Here are a few manual methods for downloading a FLV file from YouTube.com. Depending
on what web browser and operating system you are using, how and
where you find the video file will vary from person to person. Please try the easy ways listed on this page first. YouTube changes their site all the time to
prevent many of these manual methods from working.
Any
web browser (PC,
Mac, Linux)
This first tip is from a reader called BinaryGenius.
Go to YouTube.com and find a clip you like. Every
video page on YouTube has a little EMBED box that
allows you copy code and post YouTube video clips
on your web site. We are going to take advantage
of this.
Copy the
code and paste it into a text edit program like TextEdit
(Mac) or Notepad (PC). The code will look something
like this:
You are looking
for the URL of the video file. In the example above
that would be: http://www.youtube.com/v/-oNQXLNMh0c.
Copy this URL and paste it into a new web browser window
and press the Return/Enter key on your keyboard.
The YouTube clip should load
your web browser as a full screen clip. Press play and wait for the video
to load.
Now
take a closer look at the URL. It's different
than what you pasted in there. It's a lot longer right?
It should look something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_fullscreen?video_id=
-oNQXLNMh0c&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//sjl-
static5.sjl.youtube.com/vi/......8X90swYCiZMZTzBdb
The next
step is to change the piece of code that says "watch_fullscreen" to "get_video".
So the example above should look like this after the
change: http://www.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=-oNQXLNMh0c&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//sjl-
tatic5.sjl.youtube.com/vi/-oNQXLNMh0c/2.jp...PDskJaNd08X90swYCiZMZTzBdb
Press return
and your video will start to download.
Save it to
your Desktop. If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
Internet
Explorer (Mac OS X)
Because Internet Explorer is an older browser, it doesn't tend
to hide files very well. Let's exploit that.
Search your hard
drive for a file called "get_video". You can use
Spotlight to find the file.
Copy it to
your Desktop. If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
Firefox (Mac
OS X)
Firefox users will need to do a little code inspection.
It's not that hard. Just follow these instructions carefully.
Right-click
on the YouTube page and select View Page Source from
the contextual menu.
You now
need to find a piece of code on the page. Select Find
from the Edit Menu and type in "watch_fullscreen?video_id"
Once
you have the URL properly formatted, press return.
You should now see a dialog box promoting you to save
the file.
Save it to
your Desktop.
If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
Firefox (PC)
Firefox PC users can search their hard drives for the hidden
flv file. Here's a tip from one of our readers named twistrunner on how to find it:
The
flv file is probably saved in one of these folders
on your computer:
C:\Documents
and Settings\YOUR_USER_ID\Local Settings\Temp\plugtmp\
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_USER_ID\Local
Settings\Temp\plugtmp-2\
You can find this file by running
a windows search as follows:
Look for all files on the C:\ drive that were
changed "today" (including
hidden ones)
Sort the files by date/time
Find the file in question
(looking at hour/minute of change and file size)
Once you
find it, drag the file to your Desktop.
If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
Internet
Explorer 7 (PC)
Here's an easy way to find the flv file from MethodShop.com
reader Cody:
Click on Tools, Internet Options
Under Browsing History Click
on Settings
Then Click on View Files in
the window that comes up
Arrange by Size, and the biggest
file is most likely the movie you're looking for
Save it to
your Desktop
If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
Internet
Explorer (PC)
IE users on PC will need to do a little code inspection.
It's not that hard. Just follow these instructions carefully.
Select "Source" from
the View menu. You should now see a page of HTML code
on a white background.
You are looking
for a piece of code on this page. Press Control+F to
bring up a Find dialog box.
Type in "watch_fullscreen?video_id" and
press return.
Once
you have the URL properly formatted, press return. You
should now see a dialog box promoting you to save the
file.
If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
USER
NOTE: "Sometimes instead of getting the download box you get a box that says, "Getting file information." After several seconds a box comes up saying, "This page cannot be opened." There is a way around that. If you look at the address bar you'll see something that looks like this: http://74.125.12.96/get_video?video_id=Hm2BdCbZkKY&origin=chi-v274.chi.youtube.com
At the end of that long url you'll see the phrase, "Origin =." After the sign you'll see something that looks like something.something.youtube.com. You need to delete everything that comes before that so you're just left with the something. something.youtube.com. After the .com you type /get_video?video_id=(insert short video id number here). After the sign you type in or paste in the 11 character id number that appears when you simply click on a video to watch it. An example of this can be found with the following video. (now watch it not do what I want it to) http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hm2BdCbZkKY
If you try to download it using Internet Explorer using the get_video.php?video_id=(insert long id number here) method you get the "getting file information" box. You have to use the method I've described to download it. Sometimes even then it may not download fully. Occasionally it may take 2 or 3 tries to fully download a video. This is a rare occurence though." ~ smns65
Safari (Mac OS X; option #1)
It's actually very easy to download the FLV if you're using Safari.
