Fast & Free Ways to Download Videos from Streaming Sites

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Easily download streaming videos on your phone, laptop, or streaming box
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Do you want to save that video for later? While you can use YouTube Premium to watch a YT clip for later, you still have to use YouTube to watch it. We've compiled a list of ways that you can download streaming videos to watch later. We also chatted with Professional Technologist Stan Kats for tips on downloading streaming videos.

How to Download Streaming Videos

Check your area's laws about copyright infringement with downloading online videos – you don't want to accidentally download a video illegally! Once you've made sure that downloading streaming videos is ok, you have a few options: 4K Video Downloader+, screen recorders, like Game Bar on Windows and OBS, online downloaders, and subscription services.

Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Using 4K Video Downloader+

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  1. 1
    Open 4K Video Downloader+. If you don't have this software on your computer, you can download it for free.
    • Note that Live streams can not be downloaded this way. The Live stream has to be over for this to work.
    • Go to https://www.4kdownload.com/products/videodownloader-42 and click Get 4K Video Downloader+ .
    • Once the 4K Video Downloader+ setup file finishes downloading, you can install it by doing the following:
      • Windows: Double-click the setup file, click Yes when prompted, and follow the on-screen setup instructions.
      • Mac: Double-click the setup file, verify the installation if necessary, click and drag the 4K Video Downloader+ app icon onto the "Applications" folder, and follow any on-screen instructions.
    • As long as you download 4K Video Downloader from their official site, the download will be safe.
  2. 2
    Check your settings. Before downloading your video, check the settings at the top of the screen, to the right of the Paste Link button.
    • The Download dropdown allows you to select if you want to download a Video (with audio) or Audio (with no video), and you can also select what language you want to download the subtitles in, if there are any.
    • The Quality dropdown allows you to change the quality of the video you download. If you're not sure, you can leave it at Best (the default).
    • The For dropdown allows you to change the downloaded video's file type and platform. The default is your operating system and MP4 video, but feel free to change it.
    • The Save to dropdown allows you to set a save location for your video. It defaults to your Videos folder, but you can also select Downloads, Pictures, Documents, or click Browse... to select a new location.
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  3. 3
    Copy a video link. You can copy a video link from YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Vimeo, Dailymotion, or many other popular video sites to download. You can copy the video link (or URL) from the address bar at the top of your browser.
    • If you're on Android, you may need to copy the video link by tapping the Share button first, then selecting Copy link or Copy video link .
  4. 4
    Click Paste Link . The Paste Link button will only appear once you have a link copied, and as soon as you paste a link, the video will begin downloading.
    • Alternatively, you can select the website/app you want to save a video from and navigate to the video using 4K Video Downloader+'s in-app browser.
    • Select a video, then click the green Download button.
  5. 5
    Navigate to the location where you saved your video. Your video will be there, ready to rewatch or use for the project you need.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

OBS Studio

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  1. 1
    Understand the limitations of screen recordings. Screen recording is a solution to wanting to download a protected video (e.g., something on Netflix). OBS Studio will also record your mouse cursor and any pop-ups or buffering that may occur during video playback. However, you can edit these options, like cropping your screen capture to a specific area of your screen or adding an extra camera or input source in the scene. [1] You'll also need a subscription to the service in question to access these videos.
    • Be aware that screen recording video from a paid streaming service may violate the terms of service for that service provider. It may also be illegal in your country.
  2. 2
    Download and install OBS. OBS is a free app for recording and streaming software. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Use the following steps to download and install OBS:
    • Windows:
      • Go to https://obsproject.com
      • Click Windows .
      • Open the Install file in your web browser or Downloads folder.
      • Click Next .
      • Click I Agree .
      • Click Next .
      • Uncheck the plugin box if you like.
      • Click Install
      • Click Finish when prompted.
    • Mac:
      • Go to https://obsproject.com
      • Click MacOS 10.13+ .
      • Drag the OBS app to the Applications folder.
      • Open the Install file in your web browser or Downloads folder.
  3. 3
    Go to a video streaming website and sign in. Enter the web address for a video streaming site like Netflix, Hulu, or others in your web browser. Then, sign in using the username and password associated with your account.
  4. 4
    Open OBS Studio. OBS has a black round icon with three cycles on it.
    • Using OBS is a better option for Mac as it has more features than built-in Mac programs, like QuickTime.
  5. 5
    Click OK if prompted. This will accept the terms of use and bring you to the main OBS Studio window.
  6. 6
    Click Yes on the "Auto-Configuration Wizard" window. This will bring up a window. To complete the setup wizard:
    • Check the "Optimize just for recording" box.
    • Click Next .
    • Click Next .
    • Click Apply Settings . If you prefer to set your own settings, click No instead.
    • You can also use this technique to capture live streaming video from YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch.
  7. 7
    Click + in OBS. It's at the bottom of OBS in the "Sources" panel.
  8. 8
    Click Window Capture . It's at the bottom of the list of capture sources.
  9. 9
    Type a name for the source. You can name it after the app you are capturing video from to make it easier to reference.
  10. 10
    Select your browser as the Window. Use the drop-down menu next to "Window" to select it.
  11. 11
    Click Start Recording in OBS. This will start recording the source you have selected.
  12. 12
    Play a protected video. Go to a site like Netflix or Hulu and sign in with your account credentials.
    • It's recommended you do a short test recording of a video to make sure everything is working properly before you try to record an entire movie or TV show.
    • For example, you might run into a black-screen issue. This is an attempt from the streamer to protect copyrighted material. You can try using another web browser, like Firefox, or turning off hardware acceleration in your browser.
  13. 13
    Full-screen the video (optional). Click the "fullscreen" icon at the bottom of the video player. In some cases, you can also press "F11" to full-screen the video.
    • This is optional. If you want to record multiple things on the screen, leave the browser window alone.
  14. 14
    Click Stop Recording in OBS when the video is over. This will stop recording and save the video.
    • You can go to your video by clicking File and then clicking Show Recordings in the drop-down menu. By default, video recordings can be found in your Videos folder. [2]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Xbox Game Bar (Windows)

