---

This article was originally published on Authory's blog._

You're here because you realize the importance of backing up your YouTube channels and videos from the whims of a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

So, without further ado, let's get down to brass tacks.

This article will cover how to backup YouTube channel(s) via a third-party tool called Authory, which gives you an auto-updating backup of your YouTube channel, and via Google Takeout.

📖 What you'll get from this article:
• How to create backup YouTube channel(s) with Authory that's auto-updating
• How to backup your YouTube channel via Google Takeout
• Why it's important to backup your YouTube account
• The pros and cons of Authory versus Google Takeout

How to back up your YouTube channel with Authory

For easy parsing, here's an overview of the steps involved, followed up by a detailed breakdown with screenshots:

• Step 1: Sign up for a free Authory account

• Step 2: Navigate to Sources, click + Add source, and select YouTube from the dropdown menu

• Step 3: Enter the name of the YouTube channel that you want to back up

• Step 4: Go to the Content tab to see your YouTube videos from this YouTube channel

• Step 5: You can now repeat this process for multiple YouTube channels that you own

Now, let's go over the steps above in more detail:

Step 1: Signing up for Authory

Authory is a content backup service and portfolio builder, amongst other things. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to Authory here.

Step 2: Adding your YouTube channel as a source

To add a YouTube channel as a source, go to Sources (authory.com/app/settings/sources) and click + Add source and finally, choose YouTube from the dropdown menu, as shown in the screenshot below.

Backup YouTube channel via Authory — Step 2

Step 3: Input the name of the YouTube channel you're looking to back up

Next, you'll need to add the YouTube channel URL as shown below. For the purposes of the example, I am using Rohin's YouTube channel. I've opted to name the source as Rohin's YouTube.

Don't forget to choose Past and future content. This will ensure that your backup is self-updating and that all future videos published to this YouTube channel will also be backed up.

Finally, click on Start import to begin the backup process.

Backup YouTube channel via Authory — Step 3

It can take Authory some time (a maximum of 48 hours) to create the backup from scratch, but you'll receive an email upon completion.

Step 4: View your backed-up YouTube channel videos

Navigate to the Content (authory.com/app/content) tab to see your downloaded videos. Use the filters on the left-hand side menu, or make use of the search bar at the top-right of the screen, to look for a particular video, as demonstrated below.

Backup YouTube channel via Authory — Step 4a

To watch a video, click on any of the videos that appear. You can play the original video from inside your Authory account. The option to view the original YouTube video's URL at the top right-hand corner will open YouTube in a new tab in your browser.

🗒️ Note: Even if the original YouTube channel with all of its videos has been taken down, you'll still be able to access them via Authory. Your YouTube channel videos are backed up forever!

Backup YouTube channel via Authory — Step 4b

Step 5: Rinse and repeat as you see fit

You can back up multiple YouTube channels via Authory. Just follow the steps above again to do so.

Bonus: Back up individual YouTube videos with Authory

Say you want to backup videos not connected to your YouTube channel — well, that's also possible with Authory.

🗒️ Note: Authory advises only downloading YouTube videos, playlists, and channels on which you have a legitimate claim.

Go to the Content (authory.com/app/content) tab, and again, click on + Add content.

Backup YouTube channel videos — Step 1

Next, to paste the YouTube URL into Authory, click on Paste URL of content.

Backup YouTube channel videos — Step 2

Now paste the YouTube video URL and click on Add.

Backup YouTube channel videos — Step 3

Now, you'll need to define the source of content. To do that, hit Content is from new source.

Backup YouTube channel videos — Step 4

Now name your source (I've gone with "Downloaded YouTube Videos") and then click Add once you're done.

Backup YouTube channel videos — Step 5

And, that's it! The YouTube video is immediately backup to your Authory account. You can now tap Add another item if you want to add more videos.

