Do you ever find yourself watching a great video on a website and wishing you could save it to view later? Embedded videos are common on web pages today, but you can‘t download them as easily as a normal video file.
Luckily, with the right tools you can download embedded videos from any website for convenient offline viewing and sharing.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about downloading embedded videos from any website. Whether you want to save videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, or any other site – we’ve got you covered!
Contents
- What Exactly Are Embedded Videos?
- Why Download Embedded Videos?
- Method #1: Using SnapDownloader (Recommended)
- Method #2: Online Converters
- Method #3: Browser Extensions
- Method #4: Screen Recording Software
- How to Download Embedded Videos on Mobile
- Is It Legal to Download Embedded Videos?
- Common Questions about Downloading Embedded Videos
- Conclusion
What Exactly Are Embedded Videos?
Before we get into the how-to, let’s quickly cover what embedded videos actually are.
Embedded videos are videos that are integrated directly into the HTML code of a webpage, rather than just linked to another site. The video file is hosted on the website‘s server and “embedded” into the page you are viewing.
This makes watching the video much more seamless because it becomes part of the site you’re already on. You don’t have to leave the page or open another window.
Websites like YouTube and Vimeo allow users to embed their videos onto any website by copying and pasting the embed code.
However, the downside is these embedded videos can‘t be downloaded as easily as a normal video you‘d find on YouTube or another platform. That‘s what we‘ll tackle in this guide!
Why Download Embedded Videos?
Before we get into the methods, here are some of the top reasons you may want to download an embedded video:
- Watch offline – Save videos to view when you have no internet access.
- Avoid buffering issues – Download the full video file instead of streaming it.
- Share with friends – Send downloaded videos via email, messaging apps, social media, etc.
- Save and archive – Create your own library of videos to access indefinitely.
- Edit videos – Download videos to trim, mash-up, or remix with editing software.
- Bypass restrictions – Download region-locked or age-restricted videos that can‘t be seen in your country or on your age account.
- Remove ads – Download the video without annoying forced ads.
Without the ability to download, you‘re limited in how and when you can view embedded videos. Downloading gives you more control and flexibility.
Method #1: Using SnapDownloader (Recommended)
The best way to download embedded videos from any website is to use the SnapDownloader software tool. This makes it a quick and painless process.
What is SnapDownloader?
SnapDownloader is a premium downloader tool available for Windows and Mac computers. It was designed specifically for capturing online videos quickly and easily.
Some key features that make SnapDownloader the ideal choice include:
- 900+ supported sites – Works with virtually any video site including YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitch, and hundreds more.
- HD quality downloads – Gets the highest possible resolution up to crystal clear 4K or 8K.
–Customization – Choose exactly what video and audio formats, subtitles, and more that you want.
- Lightning speed – Leverages technology for ultra-fast downloading speeds.
- Intuitive interface – Extremely easy to use with no technical skills needed.
- Secure – 100% safe software from a reputable developer. No viruses or malware.
- Additional tools – Video converter, trimmer, metadata editor, screen recorder, and more built-in.
SnapDownloader provides the best overall experience for downloading any embedded video thanks to this stellar feature set.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here is the full step-by-step process to use SnapDownloader:
- Install the software – Get SnapDownloader from their website and install on your Windows or Mac computer.
- Copy the video URL – Go to the webpage with the embedded video and copy the URL from the address bar.
- Paste the URL in SnapDownloader – Launch SnapDownloader, paste the URL into the input field, and click the arrow button. This analyzes the page and pulls the video download link.
- Select format – Choose what quality, format, subtitles, etc. you want for your downloaded video file. MP4 gives you wide compatibility.
- Download video – Click the download button and your embedded video will start downloading to your chosen destination!
That‘s all it takes to use SnapDownloader for quick and flawless embedded video downloads.
The downloaded videos work perfectly offline and can be transferred to any of your devices.
Real-World Examples
To give you a better idea, here are some examples of using SnapDownloader to download embedded videos from popular sites:
YouTube
Over 500 million websites have embedded YouTube videos. Just paste the video‘s page URL to download with SnapDownloader.
Vimeo
Vimeo‘s HD quality makes it great for videos like short films or art portfolio reels. SnapDownloader can pull these embedded videos off any site.
Wistia
Many businesses use Wistia to host video marketing content and tutorials. You can use SnapDownloader to download these embedded videos.
Vzaar
Vzaar is a video hosting platform popular with many content creators. SnapDownloader makes it easy to grab their embedded videos.
TeacherTube
Educational sites like TeacherTube embed videos into lessons and instructional content. Students can use SnapDownloader to study offline.
Essentially any website you find an embedded video on – SnapDownloader can download it for you!
Method #2: Online Converters
If you don’t want to buy or install any software, you can use free online converters to download embedded videos.
Online converters work by having you paste the URL of the video into the conversion site, which extracts the file for you to then download.
Here are some of the most popular options:
SaveFrom.net
- Works with many sites including YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and more
- No limit on downloads
- Limited ads
OnlineVideoConverter
- Also does audio format conversions like extracting MP3
- Simple drag and drop interface
- Requires free account with 25 downloads per day
VideoProc
- No account needed
- Unlimited conversion
- Downloads and does format conversion
ClipConverter.cc
- Converts to MP3 audio as well
- Minimal interface with no ads
- Limits downloads unless you get premium account
To use an online converter:
- Go to SaveFrom.net or your preferred site
- Paste the URL of the page with the embedded video
- Click the convert or download button
- Select your preferred format
- Download the converted video file
Online converters offer a quick and easy software-free option. But there are some downsides:
💡Downsides of online converters:
- Limited site support
- Maximum quality only 480p or 720p
- Slow download speeds due to server limits
- Often have annoying ads
- Some enforce annoying watermarks
- Most have download limits unless you pay
SnapDownloader gives you unlimited high-quality downloads, so you may prefer it for an unrestricted experience. But online converters work in a pinch.
