MP4 is the video format almost every device understands, which makes it the easiest way to keep a YouTube video. The SSYouTube.live YouTube to MP4 downloader lists the MP4 files YouTube has for any public video and lets you save one in a couple of taps – free, with no app and no account. It works just like our main YouTube video downloader.
Looking for a YouTube to MP4 converter? You don't need one, because nothing is re-encoded here. You get the same MP4 streams YouTube sends to its own player – no extra quality loss and no conversion queue: one MP4 with sound (usually 360p), plus HD MP4 video in every resolution YouTube offers as MP4, such as 720p, 1080p and sometimes 1440p or 4K.
MP4 downloads on every device
- Windows
- Mac & iPhone
- Android
- Linux
How to save a YouTube video as MP4
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Copy the YouTube link
In the YouTube app tap Share, then Copy link; on a computer copy the URL from the address bar. Videos, Shorts and youtu.be links all work.
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Paste and press Download
Paste the link into the box above and press Download. The list of MP4 files appears below the box, starting with the one file that includes sound (usually 360p) – the only row without a mute icon.
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Save the MP4
Tap Download next to a quality and the MP4 opens in a new tab. Save it with the player's ⋮ menu or right-click and choose Save video as; on iPhone, long-press the button and choose Download Linked File.
MP4 downloader features
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Original MP4 streams
No conversion, no re-compression and no watermark: you get exactly the file YouTube streams.
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Every resolution in one list
After the first file – the one with sound – HD options are sorted from highest to lowest, so the sharpest MP4 is always near the top.
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H.264 first
When a resolution exists in both H.264 and AV1, we list the H.264 version because it plays on more phones, TVs and apps.
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Sound clearly marked
Rows without audio carry a muted speaker icon, so the MP4 with sound is easy to spot.
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Free and simple
No sign-up, nothing to install: files go from YouTube's servers straight to your device.
Will the MP4 play on my device?
MP4 is a container – a wrapper that holds video and sound. Nearly every phone, computer, smart TV, editor and messaging app opens MP4, which makes it the safest format to download. Whether a particular file plays smoothly depends on the codec inside it, the method used to compress the picture.
The MP4 with sound (the first file in the list, usually 360p) uses H.264 video and AAC audio, a pairing supported everywhere for over a decade. Share it on WhatsApp, play it on an old Android phone or drop it into an editing app without trouble.
H.264 vs AV1 in plain words
H.264 (also called AVC) is the older, universal codec: it plays on practically anything, but files are fairly large. AV1 is newer and more efficient – similar quality in a noticeably smaller file – but it needs a fairly recent phone, computer or app.
For every resolution, SSYouTube.live picks the H.264 version whenever YouTube offers one. Very high resolutions such as 1440p and 4K – and on some videos even 1080p – exist only in AV1, so those rows will be AV1 files.
If an MP4 shows a black screen, a frozen picture or won't open, your device or app probably doesn't support AV1 yet. Choose 720p or lower (H.264 on almost every video), play the file in VLC, or on Windows install the free AV1 Video Extension from the Microsoft Store.
YouTube to MP4: common questions
Is this YouTube to MP4 downloader free?
Yes, completely. There are no paid plans, no registration and nothing to install.
Do you convert the video to MP4?
No conversion is needed. YouTube already stores its videos as MP4, and we link you to those files directly. That is why results appear in seconds and the quality is exactly the same as on YouTube.
Which MP4 file has sound?
The first MP4 in the list (usually 360p) – the only row without a mute icon, because it is the one file YouTube offers with picture and sound together. All other rows, including a second 360p option further down, are video-only and show a muted speaker icon.
Can I download HD MP4 in 1080p or 4K?
Yes, when YouTube offers that resolution as MP4: rows such as 720p, 1080p, 1440p and 2160p (4K) appear automatically. Keep in mind that they are video-only files, and that 1440p and 4K rows (sometimes 1080p too) are AV1 files, which older devices may not play.
Can I get MP3 or audio only?
Not at the moment. This tool is focused on MP4 video; choose the first MP4 in the list when you also need the sound.
Why won't my HD MP4 play?
It is probably an AV1 file your device or app can't play. Pick 720p or lower, or open it in VLC; the H.264 vs AV1 section above explains why.
How do I save the MP4 after it opens in a new tab?
On Android tap ⋮ on the video and choose Download. On a computer click ⋮ in the player or right-click and choose Save video as. On iPhone, long-press the Download button instead and choose Download Linked File; the MP4 goes to Files under Downloads.
Can I save YouTube Shorts as MP4 too?
Yes. Shorts are regular MP4 videos in a vertical frame. Paste a Shorts link here or use our YouTube Shorts downloader – both give you the same files.
Are there videos that can't be saved as MP4?
Private, members-only and age-restricted videos aren't supported, nor are streams that are still live. Please download only content you own or have permission to use.