You can download the audio and video files by taking the URLs from the network tab in chrome, and you can then merge those files together.

Just remove the range parameter in the URL.

Well that's sort of what youtube-dl does, no? Except for you don't have to inspect network tab or merge anything manually, and you can choose quality and download playlists etc.

That's not my way. I get a mp4 link on googlevideo.com . It has audio and video. I don't have to mess with the browser's dev tools too.

I've found it too. It's really easy. Just look at the Network tab.

Here's a really simple site that can do it: https://en.savefrom.net/1-youtube-video-downloader-4/ There are tens of others.

Just curious... why should anyone trust your assurances?

Sure you can, youtube-dl even has the `-g` flag to give you the URL

> I assure you, you really didn't.

I'm not gaining anything from your assurance. I've found the best way - A first party method. No shady downloaders, extensions. I'm going to keep using it.