Guide · Windows, Mac & Chromebook
How to download videos on a PC without installing anything
Everything happens in the browser you already use. Here is where the file goes on each system and what to pick so it plays.
Short version: NoBsDL runs in the browser you already have. Copy the video link, paste it on nobsdl.com, pick MP4 or MP3, and the file goes to your normal Downloads folder. There is no program to install and no account.
Step by step (Windows, Mac or Chromebook)
- Copy the linkOpen the video in your browser and copy the address bar, or use the site's own Share → Copy link. For a YouTube playlist, copy a link that contains
list=. - Paste it on NoBsDLPaste into the link box on the home page (Ctrl+V, or Cmd+V on a Mac). The home page sends YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and the other supported sites to the right downloader.
- Choose a formatMP4 for video, MP3 for audio only. Options show an estimated file size when the site provides one. Keep the tab open while a large file is prepared.
- Save the fileThe browser downloads it like any other file. Most browsers put it in Downloads unless you set them to ask where to save.
Where the file goes
| Computer | Default folder | Quick way to open it |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Chrome, Edge) | This PC → Downloads | Ctrl+J opens the browser's download list |
| Windows (Firefox) | This PC → Downloads | Ctrl+Shift+Y opens the download library |
| Mac (Safari) | Downloads, in the Dock or Finder sidebar | The download arrow in the Safari toolbar |
| Mac (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) | Downloads | The download icon in the browser toolbar |
| Chromebook | Files app → My files → Downloads | Ctrl+J in Chrome |
If your browser is set to ask where to save each file, it will show a save dialog instead. A playlist download arrives as one .zip file: right-click it and choose Extract All on Windows, or double-click it on a Mac.
Why nothing needs to be installed
The link is read and the file is prepared on NoBsDL's server. Your computer only downloads the finished MP4, MP3 or ZIP, the same way it downloads a PDF. That is why NoBsDL works on computers where you can't install programs, such as a shared family PC or a Chromebook.
On Chrome or Edge you can add NoBsDL as an app window if you like (the install icon in the address bar, when the browser offers it). It opens the same website in its own window. You don't need it to download anything.
Work or school computer? If an administrator has blocked downloads or certain file types, the browser will stop the file and show a "blocked" message in its download list. NoBsDL can't get around that setting, and you shouldn't try to. Ask whoever manages the computer, or use your own device.
Which option to pick on a computer
- To play it on almost any player, pick 1080p or lower. On YouTube, 1440p and 4K are usually only available in the VP9 or AV1 video formats, which some older players can't open. See why a downloaded video won't play.
- For music or podcasts, pick MP3. 128 kbps is the smallest file, 320 kbps the largest. The bitrate guide explains why 320 kbps can't sound better than the original upload.
- Free limits: YouTube MP4 up to 1440p and 500MB, MP4 from other sites up to 1080p and 500MB, MP3 up to 100MB. Supporter access raises the size limit to 2GB.
Tools to use
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install a program to download videos on Windows?
No. NoBsDL works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. The file is prepared on the server and your browser saves it like any other download.
Where do downloaded videos go on Windows?
To your Downloads folder unless you changed the browser's setting. Press Ctrl+J in Chrome or Edge, or Ctrl+Shift+Y in Firefox, to see the list.
Does it work on a Mac or a Chromebook?
Yes. On a Mac the file goes to Downloads; on a Chromebook it goes to Files → My files → Downloads.
Why does my school or work computer block the download?
Some computers are managed so that downloads or certain file types are blocked. That is a setting on the computer, and NoBsDL can't change it.
Which quality plays on every computer?
1080p or lower is the safest choice. YouTube's 1440p and 4K files usually use VP9 or AV1, which some older players can't open.
Also: downloading on iPhone · downloading on Android · file won't play
Published 2026-10-25 · Last updated 2026-10-25 · Checked against the live NoBsDL tool. How we check our guides.