The Downloader plugin adds a download button to songs, albums and whole playlists, saving audio straight from the app with no browser extension or converter website in the loop. Under the hood it uses the same extraction approach as youtube-dl, then hands the stream to FFmpeg for encoding.

You choose the container and quality — MP3 for maximum compatibility, or Opus / M4A to keep the source audio untouched — and files land in a folder you pick, tagged with title, artist and album art.

What it does

  • Download a single track, a full album or an entire playlist in one action
  • Pick your format: MP3, Opus, M4A, WAV or FLAC, at the bitrate you choose
  • ID3 tags and cover art are written automatically, so files land tidy in your library

How to enable Downloader

  1. Install YouTube Music Desktop App for Windows, macOS or Linux.
  2. Open the app menu and choose Plugins.
  3. Switch on Downloader.
  4. Open its options entry to adjust the settings.

Frequently asked questions

Where do downloaded files go?

To the folder set in the plugin options; the default is your system Downloads directory. Playlists get their own subfolder named after the playlist.

Is downloading music legal?

It depends on where you live and on the licence of the material. Use it for content you have the right to save — public-domain works, Creative Commons releases, or your own uploads — and respect YouTube’s Terms of Service.

Downloader ships with the app

Free, open source, and one toggle away — along with 42 other plugins.

Download free