Youtube Video Downloader (Video only, No audio)

YouTube Video Downloader (Video Only, No Audio)

The YouTube Video Downloader is an Apify Actor designed to extract YouTube video metadata together with a directly accessible video-only download link. It does not provide audio or music in the selected video stream. You provide one or more supported YouTube video URLs, choose a target resolution, and receive structured results containing the video information and an available downloadable video URL.

The Actor supports common YouTube URL formats, including standard watch URLs and YouTube share links. Available resolution choices include 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K, and 8K. When the selected resolution is unavailable, the Actor falls back to the highest available video-only resolution it can identify.

Results include the original URL, requested and provided resolution, title, channel, duration, thumbnail, video link, views, categories, description, availability, live status, subscriber count, and estimated video file size when available.

This Actor is useful for video research, structured YouTube data collection, media workflows, dataset creation, and applications that need a video-only source URL rather than an audio stream.

What Is a YouTube Video Downloader?

A YouTube Video Downloader in this Actor is a tool for obtaining information about a YouTube video and identifying an accessible video-only media URL at a user-selected resolution.

Unlike a conventional media downloader that may save a file directly to a local device, this Actor returns a field named downloadable_video_link. The returned URL represents the selected video-only format and can be used by a compatible browser, download manager, or downstream workflow.

The Actor also extracts descriptive and statistical metadata. This makes it useful when a workflow requires both the media URL and contextual information about the source video.

The input is centered around YouTube URLs. The startUrls field accepts one or more URL entries, while videoResolution controls the desired video quality.

Key Features

Feature	Description	User Benefit
Video-only extraction	Selects a format with video and no audio track	Useful for workflows requiring silent video streams
Resolution selection	Supports 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K, and 8K	Lets users request a preferred video quality
Resolution fallback	Uses the highest available video-only resolution when the requested one is unavailable	Helps return an available format instead of requiring an exact match
Multiple URLs	Accepts one or more YouTube URLs in startUrls	Allows batch-oriented processing
Video metadata	Returns title, channel, duration, thumbnail, description, and other metadata	Provides useful context alongside the media URL
Structured results	Pushes results into the Apify dataset	Makes data easier to inspect and process
File-size information	Returns a formatted size when file size metadata is available	Helps estimate the size of the selected video stream
Error reporting	Records an error for an individual URL when processing fails	Makes failed inputs identifiable in the dataset

What Data Can You Extract?

The YouTube Video Downloader returns both video metadata and a video-only downloadable URL.

Video information

The result can contain:

• Video title
• Original YouTube URL
• Requested resolution
• Actually provided resolution
• Video duration
• Thumbnail URL
• Video-only download URL
• Video file size

Channel and discovery information

The Actor can also return:

• Channel name
• Channel subscriber count
• View count
• Categories
• Video description

Availability information

The result includes:

• Availability status
• Live status

Values and availability may depend on the source video's metadata. Fields that are not available from the extracted information can be returned as null, an empty array, "Unknown", "N/A", or another documented fallback value depending on the field.

Why Use the YouTube Video Downloader?

This Actor is useful when manually checking video pages and copying media information would be repetitive.

A structured extraction workflow can help with:

• Collecting video metadata for research
• Building a video dataset
• Gathering multiple YouTube URLs in a single run
• Identifying a video-only stream at a chosen quality
• Combining video URLs with titles, channels, and descriptions
• Supporting downstream media-processing workflows
• Creating structured records for analysis

The Actor is particularly relevant when audio is not required. Because the selected format is specifically filtered for video-only content, the resulting media link is intended to represent the video stream without an audio track.

How to Use the YouTube Video Downloader

The basic workflow is straightforward:

1. Add one or more YouTube video URLs to startUrls.
2. Select the desired videoResolution.
3. Start the Actor.
4. Review the structured dataset results.
5. Use the returned downloadable_video_link in a compatible downstream workflow.

For initial testing, it is practical to start with a small number of URLs and a commonly available resolution such as 720p or 1080p.

Input

The Actor uses two input fields. startUrls is required, while videoResolution has a default value of 1080p.

Input Fields

Field	Type	Required	Default	Description
startUrls	Array	Yes	—	One or more YouTube video or playlist URL entries
videoResolution	String	No	1080p	Desired video-only resolution

The videoResolution selector supports:

• 8K
• 4K
• 2K
• 1080p
• 720p
• 480p
• 360p

The Actor accepts URL objects in the startUrls array, for example { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=..." }.

Although the input schema describes startUrls as accepting video or playlist URLs, the implemented result structure is centered on a single extracted video record. For predictable behavior, use individual YouTube video URLs when you need one result per video.

