# NetShort Video Downloader – 1080p MP4 Episodes (`spider_studio/netshort-video-downloader`) Actor

Download the highest-quality NetShort episodes available to free users as ready-to-use MP4 files. Enter one short-play ID to batch-save videos to Apify KVS with episode metadata, file sizes, and direct record links. Supports up to 1080p, backup URLs, retries, API access, schedules, and integrations.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/spider\_studio/netshort-video-downloader.md
- **Developed by:** [NewLai](https://apify.com/spider_studio) (community)
- **Stats:** 5 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 successful netshort video downloads

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

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

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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

### What does NetShort Video Downloader do?

**NetShort Video Downloader downloads accessible NetShort episodes in bulk as ready-to-use MP4 files, with playback quality up to 1080p.** Enter one numeric `short_play_id`; the Actor discovers the episodes available to a free NetShort visitor, downloads each video directly from the CDN, and stores every successful MP4 in Apify Key-Value Store (KVS).

Each stored video gets a predictable filename plus a Dataset record containing the drama title, episode number, episode ID, returned clarity, subtitle languages, file size, and direct KVS record URL. No code is required in Apify Console, while developers can automate the same NetShort video download workflow through the Apify API, SDKs, schedules, webhooks, and integrations.

> **Availability:** this Actor downloads only episodes NetShort currently makes accessible to the visitor session. It does not unlock paid, member-only, geographically restricted, or otherwise unavailable content.

### Why use this NetShort MP4 downloader?

- **Batch download NetShort episodes:** resolve all currently accessible episodes from one short-play ID.
- **Get MP4 files:** save complete `video/mp4` records directly to the run's default KVS.
- **Use the best available quality:** request playback up to 1080p and record the clarity NetShort returns.
- **Recover from temporary failures:** retry downloads and use a backup playback URL when one is available.
- **Keep files organized:** name videos with the drama ID, episode number, and episode ID.
- **Track every attempt:** inspect successful and failed episodes in a structured Dataset.
- **Protect signed links:** exclude temporary source playback URLs from Dataset output.
- **Automate at scale:** connect runs to the Apify API, schedules, webhooks, monitoring, and integrations.

NetShort API discovery requests use the configured proxy policy. Large MP4 downloads connect directly to the returned CDN URL without a proxy, reducing unnecessary proxy transfer usage.

### What data does the NetShort downloader return?

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `shortPlayId` | string | Requested NetShort drama identifier. |
| `dramaTitle` | string or null | Drama title returned by NetShort. |
| `episodeId` | string or null | NetShort episode identifier. |
| `episodeNo` | integer | Episode position within the drama. |
| `success` | boolean | Whether the MP4 was downloaded and stored in KVS. |
| `error` | string or null | Safe failure reason for an unsuccessful download. |
| `playClarity` | string or null | Playback clarity returned by NetShort. |
| `selectedSource` | string or null | Whether the primary or backup URL succeeded. |
| `subtitleLanguages` | array | Subtitle language labels found for the episode. |
| `fileName` | string or null | Predictable MP4 filename and KVS key. |
| `kvsRecordUrl` | string or null | API URL of the stored MP4 record. |
| `contentType` | string or null | MIME type, normally `video/mp4`. |
| `sizeBytes` | integer or null | Downloaded MP4 size in bytes. |

Temporary signed playback URLs are intentionally not returned in the Dataset. Use the companion [NetShort 1080p Video URL Scraper](https://apify.com/spider_studio/netshort-drama-playback-urls) when you need playback links without downloading files.

### How to download NetShort episodes as MP4

1. Obtain the drama's numeric `short_play_id` from NetShort search, recommendations, or drama metadata.
2. Open the Actor's **Input** tab.
3. Try the prefilled example or replace it with your own short-play ID.
4. Click **Save & Start**.
5. Open **Downloaded MP4 files** to browse the KVS video records.
6. Open **Download results** to review episode metadata, file sizes, links, and failures.

Signed NetShort playback URLs can expire. This Actor resolves and downloads within the same run so the files are requested while the links are fresh.

### Input

See the Input tab for the full configuration. `short_play_id` is the only input field and must be a string containing 1–32 digits. Keeping the value as a string prevents large IDs from losing precision in JavaScript clients.

The Input tab includes a runnable prefilled example:

```json
{
  "short_play_id": "1894649306163933185"
}
```

Unknown fields and malformed IDs are rejected before any NetShort request is made.