Method #3: Browser Extensions
Another alternative is using a download helper browser extension. Rather than standalone software, these add capabilities to your web browser.
Here are some top options:
Video DownloadHelper
- Top choice for Chrome and Firefox
- Wide site support
- Lets you pick resolution
Nimbus Capture
- Made for Chrome
- One-click downloads
- Screen recording ability
Vimeo Video Downloader
- Only works for Vimeo
- Unlimited use
- Does entire channel downloads
To use a browser extension:
- Install it from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons site
- Navigate to page with embedded video
- Click the extension‘s button to download
- Video will download to your computer
Browser extensions integrate smoothly into your browsing experience. However, here are their limitations:
💡Downsides of browser extensions:
- Functionality constrained by browser rules
- Site support not as wide as standalone programs
- Only work in browser they are installed in
- Can lack some customization options
- May have size or frequency limits
- Could slow browser performance over time
For quick ad-hoc downloads though, browser extensions offer an easy option.
Method #4: Screen Recording Software
If other methods fail, you can always use screen recording software to literally record your screen as you play the video. This captures footage of the video for you to save.
Some top screen recorders include:
OBS Studio
- Free and open source
- Full of options and plugins
- Steep learning curve
Camtasia
- Paid but user-friendly
- Great editing tools
- Records in high quality
ShareX
- Lightweight recorder optimized for speed
- Open source
- Limited editing functionality
To use screen recording:
- Install your chosen software
- Configure the capture area and settings
- Hit record as you play the video
- Stop recording and export the video file
This approach is more time intensive but can work as a last resort.
💡Downsides of screen recording:
- More complicated setup
- Captured video quality much lower
- Audio can be imperfect if improperly configured
- No ability to extract direct video file
- May capture unwanted interface elements
- Requires more disk space for large video files
SnapDownloader avoids these issues by downloading the original source file. But screen recording does provide another option.
How to Download Embedded Videos on Mobile
Want to save embedded videos directly on your iPhone, Android device, iPad, or other mobile device? No problem, here are the best ways to do that:
Use a Downloader App
Just like SnapDownloader for desktop, there are downloader apps for mobile that can grab embedded videos in just a few taps:
Documents by Readdle (iOS and Android)
- Recognizes many video sites
- Built-in media player and organizer
- Syncs with cloud and desktop
Video Downloader for Facebook (Android)
- Auto-detects Facebook videos
- Downloads HD quality
- Simple sharing features
Videoder (Android)
- Supports 1000+ websites
- Queues multiple downloads
- No size limits
To use a downloader app:
- Install it from your device‘s app store
- Open the app and navigate to the page with the video
- Tap download – it‘ll often automatically recognize the video
- Select download quality if prompted
- Video will download directly to your device‘s storage
These apps make downloading embedded videos on mobile just as easy as on desktop.
Use Online Converter Site
You can also use an online converter site on your phone‘s browser – just like on desktop.
The process is the same:
- Go to the site on your device‘s browser
- Paste the video URL
- Tap convert and download
- Open the downloaded video in your gallery
This gives you a quick option without having to install any apps. However, the limitations around speed, quality, and download restrictions apply just as on desktop.
Is It Legal to Download Embedded Videos?
Whenever downloading online content, it‘s natural to wonder about the legality of it.
In most cases, it is perfectly legal and ethical to download embedded videos from websites, as long as it’s for personal use.
However, always check the website’s Terms of Service for any restrictions on downloading videos. For example, some sites like Hulu explicitly prohibit downloading their content.
Typically, problems only arise if you try to download videos and redistribute them for public viewing without permission or monetize them in some way.
As long as you use downloaded videos responsibly for your own private viewing, you should be fine. But it‘s always smart to err on the side of caution and get content through proper licensed channels when possible.
Common Questions about Downloading Embedded Videos
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Do I need special software to download videos?
You can absolutely use browser extensions, online converters, or screen recording instead. But downloader software like SnapDownloader offers the best experience.
What is the maximum quality I can download?
SnapDownloader gets you the highest possible quality, even crystal clear 4K or 8K if available. Other methods max out around 720p typically.
Where does the downloaded video get saved?
By default, videos save to your standard Downloads folder. But you can customize the destination in your downloader settings.
Can I get in trouble for sharing downloaded videos?
Potentially yes, so avoid resharing videos when prohibited by the content owner. But personal private use is generally fine.
How much does the SnapDownloader software cost?
SnapDownloader offers both a 1-year plan for $39 or lifetime license for $79. You can try it free first.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a variety of methods to download embedded videos from virtually any website. This allows you to build your own offline video library from all your favorite places on the web.
While online converters, browser extensions, and screen recording can get the job done, by far the best solution in terms of speed, quality, and flexibility is the SnapDownloader software tool. It makes downloading embedded videos a total breeze.
So whether you want to save videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, or any other site, SnapDownloader has you covered. Install it today and start enjoying full offline access to all the videos that matter to you!