Is H2 Archive a free YouTube video downloader?

You can try it with a free daily quota of local downloads. Subscribe when you need a higher desktop limit for larger backups.

Can it download YouTube videos in 1080p or higher?

Choose Original HD to keep the best quality the source offers. HD video and audio are merged locally with the ffmpeg component the app installs for you.

Does it work with YouTube Shorts?

Yes. Paste a /shorts/ link the same way as a regular video. See our YouTube Shorts 4K guide for quality tips.

Can I save YouTube audio as MP3?

Yes. Pick the MP3 format before downloading and the audio track is converted locally — useful for your own podcasts, talks, or licensed music.

Guides

YouTube Video Downloader for Windows & Mac

Updated: October 14, 2026

Looking for a YouTube video downloader that runs on your own computer? H2 Archive is a desktop app for Windows and macOS: paste YouTube links to videos you uploaded or are licensed to keep, and save them to a local folder in HD or SD — long videos and Shorts alike. Parsing and merging run on your device; we do not host or proxy your media.

Which YouTube links work

Paste any common YouTube URL: youtube.com/watch?v=…, youtu.be short links, /shorts/ links, and /live/ replays. Tracking parameters are stripped automatically, so a link copied from the share sheet works as-is.

You can paste several links at once — YouTube, TikTok, Douyin, and Kuaishou URLs can sit in the same batch.

How to download a YouTube video with H2 Archive

Install the desktop app (Windows 10+ or macOS 12+), copy the YouTube link of a video you own or are authorized to keep, and paste it into the download box.

Pick a format — Original HD, Original SD, H.264 MP4, HEVC, AV1, WebM, or MP3 — then start the download. Progress and any error are shown on each item, and finished files land in your chosen folder and the local history.

HD quality and the ffmpeg component

YouTube serves HD video and audio as separate streams. H2 Archive downloads both and merges them losslessly into one MP4 on your computer, so you keep the original quality instead of a re-encoded copy.

Merging uses a small ffmpeg component. The app prompts you to install it the first time you download a YouTube video; after that it is reused for every download and format conversion.

Long videos and stable downloads

Long uploads, livestream replays, and tutorials are downloaded in chunks with automatic retries, so a brief network hiccup does not restart the whole file.

Choose Original SD when you only need a lightweight reference copy; choose Original HD when you plan to edit or re-upload to a channel you own.

Desktop vs online YouTube downloaders

Online “YouTube to MP4” sites usually handle one link at a time, cap resolution, and send your URL through a third-party server surrounded by ads.

A desktop YouTube downloader keeps the work local, supports batches, and puts files straight into the media library you already use for editing.

Responsible use

Only download videos you own or are authorized to obtain, and follow YouTube’s Terms of Service and copyright rules. Misuse is your responsibility under our Terms.

YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC; H2 Archive is an independent product and is not affiliated with YouTube or Google.

FAQ

Is H2 Archive a free YouTube video downloader?: You can try it with a free daily quota of local downloads. Subscribe when you need a higher desktop limit for larger backups.
Can it download YouTube videos in 1080p or higher?: Choose Original HD to keep the best quality the source offers. HD video and audio are merged locally with the ffmpeg component the app installs for you.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts?: Yes. Paste a /shorts/ link the same way as a regular video. See our YouTube Shorts 4K guide for quality tips.
Can I save YouTube audio as MP3?: Yes. Pick the MP3 format before downloading and the audio track is converted locally — useful for your own podcasts, talks, or licensed music.

Ready to archive locally? Open H2 Archive

Related guides

← All guides