How to Download YouTube Shorts as MP4

YouTube Shorts are the short, vertical videos that show up in YouTube's Shorts feed — usually under 60 seconds, filmed or cropped for a phone screen. Vidgrab lets you save any public Short as a clean MP4 file in seconds, with no app, no browser extension, and no account.

Step 1: Copy the Shorts link

Open the Short in the YouTube app or on youtube.com, tap the Share button, and choose Copy link. The URL will look like:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XXXXXXXXXXX

Any valid Shorts URL works — from the mobile app, the desktop site, or a link someone sent you.

Step 2: Paste it into Vidgrab

Go to Vidgrab and paste the link into the input box, then select Analyze Video. Vidgrab reads the video directly and shows you only the resolutions that are actually available for that specific Short — so you won't be offered a fake 1080p option for a clip that only exists in 720p.

Step 3: Pick a resolution and download

Available resolutions typically include:

• 360p — smallest file size, fine for quick reposting where quality doesn't matter much
• 480p — a reasonable middle ground for casual sharing
• 720p — good default for most uses; sharp on phone screens
• 1080p Full HD — best available quality, largest file size

Choose the resolution you want and select Download. The file saves as a standard .mp4 with no watermark added.

Why download a Short instead of just watching it?

Common reasons people save Shorts locally:

• Offline viewing — no signal on a flight or commute
• Editing or repurposing — pulling a clip into another project (only for content you have rights to use)
• Archiving your own uploads — keeping a local backup of Shorts you posted yourself
• Reference or research — saving a clip to study format, pacing, or style

Does downloading remove the watermark?

Vidgrab downloads the original video file as YouTube serves it — there's no watermark added or removed in the process. If a creator has added their own on-screen branding or captions, that's part of the video itself and will still be visible.

Ready to try it? Download a YouTube Short now →