### Output: MP4 files in Apify KVS

Every successful episode download creates one KVS record using this pattern:

```text
video-{shortPlayId}-{episodeNo:04d}-{episodeId}.mp4
```

Example Dataset item:

```json
{
  "shortPlayId": "1894649306163933185",
  "dramaTitle": "Example drama",
  "episodeId": "1894649306868576297",
  "episodeNo": 1,
  "success": true,
  "error": null,
  "playClarity": "1080p",
  "selectedSource": "primary",
  "subtitleLanguages": ["zh_CN"],
  "fileName": "video-1894649306163933185-0001-1894649306868576297.mp4",
  "kvsRecordKey": "video-1894649306163933185-0001-1894649306868576297.mp4",
  "kvsRecordUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/example/records/video-1894649306163933185-0001-1894649306868576297.mp4",
  "contentType": "video/mp4",
  "sizeBytes": 12582912
}
```

You can download the dataset in various formats such as JSON, HTML, CSV, or Excel. Video files are binary KVS records and can be downloaded through Apify Console or their authenticated KVS API URLs.

### NetShort Video Downloader pricing

This Actor uses **pay-per-event pricing**. A charge occurs only when one episode has been downloaded successfully, stored as an MP4 in KVS, and indexed in the default Dataset.

| Apify user tier | Price per successful MP4 | Price per 1,000 successful MP4s |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| Free plan | $0.004 | $4.00 |
| Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond | $0.003 | $3.00 |

Failed downloads, invalid video responses, KVS write failures, unavailable episodes, and retries are not charged. There is no separate Actor start fee. Users also pay the Apify platform costs generated by their runs, including compute, applicable proxy traffic, storage, and data transfer. Check the run's **Usage** tab for exact charges and use the maximum run cost setting to control spending.

### Use NetShort Video Downloader through the API

Every Apify Actor can be called through HTTP, JavaScript, Python, CLI, OpenAPI, or MCP-compatible workflows. Send the same input object shown above and read the run's default Dataset and Key-Value Store after completion.

Typical automation workflows include:

- scheduled authorized media backups;
- localization and subtitle review queues;
- transcription preparation;
- media quality assurance;
- internal short-drama catalog maintenance;
- downstream processing triggered by Apify webhooks.

### Reliability and advanced settings

- `NETSHORT_MEDIA_MAX_CONCURRENCY` controls simultaneous direct video downloads and defaults to `2`.
- `NETSHORT_MAX_VIDEO_SIZE_BYTES` defaults to 250 MiB per episode and rejects unexpectedly large responses.
- `NETSHORT_MEDIA_DOWNLOAD_TIMEOUT_SECS` defaults to 900 seconds.
- `NETSHORT_FAIL_ON_ERROR=true` fails the run when any episode download fails; partial success is allowed by default.
- Source responses must be HTTPS and contain a valid MP4 signature before storage.
- KVS retention follows your Apify storage settings; move important files before their retention period ends.

### FAQ, responsible use, and support

#### Can this Actor download every episode of a NetShort drama?

It downloads every episode for which NetShort returns an accessible playback URL during the run. The number can be lower than the full catalog when later episodes are paid, locked, expired, or restricted.

#### Does it always download NetShort videos in 1080p?

The Actor requests playback up to 1080p, but NetShort controls the qualities available to each visitor session. Check `playClarity` in the Dataset for the returned quality.

#### Are failed NetShort video downloads charged?

No. The `successful-video-download` billing event is triggered only after an MP4 is stored in KVS and its successful Dataset record is saved. Failed rows are retained for troubleshooting without a result charge; platform usage is still billed separately.

#### Why is a video missing from KVS?

Check the Dataset row and run logs. Common causes include an expired signed URL, upstream HTTP error, invalid non-MP4 response, the per-file size guard, or a KVS write failure.

Use this Actor only for legitimate and authorized purposes. Follow NetShort's terms, respect copyright and applicable law, and verify that you have permission to download and retain the resulting media. The Actor does not intentionally collect private user data. If results could contain personal data, ensure that your processing has a lawful basis under the GDPR and other applicable regulations. Use the Issues tab for reproducible problems and the API tab for programmatic examples; never post active playback URLs or credentials in a public issue.

# Actor input Schema

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

Required NetShort drama ID. Try the prefilled example or replace it with another numeric short-play ID; accessible episodes are discovered and downloaded automatically.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "short_play_id": "1894649306163933185"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

Key-Value Store containing one MP4 record per successfully downloaded episode.

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

Dataset containing download status and KVS metadata for each accessible episode.

# 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 = {
    "short_play_id": "1894649306163933185"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("spider_studio/netshort-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 = { "short_play_id": "1894649306163933185" }

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

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

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

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "short_play_id": "1894649306163933185"
}' |
apify call spider_studio/netshort-video-downloader --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,spider_studio/netshort-video-downloader"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/ulh9T5yVvJRWp7LF0/builds/zq6HIjcE9Y4rCfn3t/openapi.json