YouTube video & Shorts downloader

How to download YouTube videos

You'll see every resolution YouTube encoded, from 360p up to 4K where available. The whole process takes about ten seconds and works the same way on every device.

Once the formats appear, each row shows the quality and an estimated file size, so you know what you're getting before the download starts. Tap Download next to the one you want. We prepare the file on our servers, then your browser saves it like any other download — there's nothing to install and no extension required.

What you get

A single MP4 with video and audio merged — no separate streams to stitch together. Supported formats: MP4 from 360p to 4K (Pro above 720p), M4A and MP3 audio, and GIF for Shorts under 15 seconds.

Most people pick the highest free quality for re-editing and MP3 when they only need the sound — for a voiceover, a podcast clip, or a song you're allowed to reuse. If the clip is shorter than fifteen seconds, you'll also see a GIF option. It's encoded with an optimised palette, so it stays sharp without ballooning in size.

Free downloads go up to 720p, which is plenty for phones and most social re-posts. Pro unlocks every resolution the platform stores — 1080p, 1440p and 4K where available — and removes the hourly limit.

Works on every device

Reelane runs in the browser, so it behaves the same on an iPhone, an Android phone, an iPad or a laptop. There's no app to install and nothing to update.

• iPhone and iPad: Safari saves downloads to the Files app (Downloads folder). Open the file and tap Share → Save Video to move it into Photos.
• Android: files go to your Downloads folder and appear in Google Photos under Downloads.
• Mac, Windows and Linux: files land in your usual downloads folder, named after the post so they're easy to find.

You can also install Reelane as an app from your browser menu. On Android, that adds Reelane to the share sheet — share a YouTube post straight to Reelane and it opens with the link already filled in.

The "replace the domain" shortcut

Already looking at the post in a desktop browser? Skip the copy-and-paste step entirely.

Add reelane.com/ in front of the platform's domain in the address bar and press Enter. We open the downloader with the link already filled in and start fetching right away. It works for every platform we support, not only YouTube.

Tips for YouTube

• youtu.be short links and /shorts/ links work.
• Members-only, private and age-restricted videos are refused.
• Premieres and live streams become available once the replay is published.

If something doesn't work, check that the link points to a single post rather than a profile or feed, and that you can open the post in a private browser window without logging in. Posts that need a login to view can't be downloaded — that's deliberate.

Why use Reelane for YouTube?

Most free download sites earn money by making you hunt for the real button between fake ones, pop-ups and redirects. Reelane has a single input and a single list of formats. There are no browser extensions to install and no "download manager" to run, and nothing is bundled with your file.

• Real quality options. We read every rendition YouTube publishes and show them all. If the post only exists at 720p, that's what you'll see — we never upscale a file and pretend it's HD.
• Size before you download. Each row shows an estimated size, so you can pick a lighter file on mobile data.
• Audio done properly. When a platform stores sound separately, we merge it back so your MP4 isn't silent.
• Private by default. We don't need an account, cookies from the platform, or your login. Anonymous downloads are rate-limited by a hashed IP address, which is never stored in readable form.

Common reasons people save

• Archiving your own work. Platforms remove old posts, change compression and occasionally lose uploads. Keep an original copy of everything you publish.
• Editing and repurposing. Pull a clip into your editor to add captions, cut a highlight, or reframe it for another network.
• Offline viewing. Watch on a flight or a commute without burning through mobile data.
• Research and reference. Save examples for mood boards, training material or a client presentation — with permission from the creator.

Troubleshooting

"We can't read this link." Make sure you copied the link to a single post. Profile pages, search results and home feeds don't contain one specific video.

"This post is private." The creator has limited who can see it. Only publicly visible can be downloaded.

The download is slower than usual. Large or long videos take longer to prepare, especially at 1080p and above. Keep the tab open — the button switches to Saved when your browser receives the file.

The file won't play. Every video is delivered as H.264/AAC MP4, which plays on every modern phone and computer. If an older player struggles, try VLC, or pick a lower resolution.

Is it safe and legal?

Reelane only reads content that anyone can view publicly. We refuse private accounts, age-restricted posts, paid content and anything protected by DRM, and we never ask for your YouTube password. Downloaded files stay on our servers only long enough to reach you — they're deleted automatically within ten minutes — and we don't keep a copy or a list of what you downloaded.

Whether downloading is allowed depends on who owns the content and where you live. Downloading your own uploads is always fine. For anyone else's work, get permission, credit the creator, and follow YouTube's terms. Rights holders can ask us to block specific links using our DMCA form.

Turn downloads into scheduled posts

Downloading is free forever. When you want to reuse your own clips across platforms, Reelane Pro takes the next step: paste a link or upload a file, crop it to 9:16, 1:1 or 16:9, write a caption for each network, and pick a time. We publish it to X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads and Pinterest for you, retry automatically if a platform hiccups, and show the exact error if something needs your attention.

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YouTube downloader FAQ