Input Example

{
  "videoResolution": "1080p",
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i82xURPkLWo&t=7s"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://youtu.be/Q_iSnEN9cMQ?si=MP4kuXYGM4M2J0dK"
    }
  ]
}

Output

The Actor places the processed results into the default Apify dataset.

For successful processing, each video result can include metadata and a downloadable_video_link for the selected video-only format. The provided_resolution field tells you which resolution was actually selected.

A useful distinction is:

Requested resolution = the quality you selected.

Provided resolution = the video-only quality actually returned.

These values can differ when the requested resolution is unavailable.

For failed URLs, the result contains the original URL and an error field instead of the complete metadata structure.

Output Fields

Field	Description
original_url	The YouTube URL supplied for processing
requested_resolution	Resolution selected in the input
title	Video title
channel	Channel name or uploader information
duration	Formatted video duration such as 11m 35s
provided_resolution	Actual video resolution returned, such as 1080p
thumbnail	Thumbnail URL when available
downloadable_video_link	Directly accessible URL for the selected video-only format
view_count	Formatted view count
categories	Video category information when available
description	Video description
availability	Extracted availability status
live_status	live or not_live based on the extracted live state
channel_subscribers	Formatted channel subscriber count when available
video_filesize	Human-readable video file size when available
error	Processing error message for a URL that could not be completed

Output Example

[
  {
    "original_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i82xURPkLWo",
    "requested_resolution": "1080p",
    "title": "Example YouTube Video",
    "channel": "Example Channel",
    "duration": "11m 35s",
    "provided_resolution": "1080p",
    "thumbnail": "https://example.com/thumbnail.jpg",
    "downloadable_video_link": "https://example.com/video-stream",
    "view_count": "125K",
    "categories": [
      "Education"
    ],
    "description": "Example video description.",
    "availability": "public",
    "live_status": "not_live",
    "channel_subscribers": "2.4M",
    "video_filesize": "145.20MB"
  }
]

The URLs and metadata shown above are illustrative examples of the documented output structure.

Use Cases

The YouTube Video Downloader can support several practical workflows:

Video research

Collect titles, channels, descriptions, durations, thumbnails, and media links for a research dataset.

Media collection

Gather video-only URLs when an audio stream is not required by the downstream workflow.

Content analysis

Combine structured metadata with video resources for analysis, classification, or cataloging.

Dataset creation

Build organized records containing source URLs, video characteristics, channel information, and availability data.

Business intelligence

Use channel, category, view-count, and subscriber information as part of broader content research.

Automation workflows

Process multiple supplied YouTube URLs without manually opening each page and recording the same metadata.

Benefits and Advantages

The Actor provides a practical combination of video extraction and metadata collection.

Its main advantages include:

• A clear resolution selector for video-only extraction
• Support for multiple URL inputs
• Structured dataset output
• Download-link discovery alongside metadata
• Useful video and channel context
• Human-readable duration, count, and file-size values
• Explicit reporting of the resolution actually provided

This makes the Actor suitable for users who need more than a bare media URL and want contextual information in the same structured result.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Supports several common video resolutions	The selected format contains no audio
Returns a video-only downloadable URL	Returned URLs may depend on source availability
Provides rich metadata with the media link	Requested resolution may differ from provided resolution
Supports multiple supplied URLs	Playlist URLs may not provide the same per-video behavior as individual video URLs
Produces structured Apify dataset results	A failed URL produces an error record rather than a completed video result
Includes file-size information when available	The Actor returns a URL rather than documenting a local file download workflow

Comparison With Alternative Approaches

Capability	This Actor	Manual / Typical Alternative
Video-only stream selection	Supported	Often requires manual format selection
Resolution preference	Configurable	Usually selected manually
Multiple URL processing	Supported through startUrls	Often handled one page at a time
Structured metadata	Included in dataset results	May require manual copying
Downloadable video URL	Returned as downloadable_video_link	May need to be located manually
Error visibility	Error is recorded for failed URLs	Errors may only be noticed during manual processing

This comparison describes workflow differences rather than performance or quality guarantees.

Best Practices

For more predictable results:

• Start with a small test run before processing many URLs.
• Prefer individual YouTube video URLs when you require one structured result per video.
• Use a resolution that is commonly available for the target content.
• Check provided_resolution instead of assuming it always matches requested_resolution.
• Review downloadable_video_link before using it in an automated downstream process.
• Validate important metadata when it is being used for business or research decisions.
• Treat failed URLs and partial results as records that may need separate review.

