YouTube Downloader
Download YouTube videos in MP4 format. Save regular videos and Shorts in up to 1080p, or extract audio as MP3. Fast, no watermarks.
Why Creators Download YouTube Videos
YouTube is the world's largest video platform with over 800 million videos. For content creators, it is both a publishing platform and a research library. Downloading YouTube videos lets you study editing techniques frame by frame, repurpose your own content for other platforms, and archive important videos before they disappear.
The most common use case is content repurposing. A 10-minute YouTube video can be clipped into 5-10 short-form videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. But to do this, you need the source file on your device. Our downloader gives you the MP4 file in seconds, ready to import into any video editor.
For the text version of any YouTube video, pair this tool with our YouTube Transcript Extractor. Together, they let you extract both the video and the full text from any YouTube video for maximum repurposing potential.
Supported YouTube URL Formats
Our downloader accepts every standard YouTube URL format. You do not need to modify or clean up the URL before pasting.
| Format | Example | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard watch URL | youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ | Browser address bar |
| Short share URL | youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ | YouTube share button |
| YouTube Shorts | youtube.com/shorts/dQw4w9WgXcQ | Shorts feed or share |
| Embed URL | youtube.com/embed/dQw4w9WgXcQ | Embedded players |
| Mobile app share | m.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ | YouTube mobile app |
Choosing the Right Download Quality
1080p Full HD
Best for re-editing in professional software (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut). Choose this when you plan to clip, overlay text, or otherwise modify the footage. File sizes range from 50-100MB per minute.
720p HD
The sweet spot for most use cases. Good enough for social media repurposing since platforms re-compress everything anyway. 720p files are roughly half the size of 1080p. This is the recommended default.
480p and 360p
Use lower resolutions when you only need a quick reference, preview, or thumbnail frame. Not recommended for any content you plan to re-upload or edit professionally.
Audio Only (MP3)
Extracts just the audio track. Perfect for saving podcast interviews, music, sound effects, or voiceover references. MP3 files are typically 1-2MB per minute.
How to Repurpose YouTube Videos Into Short-Form Content
Step 1: Identify the best moments
Watch the video (or read the transcript) and mark 3-5 moments that stand alone as compelling short clips. Look for strong opinions, surprising facts, or self-contained tips.
Step 2: Download and import
Download the video using this tool at 720p or 1080p. Import the MP4 into your preferred editor. If the original is horizontal (16:9), you will need to crop or reframe for vertical (9:16) formats.
Step 3: Reformat for each platform
Each platform has different optimal specs. TikTok and Reels want 9:16 vertical video under 90 seconds. YouTube Shorts caps at 60 seconds. Add captions and a strong opening hook.
Step 4: Optimize titles and hashtags
Each clip needs its own title and hashtags optimized for the destination platform. Use GhostShorts templates to speed up the entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum quality available?
Our tool supports downloads up to 1080p (Full HD). The actual quality depends on what the creator uploaded. If a video was recorded and uploaded at 720p, you cannot download it at 1080p since that resolution does not exist for that video.
Can I download YouTube Shorts?
Yes. YouTube Shorts download exactly like regular videos. Paste the Shorts URL (which contains /shorts/ in the path) and select your preferred quality. The downloaded file will be in 9:16 vertical format.
Can I extract just the audio?
Yes. Select “Audio Only” from the Download Type toggle. This extracts just the audio track and saves it as an MP3 file. Useful for podcast clips, music, or voiceover references.
Why did my download fail?
Common reasons: the video is private or age-restricted, the URL is invalid or from an unsupported platform, or the video has been removed. Make sure the video is publicly accessible.
How long do download links last?
Download links expire after 10 minutes for security and storage reasons. If the link expires, simply paste the URL again and generate a new link.