How to download YouTube Shorts for free in 2026 (no app)

YouTube Shorts is one of the video formats that has grown most in the last few years. Short, vertical, perfect for casual browsing. But YouTube doesn't let you download them directly from the app — and the browser options aren't obvious either. In this guide I'll show you how to grab any Short as MP4 or MP3 from your browser, with absolutely nothing installed.

What are YouTube Shorts?

Shorts are vertical videos under 60 seconds that YouTube launched to compete directly with TikTok and Instagram Reels. They have their own feed, their own player, and it's often easier to discover good content there than in the classic feed.

If you want to grab one (because you liked it, you want to repost with credit, you'll edit it for another project), you need an external tool. YouTube does not offer direct download of Shorts, not even with YouTube Premium.

How to download a Short — step by step

1. Copy the Short's link

In the YouTube app: open the Short, tap Share (the arrow) and choose Copy link. On the web: copy the URL from the address bar, it'll look like youtube.com/shorts/XXXXXXX.

2. Paste it in YTSavr

Go to ytsavr.com, paste the link in the main input and tap Search video. In 2-4 seconds you'll see the thumbnail, channel and duration.

3. Choose quality

You get 4 options:

• 1080p Full HD: maximum available quality
• 720p HD: perfect balance of quality and size
• 480p SD: to save space
• Audio MP3: just the audio, no video

Which one to pick depends on your use case. For reposts on other platforms, 720p or 1080p are perfect. For archiving lots of Shorts, 480p saves a lot of space. For ringtones or samples, MP3.

4. Download

Tap Download and the file goes straight to your device. The name will be something like ytsavr_short-title.mp4.

What devices does it work on?

PC and Mac

Any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave). No differences. The file saves to your standard Downloads folder.

Android

On Chrome and Samsung Internet works perfectly. The video downloads to the Download folder. From there you can move it to Gallery with your file manager.

iPhone / iPad

On Safari, when you tap download, the file is saved in the Files → Downloads app. To see it in your Photos app, open it, tap Share and choose Save Video.

Quality and formats

Shorts are always vertical (9:16). When you download them, they keep that orientation. If you open them in a PC player they might look "rotated" at first, but playback is fine.

Max quality depends on what the creator uploaded. Some old Shorts are only 480p because they were filmed with old front cameras. Modern Shorts are almost always at least 720p.

Legality

Downloading Shorts for personal use is allowed in most jurisdictions. What's NOT allowed:

• Reposting the Short on your account as if it were yours (plagiarism)
• Using it in ads or monetized videos without the creator's permission
• Mass redistribution

If you'll use the Short outside of personal use, the right thing is to ask the creator for permission or, at minimum, give visible credit with their handle.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work with every Short?

All public Shorts. It does not work with private videos, age-restricted accounts, or removed videos.

Why is max quality 1080p?

That's the highest quality YouTube serves Shorts at. Some Shorts are only available in lower quality if the creator uploaded them that way.

Can my YouTube account be banned?

No. YTSavr does not connect to your account. It only processes the public video link without touching your credentials.

Is it legal to download Shorts?

For personal use, allowed in most countries. To redistribute or monetize copyrighted content, you need the creator's permission.