Backup YouTube channel videos — Step 6

How to back up your YouTube channel with Google Takeout

Again, here's a snapshot of what to expect before we dive into the details:

• Step 1: Go to Google Takeout (takeout.google.com) and hit Deselect all

• Step 2: Scroll to the bottom & select YouTube and YouTube Music & hit Next step

• Step 3: Choose file type, frequency and destination and hit Create export

• Step 4: Once you get the email, click on the download button named Download your files

• Step 5: Enter your password, and then click on the Download link

Now, let's go over the steps with screenshots:

Step 1: Go to Google Takeout

The first step is to go to takeout.google.com and hit the Deselect all button, as shown below.

Step 1 of backing up your YouTube account

Step 2: Select YouTube and YouTube Music

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select YouTube and YouTube Music, as shown below. Then hit the Next step button.

Step 2 of backing up your YouTube account

Step 3: Choose file type, frequency and destination

On the next page, you can choose the method that you'd like to receive the backup. The options available are:

1. Send download link via email

2. Google Drive

3. Dropbox

4. OneDrive

5. Box

I've opted for the first option.

You can also choose the frequency — I've gone for export once.

And finally, you have the option of a .zip file or a .tgz file. I've selected .zip.

Step 3a of backing up your YouTube account

If your YouTube backup is massive, you can opt to break the download into chunks. The file size of those chunks can be selected here. I've opted for the default 2 GB option.

Finally, hit Confirm export.

Step 3b of backing up your YouTube account

Step 4: Wait for the email to download your YouTube data

Google Takeout can take a few days to finish setting up your backup. You'll be notified via email once the backup is ready.

Step 4a of backing up your YouTube account

You'll get an email similar to the one I got below. In the email, click on the download button: Download your files.

Step 4b of backing up your YouTube account

Step 5: Enter your password & download your YouTube content

You'll be prompted to re-enter your password, as seen below. Hit Next once you're done.

Step 5a of backing up your YouTube account

Finally, you're at the backup of your YouTube channel. You have only a week to download your data before Google deletes it.

Step 5b of backing up your YouTube account

🗒️ Note: You can also download individual YouTube videos via YouTube Studio. Follow the instructions here.

Why you should back up your YouTube data

There's one main reason why you should back up your YouTube channel videos: to protect yourself.

YouTube videos and channels can get taken down. Sometimes these are in response to copyright infringement notices which are notorious for being incorrect or are due to a competing channel "attacking" your channel.

Whatever it is, YouTube's checks and balances continuously lag behind newer threats that come up. This is no slight on YouTube, but technology always evolves faster than the laws that govern them.

Hence, it's imperative that you protect yourself and back up your YouTube channel and YouTube videos.

Advantages of Authory versus Google Takeout

Google Takeout is great for creating a backup that's a snapshot of all your YouTube channel data at that moment in time. In fact, it's fantastic for creating backups of all your Google content. And I highly recommend making use of it for that.

But if you have an active YouTube channel, then you're going to be uploading content regularly. Therefore, while helpful, a static backup — like the one you get from Google Takeout, isn't exactly what you need.

That's where Authory comes in.

With Authory, you get an auto-updating backup of your YouTube channel, which, in essence, is a living, breathing archive of all your YouTube videos.

Not sure if Authory is for you? Well, try out the 30-day free trial before committing to it.

Back up ALL your video content with Authory

Authory is not just a YouTube backup service but is a holistic content backup service that works for any type of content: videos, audio, PDFs, text, etc.

With Authory, you can back up content from any website — just add the source, and Authory will create an auto-updating backup for you.

So, that means you can back up videos from Vimeo, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more.

Here are some resources to get you going:

1. Backup Facebook — Create an auto-updating Facebook backup

2. Set up a LinkedIn Download & Auto-Updating LinkedIn Archive

3. Create a YouTube RSS Feed With Vastly Increased Limits

4. Auto-Updating Twitter Archive with Fuzzy Search

5. Free Twitter backup service from Authory