Why 1080p is the right choice for most videos
1080p (1920 × 1080 pixels, also called Full HD) looks sharp on laptops, tablets and most TVs, while staying a reasonable size. Ten minutes of 1080p is usually somewhere between 100 MB and 250 MB, depending on how much movement there is.
More importantly, up to 1080p we deliver the video in the H.264 codec with AAC audio. That combination plays on practically everything: old and new iPhones and Android phones, Windows and Mac, smart TVs, game consoles, PowerPoint and every common video editor. If you need a file you can send to someone without worrying whether it opens, choose 1080p.
How to download a YouTube video in 1080p
- Copy the YouTube link (address bar, or Share → Copy link in the app).
- Paste it into the box above. 1080p is already selected on this page.
- Tap Convert to MP4, then Download MP4.
Why it takes a few extra seconds
YouTube streams anything above 360p as two parts: a video track with no sound and a separate audio track. Your browser joins them while you watch. To give you a single MP4, our server downloads both parts and combines them without re-encoding, so the picture quality isn't reduced. This is why a long 1080p video takes longer than a short clip.
When the video isn't available in 1080p
Many older videos and some phone uploads only go up to 720p or 480p. If you choose 1080p for one of those, you get the best quality that exists. Upscaling a 720p video to 1080p wouldn't add detail, so we don't do it.
1080p or 4K?
Pick 4K only if you will actually watch on a 4K screen or need the extra pixels for editing. 4K files are three to four times bigger and use the AV1 codec, which some older devices can't play. Read more on YouTube to MP4 4K.
Please only download videos you own, have permission to use, or that are licensed for reuse. See our terms.