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AI Social Video Publisher

How to Download a YouTube Video by URL

Last updated: August 12, 2026

YouTube doesn't offer a native "save as MP4" button outside of YouTube Premium's offline mode, which only works inside the app. Pasting a public video's URL into a browser-based downloader gets you a real MP4 file you can keep, edit, or re-upload — provided you have the rights to do so.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Copy the video URL

    Copy the address bar URL on desktop, or tap "Share" and "Copy link" in the YouTube app.

  2. 2

    Paste it into the downloader

    Paste the link into the box on this page (or the homepage). The tool detects it's a YouTube link automatically.

  3. 3

    Confirm you own the video or have permission to use it

    Check the ownership box — this is required before any video can be resolved or downloaded.

  4. 4

    Pick a resolution and download

    Click "Find video" to see the available qualities (e.g. 1080p, 720p), select one, then click "Download."

Good to know
  • Higher resolutions take longer to fetch and merge — a 1080p download can take a couple of minutes for a long video.
  • Age-restricted, private, and members-only videos can't be resolved — only public videos.
  • Livestreams and Premieres that haven't finished airing aren't supported.

Frequently asked questions

What's the highest quality available?
It depends on what the source video was uploaded in — the tool lists every resolution YouTube's own player offers for that specific video, up to its original upload quality.
Can I download just the audio?
Not yet — this tool currently downloads video (MP4) only.
Is downloading YouTube videos legal?
It depends on the video and how you plan to use it. Downloading content you don't own or don't have permission to use can violate copyright law and YouTube's terms of service. Only download videos you own or have explicit permission to use.
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