How to Download YouTube Videos in MP4・4K High Quality! Official Features and External Tools Explained

"I want to enjoy my favorite YouTube videos in ultra-high 4K quality even without internet access"
"I want to save them as MP4 files to watch on my large PC screen or TV"

 

Recently, more YouTube videos support 4K (2160p), and their visual beauty is stunning. However, while standard quality may be fine, when trying to save videos in "4K quality" and "MP4 format", many people find themselves confused about how to do it.

 

In this article, we'll explain specific methods for saving YouTube videos in high quality for those searching for solutions with the keyword "youtube mp4 4k".

 

We'll introduce everything from safe and secure official features to convenient external tool usage for PC storage, including the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

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⚠️ Important: Precautions Before Downloading

Before diving into specific methods, there are essential rules you must know.

 

1. Downloading illegally uploaded videos is illegal
   Knowingly downloading videos that infringe on copyright is prohibited by law.
2. YouTube's Terms of Service
   YouTube's terms generally prohibit downloads except through officially permitted methods (such as Premium's offline temporary storage).

 

The information in this article is explained on the premise of backing up your own videos, using permitted videos such as Creative Commons content, and using official features. Let's use these methods correctly while following the rules.

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1. 【Official】Safest Option! Save in High Quality with YouTube Premium

The first option to consider is using the official paid plan "YouTube Premium" feature.

Benefits

• 100% Safe and Legal: As an official feature, there's no risk of account suspension.
• Comfortable on Smartphones and Tablets: Easy offline playback within the app.

Steps for 4K Saving

1. Open the YouTube app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Open the 4K-compatible video you want to save and tap the "Offline" button (temporary save).
3. Select "High Quality" or "Full HD" in the quality selection.
   • Note: As of 2025, temporary saves on smartphone apps are often capped at 1080p (Full HD) depending on device specs, but this is the safest way to watch high-quality videos.

Disadvantages

• Not strictly an "MP4 file": It's saved as encrypted data that can only be played within the app. You cannot extract it as a file to PC folders or import it into editing software.
• Monthly subscription fee required.

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2. 【External Tools】How to Save to PC as "MP4・4K"

If you absolutely want to keep MP4 files in your PC's local folder or backup your own videos in 4K as editing material, you'll need to use external downloaders (sites or software).

 

There are two types: "conversion sites" that work in web browsers and "dedicated software" that you install on your PC, but for 4K quality, "dedicated software" is overwhelmingly recommended.

Why is 4K Saving Difficult with "Conversion Sites"?

Most websites that come up when searching for "YouTube MP4 Converter" limit quality to 720p or 1080p to reduce server load. Very few sites support 4K, and the current situation is that they're difficult to use with many ads.

Recommended: "4K-Compatible Downloader Software"

If you use software that installs on your PC, you can stably extract and convert ultra-high-quality data like 4K (2160p) or 8K.

Examples of Popular Software

• 4K Video Downloader (standard tool)
• Vividl (open source and lightweight)

General Procedure

1. Open the target video on YouTube and copy the URL.
2. Launch the software and click "Paste Link".
3. When the quality selection screen appears, select "4K (2160p)".
4. Confirm that the format is "MP4" and start downloading.

⚠️ Technical Notes on MP4 and 4K

Actually, YouTube's 4K videos are usually distributed in a compression format called "VP9" (WebM files).

 

When trying to save this as "MP4", depending on the tool, re-encoding (conversion) may be required, and the following may occur:

 

• Saving takes a long time.
• File size becomes huge, several GB.
• Some software recommends saving in MKV format instead of MP4 (because MKV can save quickly without quality degradation).

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Summary: Choose the Best Method for Your Purpose

Here are the recommended solutions when searching for "youtube mp4 4k":

 

Purpose	Recommended Method
Want to watch on smartphone while out	YouTube Premium (Official)Safest and most convenient.
Want to save files on PC	PC Downloader SoftwareSoftware is more likely to support 4K than websites.

 

Once you experience the beauty of 4K videos, you can't go back. Enjoy your high-quality video life within the scope of managing your own videos and lawful private use.