Download Youtube videos using Chrome developer tools

Update

This method for downloading youtube videos is now no longer effective since youtube streams both audio and video files seperately. However, you can use the same method below to download the video and audio file seperately and merge them using your favourite video editor or ffmpeg.

The steps for downloading the video file is the same except that you need to discard the range parameter from the Request URL of the video file. This is to ensure that the complete video file is downloaded.

The steps for downloading the audio file is also the same except for step 3. The audio and video file have the same name and the only way of distinguishing between them is checking their file type. So, in order to download the audio file you need to select a videoplayback file which has a file type of audio/mp4 and then continue with the remaining steps.

Lastly, due to the obvious complexity of this method, I would like to share an alternative less complex method of downloading videos not only from youtube but from any video streaming website. The method involves a command-line program called youtube-dl available from youtube-dl.org. To download a youtube video using youtube-dl, you need to run the program followed by the URL of the youtube video. Example:

> youtube-dl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[youtube_video_id]

where youtube_video_id is the video id of the youtube video.


Hello,
This post shows you how to download youtube videos using the Chrome developer tools. No additional plugins are required.

Step 1
Open the chrome developer tools using the key combination Shift+Ctrl+I.

Chrome developer tools at the bottom of the browser

Step 2

Open the youtube video which you want to download. (In my case I will open the John Carter Trailer)

Step 3

Click on the Network Tab, on the top of the chrome developer tools pane, and search for the flv file called videoplayback. This is the video file that is played on the webpage.

videoplayback file located on the left pane of the developer tools

Step 4

After locating the videoplayback file, click on it and copy the Request URL under the Header tab. The Request URL enables the browser to locate the video on the youtube servers (this is what we require). Paste the URL into the omnibar (address bar). The video will load on your web browser with the chrome video player.

The John Carter trailer being played on chrome

Step 5

Last and final step. Click on the wrench icon, on the top right of the browser and select Save page as...

Choose the location where you want to save the file. The default name of the file is videoplayback. But this will not be recognized by any of the video players since it does not have an extension. So we need to modify the name of the file by giving it an extension which is .flv.  Change the name of the file to something more appropriate. In my case I will rename it to "John Carter Trailer 2012". Click Save.

Finally, we have successfully downloaded the youtube video.

Conclusion

This method effectively enables you to download youtube videos. It doesn't require you to download softwares or plugins. All you need is Google Chrome. The only drawback to the method is its complex procedure, but still at the end of the day you have your video.