YouTube Video Downloader
Paste a YouTube or Shorts link and save the video as an MP4 with sound, the audio as an MP3, or the transcript.
Got many videos? Paste one link per line (Shift + Enter for a new line), from any mix of sites.
- 1 Paste the link(s)
- 2 Choose what to save
- 3 Your files are ready
- Free forever
- No sign-up
- No popups
- Nothing to install
In short
To download a YouTube video, copy its link from Share or the address bar, paste it above and press Download. Pick a quality up to 4K, and we join YouTube's separate picture and sound into one MP4. You can also save just the audio as MP3, or the captions as a transcript.
Easy as 1, 2, 3, 4
How to download from YouTube
- 1
Copy the link
On the video, tap Share, then Copy link, or copy the address from your browser. Shorts links work too.
- 2
Paste and press Download
We read the video and list every quality YouTube stores, plus MP3 and any transcripts.
- 3
Choose a format
Pick an MP4 quality, Audio only (MP3), or a transcript. A progress bar shows the file being prepared.
- 4
Save the file
When it is ready, your browser saves it. Long or 4K videos take longer, because the file is assembled first.
Good to know
Why YouTube downloads above 360p used to come out silent
YouTube stores each video as separate streams. Picture and sound are different files, and each quality (480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K) is its own picture stream. The player in your browser fetches one picture stream and one sound stream and plays them together. The only version with picture and sound already combined is a low-quality one, usually 360p.
That is why many quick download methods give you either a blurry 360p file or a sharp 1080p file with no sound. They grab one stream. We fetch the picture stream at the quality you chose and the best AAC sound track, then join them into one MP4 without re-encoding either, so nothing is lost.
Codec matters too. Up to 1080p we pick H.264, the format every phone, TV and video editor can open. YouTube offers 1440p and 4K only in VP9 or AV1. Those play in current browsers and in VLC, but some older devices and editors cannot open them. If a 4K file will not play, download the 1080p option instead.
What people use it for
Your own uploads
Get back a video you published when the original project or export is lost.
Offline viewing
Keep lectures, tutorials and talks for flights and places with no signal.
Editing with permission
Bring a clip you have the rights to into Premiere, DaVinci Resolve or CapCut as a normal MP4.
Notes and quotes
Save the transcript of a talk or a lecture to search it, quote it accurately or study from it.
Key facts
| Works with | youtube.com/watch links, youtu.be short links, Shorts, and links copied from the YouTube app |
|---|---|
| Video | MP4 with sound, from 240p up to 4K (2160p), whatever the uploader provided |
| Codec | H.264 up to 1080p, which plays on every phone, TV and editor. 1440p and 4K exist only as VP9 or AV1, so those files need a newer player |
| Audio | MP3 at 192 kbps, converted from YouTube's own audio track |
| Transcript | TXT (plain text) or SRT (timed subtitles), from the creator's captions or YouTube's automatic ones |
| Not possible | Private and members-only videos, age-restricted videos that need a login, streams while they are live, rented or bought films |
| Whole channels | Use the channel downloader to list a channel's videos and download many at once |
If it does not work
- "This post is private or needs a login"
- The video is private, members-only or age-restricted. These need a signed-in account, and we never sign in.
- "The platform is asking our server to prove it is not a bot"
- YouTube limits how fast one connection can fetch videos. Wait a few minutes, then try again.
- The 4K file will not play
- 1440p and 4K exist only as VP9 or AV1. Play the file in VLC or a current browser, or choose 1080p, which is H.264 and plays everywhere.
- No transcript option appears
- The video has no captions, neither creator-made nor automatic. Music-only videos and very new uploads often have none.
- "Live streams cannot be downloaded while they are live"
- Wait until the stream ends and YouTube publishes the recording, then paste the same link again.
Ways to save a YouTube video, compared
| Method | Quality | Keep the file | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| This tool | Up to 4K, picture and sound joined | Yes, a normal MP4 | Public videos only |
| YouTube Premium downloads | Up to 1080p | No. It plays only inside the YouTube app, while subscribed | Paid subscription |
| Screen recording | Your screen's resolution, encoded twice | Yes | Records the interface and notifications; real-time only |
| Desktop downloader apps | Up to 4K | Yes | An install; some bundle adware |
Questions people ask
How do I download a YouTube video with sound?
Paste the link and choose any MP4 quality. YouTube keeps picture and sound apart above 360p, and we join them for you, so every MP4 option has sound.
Can I download YouTube videos in 4K?
Yes, when the uploader provided 4K. The option appears as 2160p 4K. These files use VP9 or AV1, because that is the only way YouTube stores 4K.
How do I download a YouTube Short?
Paste the Shorts link as it is. Shorts are ordinary YouTube videos in a vertical frame, so every option works, usually up to 1080p.
How do I convert YouTube to MP3?
Choose Audio only (MP3). We convert YouTube's own audio track to a 192 kbps MP3. It cannot sound better than YouTube's original, which is usually about 128 kbps AAC.
Can I download the transcript of a YouTube video?
Yes, when the video has captions. Choose Transcript (TXT) for plain text, or Subtitles (SRT) for timed captions that video editors accept.
Can I download a whole YouTube channel or playlist?
Yes. Paste the channel link, its @handle or its name, or a playlist link. You get the full list to tick, and the videos download in a queue with a progress bar.
Is downloading YouTube videos allowed?
YouTube's terms allow downloading only through its own download features. Download your own videos or videos you have permission to use, and never republish someone else's work. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do you keep the videos?
No. Each file is prepared in a temporary folder and deleted within about an hour. On a personal setup running on your own computer, files are saved straight into your Downloads folder instead.
Content reviewed 2026-10-04. Download only videos you own or have permission to use. Terms · Copyright and takedowns