How to Download a Video: 4 Step-by-Step Methods for Any Device

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Learn simple ways to save videos from the internet

Co-authored by Stan Kats and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: March 31, 2024 Fact Checked

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4K Video Downloader

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Video Downloader Professional

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Video DownloadHelper

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Screen Recording

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Did you find a video online that you want to save to your computer, phone, or tablet? We'll show you how to use free video downloader tools to download any video from the web.

Things You Should Know

4K Video Downloader+ is a simple video downloader app for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
You can use Firefox Add-ons or Chrome Extensions to download videos, but note that any extension in the Chrome Web Store will not be able to download YouTube videos.
If nothing else works, you can screen record a video to save a copy of it to your computer or phone.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

4K Video Downloader (Desktop & Android)

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4K Download has several products, but 4K Video Downloader+ allows you to download videos from most major video-sharing sites, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more.
This will show you all of 4K Download's products.

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4K Video Downloader+ is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
Click the Download button next to the installer that matches your OS and click through any popups that appear on the screen asking for permission or where to download the file.
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Install 4K Video Downloader+. Run the installer once downloaded to begin the installation process, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the program.
- You can use 4K Video Downloader+ for free, though you are limited to 30 downloads per day, and there will be ads. 4K Download offers various licenses for 4K Video Downloader+ that range from $15 to $45, which gives you more features, such as unlimited downloads.
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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.
If you have a link in your Clipboard, the Paste Link icon in the upper-left will be active.
4K Video Downloader+ will open a popup with various options. Select the options you want for your video, or leave it on the automatic settings.
You can navigate to your Videos folder, Downloads folder, or any other location on your computer where you want to save the video.
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Click the Download button. 4K Video Downloader+ will begin downloading your video, showing you a progress bar.
- You can also download an entire playlist or YouTube channel by copying the playlist or channel link and pasting it into 4K Video Downloader+.
Your video will be there, ready to rewatch or use for the project you need.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Video Downloader Professional (Chrome)

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1
Go to the Video Downloader Professional extension page. You must be using Google Chrome to install this extension.
- You cannot use this extension to download YouTube videos.
- Browser extensions are not supported on the mobile versions of the browser.
If you are using a browser other than Chrome, this button will prompt you to install Chrome instead, unless you are using Opera. Opera can install Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
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Click Add Extension. This will appear in a small popup and install the extension after a moment.
- You may need to restart your browser to complete the installation.
Video Downloader Professional will automatically detect any videos on the page.
This will be located to the right of the address bar in your browser and will open a menu.
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Click a video in the list. The menu will list all of the downloadable videos on the page. Selecting a video will add it to your download queue.
- You can view your downloads by pressing Ctrl+J or opening the menu (3 vertical dots) and selecting Downloads.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Video DownloadHelper (Firefox)

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Go to the Video DownloadHelper page in Firefox. You can also open the Firefox menu (☰) and click Add-Ons to search for “Video DownloadHelper.”
A download bar will appear in the upper left corner.
You may be prompted to restart your browser after installing.
The addon will detect videos on the page.
This will be in the upper right corner next to the address bar and bring up a menu.
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Click a video in the list. The menu will list all the downloadable videos on the page. Selecting a video will add it to your download queue.
- You can view your downloads by pressing Ctrl+J or clicking the download icon (down arrow) in the upper right corner.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Screen Recording (Any Device)

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1
Download or locate a screen recorder. While it's not the same as directly downloading the video, you can use a screen recorder to record your own copy of a video.
- OBS Studio is a free screen recorder you can use for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Both iPhone and Android have built-in screen recording capability, so you don't need to download any additional apps.^{[1]
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You can even record streaming services like Netflix with this method.
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Open OBS, if on a computer. Open up OBS and configure it to record your screen:
- Under the Scene header, click the plus button to add a scene. You can name it whatever you want.
- Under Sources click the plus button and select Display Capture. In the popup, select the monitor you want to be your source. If you only have one monitor, you will only have one option, but if you have multiple monitors, you should select the one on which the video will be playing.
- Ensure you have Desktop Audio turned up so OBS will record the sound from the video. If you have other audio inputs, like from a microphone, you may want to turn those volumes down to avoid interference.
You should start screen recording before you start the video so you don't miss the first part of the video. On OBS, press Start Recording, and on an iPhone or Android, simply tap the screen recording button and wait for the countdown to complete.
Allow the video to play for as long as you want to record.
In OBS, press Stop Recording, and on your iPhone or Android, simply tap the screen recording button again.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I download a video from YouTube?

Stan Kats
Cybersecurity Expert
Stan Kats is the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology & cybersecurity solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan has over 7 years of cybersecurity experience, holding senior positions in information security at General Motors, AIG, and Aramark over his career. Stan received a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California.

Stan Kats

Cybersecurity Expert

Expert Answer

While there are some third party programs that will let you download YouTube videos, you must be careful as they may contain adware or breach YouTube's terms and conditions. If you subscribe to YouTube Premium, however, you can download the videos you watch and save them to your devices or computer.

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Question

How do I download a video from Chrome?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Try using Video Downloader Professional. Go to the Video Downloader Professional extension page and click on the option to add it to Chrome. Then, click to add an extension. Go to the page where you want to download a video and click the Video Downloader Professional icon, which looks like a green arrow. A menu will pop up with a list of videos on the page you can download. Simply choose the one you want to download and you're all set!

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Question

How do you download videos on Firefox?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

You can definitely download videos using a Firefox browser, and your best bet is to use an add on called Video DownloadHelper. Go to the Video DownloadHelperpage in Firefox. You can also open the Firefox menu (☰) and click “Add-Ons” to search for Video DownloadHelper. Then, choose the option to add it to Firefox and click install. Once it's installed, go to the page that has the video you want to download and click on the colored dots that represent the Video DownloadHelper icon in the upper right corner of your screen. A menu will pop up with a list of videos you can download. Choose the one you want and it'll be downloaded and saved to your computer or device.

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Tips

Take care not to violate your local copyright laws when downloading videos.

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There are not many helper 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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Any video downloader extension available on the Chrome Web Store cannot download YouTube videos.

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