Method 1: Right-click Save (for plain MP4 videos)
The simplest method works when the video is a plain file (MP4, WebM, MOV) embedded directly in the page:
- Right-click on the video player.
- Select Save video as… from the context menu.
- Choose a save location and click Save.
Limitation: This only works for directly embedded video files. Most modern streaming sites use HLS or DASH, which will not show the "Save video as" option because there is no single file to save.
Method 2: Using a browser extension (for HLS and DASH)
For HLS and DASH streams, a browser extension that monitors network requests is the most practical solution. TimeSave Video Downloader works as follows:
1
Install the extension
Add TimeSave to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. It works on Chrome, Edge, Brave, and other Chromium browsers. No account or sign-up required.
2
Visit the video page and press Play
TimeSave automatically detects HLS, DASH, and MP4 requests in the background as the page loads. The toolbar icon shows a badge with the count of detected sources.
3
Click the icon and download
Click the TimeSave icon, choose the video source you want, and press the download button. The video is saved to your device.
Method 3: Using Chrome DevTools to find the direct URL
For technically inclined users, you can find the video URL manually:
- Open DevTools with F12 and go to the Network tab.
- Filter by Media and reload the page.
- Press Play on the video. Look for requests ending in .m3u8, .mpd, or .mp4.
- Right-click the request and select Copy > Copy URL.
- Paste the URL into TimeSave's download page or use it with ffmpeg in a terminal.
Important: legal and ethical considerations
Saving a video for personal, offline viewing of content you own or have licensed is generally permitted. However, redistributing downloaded content, bypassing paywalls, or downloading DRM-protected content from subscription services violates those services' terms of use and may infringe copyright law. Always check the terms of service of the site you are using and download only content you are authorised to save.
Comparison of methods
| Method | Works for | Difficulty |
|---|
| Right-click Save | Plain MP4 / WebM only | Easy |
| Browser extension (TimeSave) | HLS, DASH, MP4 | Easy |
| DevTools + ffmpeg | HLS, DASH, MP4 | Intermediate |