to keep, such as your own uploads or openly licensed videos.
More you can do
Save a playlist as audio
Click the options button at the right end of the link field (or press ⌘N), paste the playlist link and choose Audio only. The button then reads Download 24 Audios, and each file is saved in the audio format chosen in Settings → Downloads.
Keep a playlist up to date
Paste the same link again later. Videos you already have start unticked, and the New filter shows only what was added since.
Number your files
Use {playlist_index} and {playlist_title} in Settings → Downloads → Download naming pattern to keep files in playlist order.
Very long playlists
If reading a playlist takes a while, Fetchii offers Keep Waiting, Download First Video or Download Entire Playlist.
Questions
Does this work for YouTube channels?
Yes. A channel link is handled like a playlist: Fetchii lists the channel's videos and you choose which to download.
How many videos download at the same time?
Three by default. Change it in Settings → Downloads → Max concurrent downloads (1 to 6). During the free trial, up to 2 downloads run at a time.
Will Fetchii download videos I already have?
Not unless you tick them. Videos Fetchii has downloaded before start unticked (Auto-exclude downloaded, on by default), and duplicate detection (on by default) warns you before downloading one again.
Does it work for other sites?
Yes, for sites that offer playlists. Bilibili multi-part videos, for example, open as a list of parts.