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  1. 1
    Understand the limitations of screen recordings. Screen recording is a solution to wanting to download a protected video (e.g., something on Netflix). [3] Game Bar will also record your mouse cursor and any pop-ups or buffering that may occur during video playback. You'll also need a subscription to the service in question to access these videos.
    • Also be aware that screen recording video from a paid streaming service may violate the terms of service for that service provider. It may also be illegal in your country.
  2. 2
    Go to a video streaming website and sign in. Enter the web address for a video streaming site like Netflix, Hulu, or others in your web browser. [4] Then, sign in using the username and password associated with your account.
  3. 3
    Press ⊞ Win + G . This opens the Game Bar on Windows. This can be used to record screen captures.
  4. 4
    Click the widgets menu. It's the icon that has four lines with four dots next to them. It's at the top of the game bar. [5]
  5. 5
    Click Capture . This displays the screen capture controls.
  6. 6
    Click the "Record" button. It's the button with the circle in the capture controls. This starts a screen recording. The timer and stop button appear in a separate panel to the right.
  7. 7
    Play a video. Use the web interface in your browser to navigate to a video you want to watch and click it. Click the Play button in the video to begin the video playback. Game Bar will record your video as it plays.
    • Try to ensure no other windows or disturbances are on the screen as the video playback plays. Game Bar will record any other windows that open, your mouse cursor, and any sounds from any other apps.
  8. 8
    Click the "Stop" button. It's the red button next to the panel with the timer. This will save your video recording. By default, your video captures can be found in the "Capture" folder inside your "Videos" folder.
    • If you don't see the "Stop" button on the side, press "Win + G" to display the Game Bar again. Click the record button in the capture bar to display the Stop button.
    • To make sure everything is working correctly, a short test video of a captured video is recommended. If everything works properly, you can record a full-length movie or TV show.
    • Most video streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu, have copyright protection for their videos. When you try to screen capture videos from these services, you will see a black screen when viewing the recorded video. To get around this, you can use Firefox as your web browser when streaming these videos or disable hardware acceleration in your browser.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

YouTube Premium

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  1. 1
    Open the YouTube app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. Kats says that you can download YouTube videos to watch on the go if you have a premium subscription.
  2. 2
    Tap the video you want to download. This opens the video's Watch page.
  3. 3
    Tap the Download icon. It's the arrow pointing down toward a horizontal line below the video. Once the download is complete, the arrow icon will turn black.
    • To find your downloaded videos, tap the Library tab, then select Downloads .
    • To remove a downloaded video, tap the three-dot menu next to the video in the Downloads area, then tap Delete from downloads . [6]
    • If your subscription expires, your saved videos will disappear and stop working.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Using yt-dlp

