# YouTube Video Downloader – Get Direct MP4 & 4K Links by URL (`endspec/youtube-instant-video-downloader`) Actor

Get direct download links and metadata for any YouTube video by URL or ID: progressive MP4, adaptive video up to 4K, and audio-only tracks, with resolution, codec, FPS and file size. Batch many videos in one run. No login, no cookies, no YouTube API key. Pay only per video processed.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/endspec/youtube-instant-video-downloader.md
- **Developed by:** [EndSpec](https://apify.com/endspec) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, Social media, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $14.00 / 1,000 video processeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md):

```bash
npm install apify-client
```

In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md):

```bash
pip install apify-client
```

In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md):

````bash
# MacOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash
# Windows
irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex
```bash

In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md).

If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).


# README

## YouTube Video Downloader — Get Direct MP4 / 4K Download Links by URL

Get direct **YouTube video download links** and metadata for any video by URL or ID. This YouTube video downloader returns every available format — progressive MP4 (video + audio), adaptive video up to **4K**, and audio-only tracks — each with resolution, codec, FPS and file size. No login, no cookies, no YouTube Data API key.

### Quick start (input → output)

**Input:**
```json
{ "videos": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"], "type": "all" }
````

**Output (one row per video):**

```json
{
  "videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
  "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster)",
  "channelTitle": "Rick Astley",
  "lengthSeconds": 213,
  "viewCount": 1600000000,
  "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/hqdefault.jpg",
  "formatCount": 27,
  "formats": [
    { "itag": 18, "kind": "progressive", "quality": "360p", "container": "mp4", "width": 640, "height": 360, "fps": 25, "hasVideo": true, "hasAudio": true, "sizeBytes": 9500000, "url": "https://redirector.googlevideo.com/..." },
    { "itag": 313, "kind": "video_only", "quality": "2160p", "container": "webm", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "fps": 25, "hasVideo": true, "hasAudio": false, "url": "https://redirector.googlevideo.com/..." }
  ]
}
```

### What this actor does

- Accepts one or many YouTube videos (`watch?v=`, `youtu.be/`, `/shorts/`, or a bare 11-char ID).
- Returns, per video: metadata (title, channel, length, views, thumbnail) plus a normalized list of downloadable **formats** with direct URLs.
- Filter what you get with `type`: `all`, `video` (progressive MP4 with audio), `video_only` (adaptive streams incl. 4K), or `audio`.

### Input parameters

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `videos` | array of strings | ✅ | YouTube video URLs or 11-character IDs. |
| `type` | string | — | `all` (default), `video`, `video_only`, or `audio`. |

**Important notes**

- Download URLs are official YouTube CDN links and are **time-limited** — fetch them soon after the run.
- Progressive (`kind: "progressive"`) formats contain both audio and video; adaptive `video_only`/`audio` are separate streams (mux them yourself for 1080p+).
- Private, age-restricted, or removed videos return an error row and are **not** charged.

#### More input examples

```json
{ "videos": ["dQw4w9WgXcQ"], "type": "video" }
```

```json
{ "videos": ["https://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0"], "type": "audio" }
```

### Output

#### Field reference

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `videoId`, `url`, `title`, `channelTitle`, `channelId` | Video + channel identity. |
| `lengthSeconds`, `viewCount`, `thumbnail` | Basic metadata. |
| `formatCount` | Number of formats returned after `type` filtering. |
| `formats[]` | `{ itag, kind, quality, container, mimeType, width, height, fps, bitrate, sizeBytes, hasVideo, hasAudio, url }`. |

#### Output examples

**No formats / unavailable** (not charged):

```json
{ "status": "error", "error": "No downloadable formats were found for this video (it may be private, age-restricted, or removed). You were not charged." }
```

**Bad input** (not charged):

```json
{ "status": "error", "error": "That input is not a valid YouTube video URL or ID. Please check it and try again. You were not charged." }
```

**Service busy** (not charged):

```json
{ "status": "error", "error": "The download service is temporarily unavailable — please retry shortly. You were not charged." }
```

### Use cases

- **Creators / editors:** grab source files and specific resolutions for re-use you're licensed to make.
- **Archivists:** capture metadata + best-quality streams for allowed offline backup.
- **Developers:** build "paste a link, get formats" features without maintaining an extractor.

### Best practices

- Use `type: "video"` when you want a single ready-to-play MP4 with sound.
- Use `type: "video_only"` for 1080p+/4K, then mux with an `audio` track.
- Download promptly — CDN URLs expire.

### Pricing

Pay-per-event: charged **once per video processed** (a row with at least one format). Errors are **never** charged.

### Legality

Only download content you own or are licensed/permitted to download. Respect copyright, YouTube's Terms of Service, and applicable law. You are solely responsible for how you use the links and files.

