How to Record a YouTube Live Stream

Live streams don't always stay online, and replays can vanish or get trimmed. VidLoader can capture a YouTube live stream while it's broadcasting and save it as an ordinary video you keep. No clumsy screen recorder, no watermark overlay — just paste the live link and let it run. Live-stream recording is a VidLoader Plus feature.

Why record instead of waiting for the replay?

Not every live stream becomes a replay. Some creators disable them, some platforms trim or remove them, and breaking-news or one-off events may never be reposted. Even when a replay does appear, it can be edited down from the original broadcast. Recording the stream as it airs is the only way to be sure you capture the whole thing exactly as it happened. VidLoader saves that capture as a normal video file, so once the broadcast ends you have a complete, permanent copy — no screen recorder, no watermark overlay, and no scrambling to find a replay that may never come.

What you'll need

• The VidLoader desktop app (free to download) — get it at vidloader.com
• A VidLoader Plus subscription (live-stream recording is a Plus feature)
• The link to a stream that's currently live
• Your computer awake for as long as the stream runs

Step 1 — Paste the live stream link

Open Add and paste the live URL. VidLoader detects that the stream is live and prepares to record. The preview confirms the stream you're about to capture.

Capture from the very beginning. In Settings → Live stream recording, the Where recording starts option lets you choose Start from the very beginning or Start from the current moment. YouTube keeps the earlier part of a live broadcast available, so with "from the very beginning" selected VidLoader can pull the stream back to its start — even if you only join partway through. Leave it on "the current moment" if you'd rather capture from now.

Step 2 — Recording appears in the Queue

Press Download and open the Queue. The stream shows a LIVE badge while it records. Leave VidLoader running; when the broadcast ends, the recording finalises into a normal video file.

Step 3 — Keep the recording in Clips

Once the stream wraps, the recording lands in your Clips library like any other video — ready to replay inside VidLoader or open as a file. Even if the original replay disappears, your copy stays.

Getting a clean live recording

A live capture is only as good as the connection it runs on, so a stable internet link and a machine that won't fall asleep make the biggest difference. Before a broadcast you care about, check your power settings so the computer stays awake, and avoid heavy downloads on the same connection that might starve the stream of bandwidth. If you want the whole broadcast, set Where recording starts to from the very beginning before you start — on YouTube that recovers the part that aired before you joined. If the stream drops briefly on the source's end, that gap will appear in your recording too — that's the nature of capturing live rather than a finished file. When the broadcast ends, give VidLoader a moment to finalise the video before you close the app. If you're recording a long event, it's a good idea to do a short test capture beforehand to confirm your connection and settings behave — a two-minute trial run saves a lot of frustration on the day. Once you're confident, you can simply let it run in the background until the broadcast ends.

Tips for better downloads

• Grab the whole broadcast. Set Where recording starts to from the very beginning and VidLoader pulls a YouTube live stream back to its start.
• Keep the machine awake for the full broadcast — sleep mode pauses the capture.
• Prefer to wait for the replay? If a finished replay is posted, download it like a normal video using our YouTube guide.
• Recording a Twitch stream instead? See how to record a Twitch live stream.

Frequently asked questions

Does it record from the start of the stream? It can. Set Where recording starts to Start from the very beginning in Settings, and because YouTube keeps the earlier part of a live broadcast available, VidLoader recovers the stream from its start — even if you join late. Choose Start from the current moment if you'd rather capture only from now.

What happens when the stream ends? VidLoader finalises the capture into a standard video file and moves it to your Clips library.

Can I use my computer while it records? Yes — the capture runs in the background. Just don't let the machine sleep or lose its connection.

Is live-stream recording free? Live-stream recording is a VidLoader Plus feature. Plus is $9.99/month or $79.99/year and starts with a 3-day free trial, so you can record your first stream before you decide.

Download VidLoader

Never miss a live broadcast again. Download VidLoader — it's a free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and live recording unlocks with a Plus trial.