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  1. 1
    Open the Terminal or Command Prompt. If you are using Windows, open Command Prompt . If you are using a Mac open Terminal in the Utilities folder or using the Spotlight search bar. On Linux, press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a Terminal.
    • If you haven't installed YouTube-dl yet, follow the install instructions for Windows , Mac , and Linux .
    • If you just installed YouTube-dl on your Mac or Linux machine, open a new Terminal instead of reusing the one you used to install YouTube-dl.
  2. 2
    Change the directory to which you want to download videos. YouTube-dl will download the videos to whichever folder you are in in the Terminal or Command Prompt. To change directories in Command Prompt or Terminal, type cd <directory location> and press Enter or Return .
  3. 3
    Copy the URL to a YouTube video. Go to the YouTube video you want to download in your preferred web browser and copy the URL from the address bar. To copy, highlight the URL, right-click it (or Ctrl-click if you're using a Mac without a right mouse button), then select Copy.
  4. 4
    Download a video: Enter the following command in Terminal or Command Prompt; youtube-dl <url_to_video> and press Enter or Return .
    • If you want to save the video file without being in the right directory, you can use this command instead: yt-dlp <MY_URL> -o <WHERE_TO_DOWNLOAD_TO> .
    • To download audio only as an MP4, enter this command: youtube-dl -x <url_to_video> .
    • To download audio only as an MP3, enter this command: youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3 url_to_video .
    • If you want to download an entire playlist, here are some options:
      • Download a playlist in order: Type youtube-dl <url_to_playlist> and press Enter .
      • Download playlist in reverse order: Type youtube-dl --playlist-reverse <url_to_playlist> and press Enter .
      • Download playlist in random order: Type youtube-dl --playlist-random <url_to_playlist> and press Enter .
      • Download a section of a playlist: Type youtube-dl --playlist-start <number> --playlist-end <number> <url_to_playlist> and press Enter .
    • If you want to download information about the video, like subtitles, the thumbnail picture, description, and title, enter youtube-dl --skip-download <url_to_video> .
    • This will download the video without subtitles or a description. It automatically chooses the best video and audio quality.
    • You can find more commands and options for downloading videos in the README file .
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Online Downloaders

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  1. 1
    Copy the URL for the video you want to download. Open the video on YouTube or Facebook, then highlight the URL in the address bar. You can right-click the highlighted address and select "Copy," or you can press ⌘ Command + C (Mac) or Ctrl + C (Windows).
    • Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu don't have URLs for individual videos, so this is only an option for videos with their own URLs, like some on Facebook and YouTube.
    • Be aware that many sites contain ads and malware, but you can expertly avoid them by not clicking on elements that are not part of the page. You can tell if an icon that you want to click will redirect you by hovering your mouse over it and looking in the bottom left corner to the link pop-up; if it says a site other than the site you're on, it's most likely a malicious link that you shouldn't click. Take your time and look around and you'll find the legit button elsewhere on the page. Examples include download and upload icons, or Go buttons.
  2. 2
    Open a downloader website. There are several websites that will download and convert the video into MP4/MP3 format, but these change all the time, and some may no longer work. Remember that downloading from sources you don't trust increases the chance of downloading malware or malicious code. Current popular converter sites include:
    EXPERT TIP

    Stan Kats

    Professional Technologist
    Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals.
    Stan Kats
    Professional Technologist

    Use extra security precautions with video downloaders. It's a good idea to have strong security software on your computer when using these websites. Be safe in your browser by using an incognito window and an ad blocking extension. A lot of video downloading sites contain malware or other harmful content, so be careful.

  3. 3
    Paste the URL into the text field. Click the field and press ⌘ Command + V (Mac) or Ctrl + V (Windows).
  4. 4
    Choose any download options. Different website converters will look different, but most offer you a choice to download MP3 or MP4 of the video. Some sites even let you choose the download bitrate.
  5. 5
    Click Convert . This will process the video with your chosen format settings. The download might take a while depending on your internet connection and the size of the video you link.
    • On some sites, you may need to click Download to download the converted video; other sites will have your file manager open so you can select a location to save the file. So save the file and you'll have the converted YouTube video on your computer or phone!
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Downloading a Video From Streaming Apps

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  1. 1
    Open a Streaming app. Paid video streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video let you download videos and play them offline. This includes videos from apps in the Microsoft Store on Windows, the App Store on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, or Google Play Store on Android phones and tablets.
    • You need a subscription to access and download videos for these apps.
  2. 2
    Navigate to a video you want to download. You can use the search feature to browse videos for a video you want to download. Click or tap the video image when you find a video you want to download.
  3. 3
    Click or tap the download icon. It typically has an icon resembling an arrow pointing down to a line. It may be below a movie title or next to an episode of a TV show.
  4. 4
    Click or tap Downloads . This is where you can access all your downloaded videos. It's located in different places depending on the app you are using. It may be at the bottom of the screen on your smartphone or in the menu to the left on the desktop app. You may need to tap the icon with three lines (☰) in the upper-right corner, or the icon that resembles a person in the lower-right corner.
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      Warnings

      • At this time, YouTube and other streaming services do not support or promote the downloading of their videos to watch offline at a later date. Keep in mind that third-party video downloader apps and sites could stop working at any time.
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      • There are not many websites available that can safely download videos anymore. Many helper websites have been shut down, and those that still exist don't work or are full of shady advertisements.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1HIHYRnOfo
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1HIHYRnOfo
      3. ↑ https://www.appgeeker.com/record/how-to-record-youtube-videos-on-windows-pc.html
      4. ↑ https://www.appgeeker.com/record/how-to-record-youtube-videos-on-windows-pc.html
      5. ↑ https://www.appgeeker.com/record/how-to-record-youtube-videos-on-windows-pc.html
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/11977233

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