### FAQ

**Do I need an API key?** No.
**Can I get 4K?** Yes — via `type: "all"` or `video_only` (adaptive `2160p`).
**Why is 1080p video-only?** YouTube serves high-res video and audio as separate adaptive streams — mux them.
**Why did the URL stop working?** CDN links are time-limited; re-run to refresh.

### Support

Email **contact@endspec.net** — we typically reply within one business day.

# Actor input Schema

## `videos` (type: `array`):

One or more YouTube video URLs or 11-character video IDs. Each video returns its metadata and available download formats. Accepts watch?v=, youtu.be/, and /shorts/ links.

## `type` (type: `string`):

Which formats to include: all, video (progressive MP4 with audio), video\_only (adaptive video streams, incl. 4K), or audio (audio-only tracks).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "videos": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
  ],
  "type": "all"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "videos": [
        "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("endspec/youtube-instant-video-downloader").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "videos": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("endspec/youtube-instant-video-downloader").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "videos": [
    "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
  ]
}' |
apify call endspec/youtube-instant-video-downloader --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=endspec/youtube-instant-video-downloader",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

```json
{
    "openapi": "3.0.1",
    "info": {
        "title": "YouTube Video Downloader – Get Direct MP4 & 4K Links by URL",
        "description": "Get direct download links and metadata for any YouTube video by URL or ID: progressive MP4, adaptive video up to 4K, and audio-only tracks, with resolution, codec, FPS and file size. Batch many videos in one run. No login, no cookies, no YouTube API key. Pay only per video processed.",
        "version": "0.1",
        "x-build-id": "QcWSCKCRrDdHlBasP"
    },
    "servers": [
        {
            "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2"
        }
    ],
    "paths": {
        "/acts/endspec~youtube-instant-video-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-endspec-youtube-instant-video-downloader",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/endspec~youtube-instant-video-downloader/runs": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "runs-sync-endspec-youtube-instant-video-downloader",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK",
                        "content": {
                            "application/json": {
                                "schema": {
                                    "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema"
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        "/acts/endspec~youtube-instant-video-downloader/run-sync": {
            "post": {
                "operationId": "run-sync-endspec-youtube-instant-video-downloader",
                "x-openai-isConsequential": false,
                "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.",
                "tags": [
                    "Run Actor"
                ],
                "requestBody": {
                    "required": true,
                    "content": {
                        "application/json": {
                            "schema": {
                                "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                "parameters": [
                    {
                        "name": "token",
                        "in": "query",
                        "required": true,
                        "schema": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "description": "Enter your Apify token here"
                    }
                ],
                "responses": {
                    "200": {
                        "description": "OK"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    },
    "components": {
        "schemas": {
            "inputSchema": {
                "type": "object",
                "required": [
                    "videos"
                ],
                "properties": {
                    "videos": {
                        "title": "YouTube Videos",
                        "type": "array",
                        "description": "One or more YouTube video URLs or 11-character video IDs. Each video returns its metadata and available download formats. Accepts watch?v=, youtu.be/, and /shorts/ links.",
                        "items": {
                            "type": "string"
                        }
                    },
                    "type": {
                        "title": "Formats to return",
                        "enum": [
                            "all",
                            "video",
                            "video_only",
                            "audio"
                        ],
                        "type": "string",
                        "description": "Which formats to include: all, video (progressive MP4 with audio), video_only (adaptive video streams, incl. 4K), or audio (audio-only tracks).",
                        "default": "all"
                    }
                }
            },
            "runsResponseSchema": {
                "type": "object",
                "properties": {
                    "data": {
                        "type": "object",
                        "properties": {
                            "id": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "actId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "userId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "startedAt": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "format": "date-time",
                                "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
                            },
                            "finishedAt": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "format": "date-time",
                                "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z"
                            },
                            "status": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "example": "READY"
                            },
                            "meta": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "origin": {
                                        "type": "string",
                                        "example": "API"
                                    },
                                    "userAgent": {
                                        "type": "string"
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "stats": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "inputBodyLen": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 2000
                                    },
                                    "rebootCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "restartCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "resurrectCount": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "computeUnits": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "options": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "build": {
                                        "type": "string",
                                        "example": "latest"
                                    },
                                    "timeoutSecs": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 300
                                    },
                                    "memoryMbytes": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 1024
                                    },
                                    "diskMbytes": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 2048
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "buildId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultKeyValueStoreId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultDatasetId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "defaultRequestQueueId": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "buildNumber": {
                                "type": "string",
                                "example": "1.0.0"
                            },
                            "containerUrl": {
                                "type": "string"
                            },
                            "usage": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 1
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_SERPS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            },
                            "usageTotalUsd": {
                                "type": "number",
                                "example": 0.00005
                            },
                            "usageUsd": {
                                "type": "object",
                                "properties": {
                                    "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATASET_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "number",
                                        "example": 0.00005
                                    },
                                    "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    },
                                    "PROXY_SERPS": {
                                        "type": "integer",
                                        "example": 0
                                    }
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
```