How it works
- Copy the link. In the YouTube app tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address from the browser bar.
- Paste and fetch. Paste it above, or press the Paste button, which also starts the search. Results appear in a few seconds.
- Choose and save. Pick a quality. The file size is on every row, so you know what you are about to download.
Three kinds of download, and when to use each
After you paste a link the results come in groups. The group matters more than the resolution number, so here is what each one means.
| Group | Sound | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| Video + audio | Yes | You want one file that plays everywhere. We merge picture and sound on our side, so expect a short wait before the download starts. |
| Video only | No | You are editing the clip or adding your own soundtrack. It starts instantly and plays silent. |
| Audio only | Yes | Lectures, podcasts, music practice. M4A (AAC) or Opus at 128 kbps and up. |
Why a 1080p file can come out silent
YouTube does not keep one finished file per quality. Above 360p it stores the picture and the sound as separate streams, and your player joins them while you watch. Plenty of downloaders hand you only the picture stream, which is why the saved file opens with no audio.
We show those raw streams under Video only so they are labelled honestly, and we offer a merged version under Video + audio for the common qualities.
What the file sizes look like
Numbers help when you are on mobile data. These come from a 37 second vertical clip we ran through the tool:
| Quality | Codec | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 360p | H.264 | 1.6 MB |
| 480p | H.264 | 2.5 MB |
| 720p 60fps | H.264 | 15 MB |
| 1080p 60fps | H.264 | 24 MB |
| 1440p 60fps | VP9 | 57 MB |
| 2160p (4K) 60fps | VP9 | 121 MB |
Size climbs fast past 1080p. For a phone screen, 720p is almost always enough. Save 4K for editing or a big display.
Saving on iPhone, Android and desktop
- iPhone and iPad: use Safari. When the download finishes, tap the arrow in the address bar, open Downloads, and the file is in the Files app. From there, Share then Save Video puts it in Photos.
- Android: Chrome saves to the Downloads folder and shows a notification. Open it from the notification or the Files app.
- Computer: the button saves to your default downloads folder. Nothing to install.
Before you download
Save videos you made, videos with a Creative Commons licence, or videos where the creator has said it is fine. YouTube's Terms of Service only allow downloads through features YouTube provides, and most uploads are protected by copyright. What you do with a saved file is your responsibility. Our terms and DMCA page explain our side.
When something goes wrong
- "Video not found" usually means the video is private, deleted or region locked, or the link has a typo.
- Age-restricted and members-only videos are not supported.
- Download links expire after a few hours. If one stops working, fetch the video again.
- A live stream that is still running cannot be saved until it ends.
Frequently asked questions
Is this YouTube video downloader free?
Yes. No account, no watermark and no payment. We do rate limit very heavy automated traffic so the site stays fast for everyone.
What is the lowest quality you list?
Video starts at 480p and audio starts at 128 kbps. We hide lower quality files on purpose because they rarely look good on a modern screen.
Can I download only the audio?
Yes. Open the Audio only group and pick M4A (AAC) or WebM (Opus). We do not convert to MP3.
Why do some downloads wait before starting?
The Video + audio files are assembled on request by joining the separate picture and sound streams. That takes a few seconds, longer for 4K.
Do you keep the videos I download?
No. Video files never sit on our server. We only keep a short lived list of the available formats so repeat lookups are quick.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, in Safari. The file lands in Downloads inside the Files app.
Is downloading from YouTube legal?
It depends on the video, how you use it and where you live. Personal copies of your own or openly licensed videos are the safe case. This is general information, not legal advice.