How to download YouTube videos
- Step 1
Copy the link
Open the video on YouTube, tap Share under the player, then Copy link. On a computer you can also copy the address from the browser bar.
- Step 2
Paste it above
Paste the link in the box at the top of this page and press Download. FetchBolt finds the video and its formats.
- Step 3
Choose and save
Pick a quality and tap Download. The file saves to your device.
What you get
MP4 video with sound in every quality the video was uploaded in (up to 2160p), or the soundtrack alone as MP3 or M4A.
YouTube streams video and audio separately, which is why many downloaders top out at 720p. FetchBolt fetches the best video stream and the best audio stream, then joins them into one MP4, so 1080p and 4K downloads keep their sound.
It works with regular videos, Shorts, live recordings once the stream has ended, and links shared from the YouTube app, including youtu.be short links and links with a timestamp.
Which quality should I pick?
1080p is the sweet spot: sharp on phones, laptops and most TVs, and FetchBolt marks it as Recommended. 720p halves the file size and still looks good on a phone. 360p and 480p are for slow connections or when storage is tight.
Every MP4 FetchBolt makes plays on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac without extra apps, because it prefers the H.264 video and AAC audio streams that every device supports.
Download YouTube videos on iPhone and iPad
Open FetchBolt in Safari, paste the YouTube link and tap Download on the quality you want. Safari asks whether to download the file; tap Download and it saves to the Files app, in the Downloads folder.
To put the video in your Photos library, open Files, go to Downloads, tap the MP4, then tap Share and choose Save Video. It then shows up in Photos like any clip you filmed.
Download on Android
In Chrome or any other browser, paste the link, pick a quality and tap Download. The file goes to your Downloads folder, and a notification lets you open it straight away.
Your gallery app picks up the MP4 from Downloads automatically, so it's ready to watch, edit or share like any other video.
Download on Windows, Mac and Linux
Copy the link from the address bar or the Share button, paste it above and choose a quality. The MP4 saves to your Downloads folder in any browser: Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox or Brave. There's nothing to install.
If the download doesn’t work
Check that the video plays for everyone: private posts, age-restricted content and anything that needs you to sign in can't be downloaded. Removed or region-locked videos won't work either, and FetchBolt tells you which it is.
Copy the link with the app's Share button rather than from a search result, and paste it on its own. If YouTube is limiting traffic for a moment, wait a minute and try again. Large 4K files take longer to prepare, and the button shows the progress while they do.
Is FetchBolt safe?
FetchBolt runs in your browser: no app, no extension and no sign-up, and it never asks for your YouTube password. Files are prepared on our servers only for as long as it takes to send them to you, then deleted, and we don't keep a history of your links.
The only buttons that download anything are the ones in the FetchBolt card under the box, next to each quality.
YouTube Video Downloader: frequently asked questions
Can I download YouTube videos in 4K?
Yes. If the video was uploaded in 4K (2160p), that option appears in the list. Large 4K files take longer to prepare because the video and audio are joined on our server first.
Does it work with private or members-only videos?
No. FetchBolt only reaches videos anyone can watch without signing in. Private, unlisted-with-restrictions, age-restricted and members-only videos are not supported.
Can I download a whole playlist?
Not yet. Paste the link of each video you want; a link to a video inside a playlist downloads just that video.
Is it legal to download YouTube videos?
It depends on the video and where you live. Download only videos you own, that are licensed for reuse (such as Creative Commons), or that you have permission to save, and respect YouTube’s terms.
Why is my download slower than the video’s length suggests?
For high qualities we download the separate video and audio streams and merge them before sending you the file. A 10-minute 1080p video usually takes under a minute.
Can I download YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste the youtube.com/shorts/ link as it is, or use the YouTube Shorts downloader page.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes. Use Safari: the MP4 saves to the Files app, and from there you can save it to Photos with Share → Save Video.
Is FetchBolt free?
Yes. FetchBolt is free to use with no sign-up and no download limits for normal use. It’s supported by ads.
Do I need to install anything?
No. FetchBolt runs in your browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux.
Do you keep the videos I download?
No. Files are prepared on our servers only for as long as it takes to send them to you, then deleted. We don’t keep a history of your links.
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