Go to YouTube, then completely WATCH your video
Select the Activity monitor from the Window menu (Window > Activity).
You should see a URL that has more MBs than the others and that ends with ".flv" or try looking for a Get_video link such as the one below. LOOK at the RIGHT for file size. In the image above, the file is 2.1 MBs. That's the file you want (thanks Bartman). http://sjl-casing4.sjl.youtube.com/get_video?video_id=wGkZS94d5HU
Once you identify
the file, hold down your Option key and double click. It will download to your desktop. The
file should start to download. If it doesn't, copy that
URL and paste it into a new Safari browser window and press
return.
The FLV file
will download to your Desktop.
Go to your Desktop and look for the file named get_video
RENAME that file to end with ".flv"
If you want to double click and play FLV videos from your desktop, we recommend you get SWF & FLV Player from http://Mac.Eltima.com it organizes your play lists and auto plays your FLV videos like a video jukebox. Oh, and it's FREE.
If you want to make this FLV file a QuickTime that will play on your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV or in iTunes, skip to the bottom of this page by clicking here.
Safari (Mac OS X; option #2)
It's actually very easy to download the FLV if you're using Safari.
Double clicked on the string (this began an automatic download process)
Step 4 downloaded a file (or something??) to my desktop called; get_video
I simply changed the name of this file (or folder..or whatever the hell is was) to something like this; "BettyDaviseyes.flv" (without the quotes, of course).
BINGO, this folder or file or whatever icon immediately changed into a video file icon
Launched an application called SWF & FLV Player, opened the file called BettyDaviseyes,flv and bingo, it played perfectly!
Copy
Videos Off YouTube YouTube
prevents viewers from downloading files off their site. But there are
ways around this. Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to rip video
files off YouTube.com and convert them for your Video iPod.
Mac
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to upgrade the RAM in your
Mac Mini? You can definitely save a few bucks by buying a stripped
down Mac Mini and upgrading the RAM yourself. But before you
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iPod
Alarm Clock Whether
you prefer to be woken by the scream of a rock star or the
French horn in a classical symphony, the iPod's Alarm Clock
can help you open your eyes every morning with style!
Rip
DVD's to iPod Video Need
something to watch on your iPod Video? Here's a tutorial that explains
how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's into iPod compatible
MPEG-4 video files.
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free games off the Internet and install them on your PSP.
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Videos onto a PSP Can't
get enough of your favorite TV show or movie? Here's a short tutorial
that expalins how to add videos to your Sony PSP.
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a PSP Memory Stick When
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it before you can use it. Here's how.
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get Apple to help me out, I decided to fix the scratches myself.
Here's how to remove the scratched from your iPod Nano for only
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probably know what your zip code or area code is (at least I hope
so) but what about the GPS of your house? Here's how to find out
and add it to the metadata on your web site
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not unleash the hidden Exposé Blob built into Mac
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This tutorial explains how to reset the Play Count of one or more songs
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Email or 
feed.
Right-click
on the YouTube page and select View Page Source from
the contextual menu.
Where to Find Free Mp3s
YouTube
prevents viewers from downloading files off their site. But there are
ways around this. Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to rip video
files off YouTube.com and convert them for your Video iPod.
Want
to upgrade the RAM in your
Mac Mini? You can definitely save a few bucks by buying a stripped
down Mac Mini and upgrading the RAM yourself. But before you
can install that extra RAM, you'll need to take a walk down to
your local hardware store and grab a couple putty knives.
As Twitter continues to gain in popularity and users, those of us already on Twitter might find ourselves in a position where we have to explain Twitter to a non-techie type person. So what do you say when someone asks you something silly like "What is the Twitter?" or "Are you taking the Twitter?"
Whether
you prefer to be woken by the scream of a rock star or the
French horn in a classical symphony, the iPod's Alarm Clock
can help you open your eyes every morning with style!
Need
something to watch on your iPod Video? Here's a tutorial that explains
how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's into iPod compatible
MPEG-4 video files.
Think
PSP games are overpriced? Us too. Here's a tutorial on how to download
free games off the Internet and install them on your PSP.
When
you first purchase a Memory Stick for your PSP, you need to format
it before you can use it. Here's how. 
Got
a scratched up iPod Nano? Me too. After a few failed attempts to
get Apple to help me out, I decided to fix the scratches myself.
Here's how to remove the scratched from your iPod Nano for only
$4.
You
probably know what your zip code or area code is (at least I hope
so) but what about the GPS of your house? Here's how to find out
and add it to the metadata on your web site 
Like
using Exposé but hate hot corners and function keys? Why
not unleash the hidden Exposé Blob built into Mac
OS X? You can even make your blob look like Eric Cartman. 
Want
to play those old Commodore 64 games from the early 1980's? All
you need is the game ROM and an emulator. Here's a tutorial to
get you started. 
