Easy Ways to Download Online Streaming Video Content

Do you watch lots of online streaming videos on websites, platforms such as YouTube, or even video-on-demand such as Netflix Hulu, or Amazon Prime?

18:31 24 July 2019

Odds are you probably do – and in most cases find it a convenient way to watch content.

However convenient it can be to watch online streaming videos, at times it can help to be able to download them. By actually downloading the videos you will be able to watch it offline, and won’t have quality issues even if your internet connection is poor.

Downloading online streaming video content may sound complicated, but there are actually several easy options available nowadays.

Download Videos via Built-In ‘Watch Offline’ Features

Due to popular demand, many platforms have started to introduce features that allow users to download videos and watch them offline. The exact form that such features take can vary, and most have several limitations.

Very few platforms will let you actually ‘download’ the video file itself. Instead most will let you download it via their app and restrict you to watching the video within the app itself.

Additionally there may be other limitations as well, both in terms of the selection of videos that can be downloaded and the quality of the videos.

Currently platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime have a watch offline feature. Others such as Hulu have announced it, but are yet to actually launch the feature.

Use a Video Downloader Tools

If you want to actually download an online streaming video as a video file, your best bet would be to use a video downloader tool. Most of these tools are URL based, and require that you copy and paste the URL of the webpage containing the video that you want to download.

Such tools come in various forms, including web-based services, browser extensions, and even standalone video downloader apps.

Unfortunately most video downloaders are not universal, and are designed to support certain online streaming video platforms. As a result you will need to find one that supports the platform that hosts the video you wish to download.

On top of that some video downloaders may have other limitations and place a cap on the file size, quality, or duration of the video. It should be noted that most standalone apps do not have such limitations.

Record and Save Videos with a Screen Recorder

If you want a slightly different approach you can opt to use a screen recorder to record online streaming videos straight off your screen – then save them as a video file.

Technically this isn’t the same as ‘downloading’ the video, but at the end of the day it amounts to the same. Additionally this method does not have any limitations to speak of, and can be applied to any online streaming video from any platform.

The one disadvantage of using a screen recorder is that it does take longer (in general). Effectively you will have to let the video play and record its entire duration before you can save it.

“Which To Use?”

If you’re wondering which option you should use – that largely is a question of preference. It is best to make a decision based on the platform you want to download videos from and explore ways to do so. One case in point are the ways to perform a Hulu download.

Before you make a decision, try to experiment with a few different methods and see what each one is like. That way you will be able to figure out where your preference lies, and make a more informed choice.