—Guides
The stuff nobody explains
Short, honest answers to the questions that come up around downloading video — written to be read once and understood, not to hit a word count.
3 min read
Why Reddit videos download without sound
Reddit stores the picture and the sound of a video as two entirely separate files. Most downloaders fetch only the video file, which is why you get a perfectly good clip with total silence.
Read3 min read
Where downloads go on an iPhone (and how to get them into Photos)
On an iPhone, a video you download in Safari or Chrome goes to the Files app under Downloads — not to Photos. Getting it into your camera roll is two extra taps, and this guide covers both.
Read5 min read
4K, 1080p, 720p: what you actually need
For a phone screen, 1080p is almost always the right choice: 4K is three to four times the file size and you cannot see the difference. 4K only earns its megabytes on a large screen, or if you plan to crop or edit.
Read4 min read
MP3 or the original audio: which should you take?
Take the original audio if your player supports it — it skips a second lossy encode and is usually a smaller file too. Take MP3 only when you need something that plays on absolutely anything, like an old car stereo.
Read5 min read
Is downloading videos legal?
It depends on the video and what you do with it. Downloading your own uploads, openly-licensed material, or content you have permission to save is generally fine. Re-publishing someone else's copyrighted work is not, and platform terms can restrict downloading even when copyright law would not.
Read3 min read
Your download failed. Here is how to work out why
Open the link in a private browser window. If the video does not play there, it is private, deleted or region-locked and no tool can fetch it. If it does play, you almost certainly copied the wrong link.
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