How to Download YouTube Shorts to Your Computer

YouTube Shorts fly by fast, and the ones worth keeping are easy to lose in an endless feed. VidLoader turns any Short into an ordinary video file you can store, replay, or drop into your own edits. No browser extension, no ads — just paste the link and download. Here's the whole process, with real screenshots from the app.

Why save a Short instead of bookmarking it?

Bookmarks and "saved" collections only work as long as the Short stays online and your account keeps it. Creators delete posts, accounts go private, and trends move on — and when that happens, a saved link just breaks. Downloading the actual file means the Short is yours regardless of what happens to the original. It also lets you drop the clip into a video editor, share it without a data connection, or keep a reference for a project. Because VidLoader saves a standard MP4, there's no proprietary format to worry about later.

What you'll need

• The VidLoader desktop app for Windows, macOS, or Linux (free to download) — get it at vidloader.com
• The link to the Short you want to save (tap Share → Copy link)
• About 30 seconds

Step 1 — Paste the Shorts link

Open VidLoader and click Add in the sidebar. Paste the Shorts URL into the box at the top. VidLoader recognises the vertical Shorts format automatically and shows a preview card with the thumbnail, title, and channel so you know you grabbed the right clip.

Leave the format on Video (MP4) and the quality on Optimal — VidLoader picks the sharpest version the Short offers.

Step 2 — Watch it download in the Queue

Press Download and switch to the Queue tab. Each clip shows a live progress bar with speed and time remaining, and you can queue several Shorts back to back. VidLoader downloads up to three at once, so a handful of clips is done in moments.

Step 3 — Find your Short in Clips

When it finishes, the Short lands in your Clips library with its original thumbnail and title. Press Play to watch it inside VidLoader, or open the folder to grab the MP4 for an editor. Because it's a standard file, it plays anywhere and keeps its vertical aspect ratio.

That's it — three steps, no signup, and your Short is saved as a clean MP4.

Good to know

A few small things make Shorts downloads smoother. First, use the Share menu to copy the link rather than the browser address bar — it gives the cleanest URL for VidLoader to read. Second, if you're collecting a batch of Shorts, you don't have to wait for each one to finish before adding the next; paste them one after another and the queue handles the rest. Third, remember that a Short keeps whatever quality the creator uploaded, so a lower-resolution original stays lower-resolution — VidLoader never invents detail that wasn't there. Finally, everything you download stays in your Clips library until you remove it, so you can build up a personal collection over time and search it later by title or creator. If a Short is part of a series or playlist, you can paste that link instead and grab the whole set in one go, which is handy for tutorials split across several clips. And should you ever want the same Short in a different form later — the audio for a playlist, say — just download it again with the format switched; there's no limit on re-downloading something you've already saved.

Tips for better downloads

• Grab several at once. Paste one Short, press Download, then paste the next — VidLoader keeps the queue moving.
• Only want the audio? Switch the format to Audio (MP3) on the Add screen and VidLoader saves just the sound.
• Prefer full-length clips too? The same steps work for regular videos — see how to download YouTube videos.
• Set a default quality once in Settings → Video quality and every future download uses it.

Frequently asked questions

Are Shorts saved vertically? Yes. VidLoader keeps the original 9:16 frame, so your Short looks exactly like it did on YouTube.

Can I download a Short as an MP3? You can. Pick Audio (MP3) on the Add screen before you press Download and you'll get just the sound.

Do I need an account? No account and no signup. Install the app and start downloading right away.

How many can I download for free? The free plan includes 10 downloads a day, which covers most Shorts sessions. VidLoader Plus lifts the cap for unlimited downloads — it's $9.99/month or $79.99/year with a 3-day free trial.

Download VidLoader

Ready to keep the Shorts you love? Download VidLoader — it's a free download and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.