Download YouTube videos and Shorts
Paste a YouTube or Shorts link to save the video as an MP4 up to 1080p. Audio-only and subtitle files are listed with it.
YouTube downloader
MP4 up to 1080p, audio and subtitles
Copy the link with the Share button in the app, then paste it here.
What you can download from YouTube
| Type | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video | MP4 (H.264) | Each H.264 quality YouTube provides, usually up to 1080p |
| Shorts | MP4 (H.264) | Same as a normal video, in portrait |
| Audio | M4A (AAC) | The original audio track, not converted |
| Audio | MP3 | Converted on the OpenDown server from the original audio track |
| Subtitles | SRT, VTT | Both formats for each subtitle language. Automatic captions appear only for languages with no other subtitles |
How to download a YouTube video
- In the YouTube app, open the video, tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address from the browser bar.
- Paste the link into the box above and press Download.
- Pick a video quality, or M4A or MP3 for the audio only.
- Wait while the file is prepared, then save it. The page shows the progress, so keep it open until the file is ready.
Links from youtube.com, youtu.be and youtube.com/shorts all work. A link to a video inside a playlist downloads that one video.
Quality and formats
YouTube stores the picture and the sound of a video separately. For each MP4, the OpenDown server joins the picture with the original sound without re-encoding either, so the file keeps the quality YouTube streams. Longer videos take longer to prepare.
Most videos go up to 1080p. Higher resolutions such as 1440p and 4K are normally only available in other formats (VP9 and AV1), which are not offered here, so every video you get is an H.264 MP4 that plays on any device.
M4A is the original audio track as YouTube stores it. MP3 is converted from that same track, so it cannot sound better than the M4A. When a video has several audio languages, the original language is used, not an automatic dub.
For some videos only the video qualities are listed, without separate audio files. Qualities that would be larger than 10 GB are left out.
Links that cannot be downloaded
- Private and members-only videos: only the right signed-in account can watch them.
- Deleted or removed videos: the link no longer leads to a video.
- Live streams still on air, and premieres that have not started: there is no complete video to download yet.
- Videos blocked by country: YouTube allows them only in some countries, so they may not work here.
- Movies and other paid videos: you have to buy or rent them to watch.
- Playlist and channel pages: paste the link of one video at a time.
Saving on iPhone and Android
- iPhone and iPad: Safari saves the file to the Downloads folder in the Files app. To add a video to Photos, open it in Files, tap Share, then Save Video. MP3 and M4A files stay in Files.
- Android: Chrome saves the file to the Downloads folder. Gallery apps show the video there, and music apps usually find the audio.
- Computer: the file goes to your browser's usual download folder.
Keep downloads for personal use, and ask the rights holder before you repost them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste the Shorts link (youtube.com/shorts/...) the same way as a normal video link. You get the same MP4 and audio options.
Can I save only the audio?
Yes. Pick M4A, the original audio track, or MP3, which the OpenDown server makes from that track. The page shows the progress while the MP3 is prepared.
Why is there no 4K option?
YouTube normally provides resolutions above 1080p only in the VP9 and AV1 formats, which are not offered here. The video files are H.264 MP4, which plays on any device.
Why does the video take a while to prepare?
The picture and the sound are stored separately on YouTube and have to be joined into one MP4 on the OpenDown server. The longer the video, the longer this takes. Keep the page open until the file is ready.
How long does the download link work?
Prepared files are deleted automatically, usually within a few hours, and download links expire. If a link has stopped working, paste the YouTube link again.
Can I download the subtitles as SRT?
Yes. When a video has subtitles, each language is listed with an SRT and a VTT file. Automatic captions appear only for languages that have no other subtitles.