The short answer
The Chrome Web Store's rules do not allow extensions that download videos or audio from YouTube. That is why:
- well-known downloader extensions say "this extension doesn't support YouTube" in their Chrome version;
- "YouTube to MP3" extensions that do appear in the store stop working on YouTube or are removed after a while;
- the ones that still work are offered on other websites as a file you install in developer mode.
You do not need an extension at all. The three options below give you the same one-click result without installing anything that can see your browsing.
Option 1: a bookmark button (works like an extension)
A bookmarklet is a bookmark that runs one line of code when you click it. This one opens the YouTube page you are on in YT320MP3, and the conversion starts by itself.
- Show the bookmarks bar: press Ctrl+Shift+B (Mac: ⌘+Shift+B).
- Right-click the bar and choose Add page (in Firefox: Add Bookmark).
- Name it
MP3and paste this as the URL:
javascript:location.href='https://yt320mp3.com/?url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)
- Open any YouTube video, Short, playlist or YouTube Music song and click MP3 in the bar.
The bookmark only reads the address of the tab you click it on, when you click it. It has no permissions and does nothing in the background. It works in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera and Firefox on a computer.
Option 2: change one word in the address
On a YouTube page, click the address bar and change youtube.com to yt320mp3.com:
| You are on | Change it to |
|---|---|
youtube.com/watch?v=… |
yt320mp3.com/watch?v=… |
youtube.com/shorts/… |
yt320mp3.com/shorts/… |
youtube.com/playlist?list=… |
yt320mp3.com/playlist?list=… |
Press Enter and the converter opens with the link already filled in and the conversion running. For a playlist you get the first 10 tracks (playlist guide).
Option 3: install YT320MP3 as an app
Chrome and Edge can install a website as an app with its own window and taskbar or Dock icon:
- click the install icon at the right end of the address bar, or
- open the ⋮ menu → Cast, save and share → Install page as app.
After a successful conversion the site also shows an Install app button where your browser supports it. On Android the installed app appears in the YouTube app's Share menu, so you can send a video straight to the converter (Android guide). On iPhone, use Safari's Share → Add to Home Screen (iPhone guide).
Why "unofficial" downloader extensions are risky
An extension installed from a random website gets the permissions it asks for, and downloader extensions usually ask for the biggest one: "Read and change all your data on all websites." With that permission an extension can:
- inject ads or pop-ups into every page you open, not only YouTube;
- swap links in search results and shops for affiliate links;
- read what you type, including on pages where you are logged in;
- change its behaviour with a silent update months after you installed it.
If you still try one, check three things first: it comes from an official store, it asks only for access to YouTube and not to all websites, and it has recent reviews from real users. Our safety guide has a longer checklist for converter websites.
Quality and limits
The bookmark button and the address shortcut use the normal converter, so you get the same files: 128, 192 or 320kbps MP3s named Artist - Title, with tags and cover art. The best audio YouTube serves is Opus at about 130 to 160kbps, so 320kbps is the setting that adds no extra loss (why).
- Audio only (MP3), YouTube only.
- Videos up to 180 minutes; playlists of up to 10 tracks.
- No account, no pop-ups, no daily limit.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a YouTube to MP3 extension for Chrome?
Not in the Chrome Web Store. Its rules do not allow extensions that download from YouTube, so the ones you find there either skip YouTube or get removed. Extensions offered on other websites have to be installed by hand, which is risky.
What is the safest one-click alternative?
A bookmark button: a normal bookmark that sends the YouTube page you are on to YT320MP3, where the conversion starts by itself. It needs no permissions, cannot read your other tabs and works in every desktop browser.
Does the shortcut work for Shorts and playlists?
Yes. Change youtube.com to yt320mp3.com in the address of a video, a Short or a playlist and the conversion starts. The bookmark button also works on YouTube Music pages.
Can I use an extension on Chrome for Android?
No. Chrome on Android does not run extensions. Install YT320MP3 as an app instead; it then appears in the YouTube app's Share menu.