How to download YouTube videos
- Step 1
Copy the link
On the Short, tap the three dots or Share, then Copy link. The link looks like youtube.com/shorts/….
- Step 2
Paste it above
Paste the link in the box at the top of this page and press Download. FetchBolt finds the video and its formats.
- Step 3
Choose and save
Pick a quality and tap Download. The file saves to your device.
What you get
Vertical MP4 in up to 1080p with sound, or the audio as MP3.
Shorts are regular YouTube videos in a vertical frame, so you get the same quality options as any upload, usually up to 1080×1920.
Paste the /shorts/ link directly; there is no need to convert it into a watch link first.
Download YouTube videos on iPhone and iPad
Open FetchBolt in Safari, paste the YouTube link and tap Download on the quality you want. Safari asks whether to download the file; tap Download and it saves to the Files app, in the Downloads folder.
To put the video in your Photos library, open Files, go to Downloads, tap the MP4, then tap Share and choose Save Video. It then shows up in Photos like any clip you filmed.
Download on Android
In Chrome or any other browser, paste the link, pick a quality and tap Download. The file goes to your Downloads folder, and a notification lets you open it straight away.
Your gallery app picks up the MP4 from Downloads automatically, so it's ready to watch, edit or share like any other video.
Download on Windows, Mac and Linux
Copy the link from the address bar or the Share button, paste it above and choose a quality. The MP4 saves to your Downloads folder in any browser: Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox or Brave. There's nothing to install.
If the download doesn’t work
Check that the video plays for everyone: private posts, age-restricted content and anything that needs you to sign in can't be downloaded. Removed or region-locked videos won't work either, and FetchBolt tells you which it is.
Copy the link with the app's Share button rather than from a search result, and paste it on its own. If YouTube is limiting traffic for a moment, wait a minute and try again. Large 4K files take longer to prepare, and the button shows the progress while they do.
Is FetchBolt safe?
FetchBolt runs in your browser: no app, no extension and no sign-up, and it never asks for your YouTube password. Files are prepared on our servers only for as long as it takes to send them to you, then deleted, and we don't keep a history of your links.
The only buttons that download anything are the ones in the FetchBolt card under the box, next to each quality.
Step-by-step guides
YouTube Shorts Downloader: frequently asked questions
Do Shorts keep their vertical format?
Yes. The file is the original 9:16 video, not cropped or letterboxed.
Can I get just the sound from a Short?
Yes. After pasting the link, switch to the Audio tab and download it as MP3 or M4A.
Does it work in the YouTube app on iPhone?
Copy the link from the app, open FetchBolt in Safari and paste it. The file saves to Downloads in the Files app, and you can move it to Photos from there.
Is FetchBolt free?
Yes. FetchBolt is free to use with no sign-up and no download limits for normal use. It’s supported by ads.
Do I need to install anything?
No. FetchBolt runs in your browser on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Linux.
Do you keep the videos I download?
No. Files are prepared on our servers only for as long as it takes to send them to you, then deleted. We don’t keep a history of your links.
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