Limitations

The Actor has several practical limitations that users should understand.

The available resolution is determined by the source. Selecting 4K or 8K does not guarantee that the video actually has that quality. When the requested resolution is unavailable, the Actor selects the highest available video-only format it identifies.

The Actor is specifically designed for video-only output. The resulting stream does not contain audio or music.

Metadata can vary between videos. Fields such as categories, subscriber count, file size, description, or view count may not always be available.

The returned media URL is a downloadable/openable video link rather than a documented local-file output.

For playlist URLs, the input schema accepts playlist addresses, but the implemented output structure is designed around individual extracted video information. Individual video URLs are therefore more suitable when predictable per-video output is important.

Troubleshooting

Invalid Input

Check that each startUrls entry contains a valid YouTube URL. Use the documented array structure and avoid adding unsupported input properties.

Empty or Missing Results

Start with a known, accessible video URL and run a small test. Then review the dataset for the error field or missing metadata.

Requested Resolution Not Returned

Check provided_resolution. The Actor intentionally falls back to the highest available video-only resolution when the requested quality cannot be found.

Missing Metadata

Some source information may not be available for every video. Review the specific output record rather than assuming every field will always contain a value.

Processing Failure

Review the error value for the affected URL and try the same valid URL again. Testing with a different individual video URL can also help distinguish an input-specific issue from a broader workflow problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this YouTube Video Downloader do?

It extracts YouTube video metadata and identifies a directly accessible video-only download link for a selected resolution.

Does the downloaded video contain audio?

No. The Actor specifically selects video-only formats where the audio track is absent.

Which resolutions are supported?

The input selector supports 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K, and 8K.

What happens when my requested resolution is unavailable?

The Actor returns the highest available video-only resolution it identifies. Check provided_resolution to see what was actually returned.

Can I process multiple YouTube URLs?

Yes. The required startUrls field is an array and can contain multiple URL objects.

Does it support YouTube share links?

Yes. The input examples include standard YouTube watch URLs and youtu.be share links.

What is downloadable_video_link?

It is the URL of the selected video-only format identified by the Actor. It is separate from the source page URL.

Does the Actor download a video file directly?

The documented output returns a downloadable_video_link. The README does not claim a local file download or file export workflow.

What metadata is returned?

Depending on source availability, results include title, channel, duration, resolution, thumbnail, views, categories, description, availability, live status, subscriber count, and file size.

Why can requested_resolution and provided_resolution be different?

Because not every YouTube video has every requested quality available as a video-only format.

What happens when a URL fails?

The result for that URL includes original_url and an error field so the failed input can be identified.

Is this Actor suitable for automation?

Yes. The Actor accepts structured inputs and produces structured Apify dataset results, making it suitable for automated workflows that process supplied YouTube URLs.

NLP Keywords

• YouTube video extraction
• YouTube video metadata
• video-only download link
• YouTube video URL
• YouTube resolution selector
• video stream metadata
• YouTube channel data
• YouTube video information
• video resolution extraction
• YouTube content dataset
• video thumbnail extraction
• YouTube view count
• channel subscriber count
• video duration extraction
• YouTube video description
• downloadable video URL
• structured YouTube data
• YouTube media metadata
• video file size
• YouTube data collection

Related Keywords

• YouTube video downloader
• YouTube video downloader no audio
• video only YouTube downloader
• YouTube 1080p video downloader
• YouTube 4K video downloader
• YouTube 8K video downloader
• YouTube 720p video extraction
• YouTube video URL extractor
• YouTube downloadable link extractor
• YouTube video metadata scraper
• YouTube video information extractor
• YouTube video stream extractor
• YouTube video data scraper
• YouTube channel video research
• YouTube video dataset builder
• YouTube video quality selector
• YouTube direct video link
• YouTube video media extractor
• YouTube structured data extraction
• YouTube video research tool

Final Overview

The YouTube Video Downloader provides a structured way to process supplied YouTube URLs and obtain both video metadata and a video-only downloadable URL. Users can select a target quality from 360p through 8K, while the Actor automatically falls back to the highest available video-only resolution when the requested quality is unavailable.

The resulting dataset combines media access information with useful context such as title, channel, duration, thumbnail, views, categories, description, availability, live status, subscriber count, and file size. This makes the Actor suitable for research, structured data collection, media workflows, and automation scenarios where audio is not required.

For predictable per-video processing, individual YouTube video URLs are the most appropriate inputs. Users should review the returned provided_resolution, metadata availability, and any error fields before relying on a result in a downstream workflow.

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