HLS Tools

HLS Downloader

Paste an .m3u8 link, choose a quality, and save the stream as one MP4 file. Segments are downloaded and joined in your browser, without re-encoding.

No link handy? (Big Buck Bunny, CC BY).

  • Output MP4 or TS, original quality
  • Encryption AES-128 supported, DRM not
  • Private Built on your device
  • Runs in your browser
  • Nothing uploaded
  • No account

01How it works

How to use the HLS Downloader

  1. 01

    Paste the M3U8 link

    Copy the playlist address from the video page or your browser's Network tab, paste it in, and click Load.

  2. 02

    Pick quality and format

    Choose a resolution if several are listed, then MP4 for compatibility or TS for the original format.

  3. 03

    Download and save

    Segments download in parallel and join into one file, which saves to your device.

02About

What is the HLS Downloader?

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) doesn't deliver a video as one file. A playlist ending in .m3u8 lists hundreds of short segments, often in several qualities, and the player fetches them one by one. That's why most streams have no Save button.

This downloader reads the playlist, fetches every segment of the quality you pick, decrypts AES-128 segments when the key is available, and joins them. MPEG-TS and fragmented MP4 streams are rebuilt as a standard MP4 that plays in QuickTime, on phones, and in editors, with no quality loss; or keep TS, the stream's original format. Everything runs in your browser, so the stream's server must allow cross-origin access (CORS).

Popular uses

  • Your own streams

    Save a copy of a webinar, class, or broadcast you published over HLS.

  • Offline viewing

    Keep a lecture or public-domain film to watch without a connection, where its license allows.

  • Testing and QA

    Grab one rendition from your CDN to check encoding, sync, or a reported glitch frame by frame.

  • Archiving

    Keep a recording of an event you ran before its stream link expires.

03Features

Why use this HLS Downloader tool

Pick the quality

Master playlists list every resolution and bitrate. Choose the one you want, or keep the best.

MP4 without re-encoding

Segments are rewrapped into a standard MP4 in your browser, keeping the original picture and sound.

AES-128 decryption

Streams encrypted with standard HLS AES-128 are decrypted automatically when the key is accessible.

Private by design

Streams and files go straight between your browser and their source. ToolsBase never sees them.

No account, no install

Works in any modern browser on desktop or phone. There's nothing to sign up for or download.

No DRM circumvention

Protected streams are refused. The tools work with open HLS and standard AES-128 only.

04FAQ

HLS Downloader: frequently asked questions

How do I download an M3U8 video?

Paste the playlist address (it ends in .m3u8) and click Load. If several qualities are listed, pick one. Choose MP4 or TS, then click Download. When every segment has been fetched, the file saves to your device.

Where do I find the .m3u8 link?

Open the page with the video, open your browser's developer tools (F12), go to the Network tab, type m3u8 in the filter box, and start the video. Right-click the playlist request and copy its URL. The master playlist, which lists several qualities, is the best one to copy.

Why does it say the server doesn't allow other websites to load it?

Browsers only let a page read a stream from another site if that site sends CORS headers allowing it. Many streams do, because their players run on other domains, but some are locked to their own site. Those can't be downloaded from a web page; a desktop tool such as ffmpeg can read them instead.

Can it download DRM-protected streams?

No. Streams protected with Widevine, FairPlay, PlayReady, or SAMPLE-AES are refused. Only unencrypted streams and standard AES-128 encryption with an accessible key are supported.

Should I choose MP4 or TS?

MP4 plays almost everywhere, including QuickTime, phones, browsers, and video editors, so it's the default. TS is the stream's original format, which VLC plays. Choose it if the MP4 can't be built (for example, for MPEG-2 video) or if the MP4 glitches at ad breaks.

Is there a size or length limit?

There's no fixed limit, but the file is assembled in your browser before it's saved. Desktop Chrome and Edge handle several gigabytes; Safari and phones have less room. For very long streams, pick a lower quality.

Can I download live streams?

Partly. A live playlist lists only the last few segments, so you get the stretch that's available when you click Download. To save a whole event, use its recording (VOD) playlist once the event ends.

Is my stream sent to your servers?

No. Your browser fetches the segments directly from the stream's server and builds the file on your device. Nothing passes through ToolsBase.

Is it legal to download HLS streams?

Download only content you own, content licensed for download, or public-domain material. Many sites' terms forbid saving their streams, and you're responsible for following them and copyright law.

05More tools

More HLS tools

Pass the same stream to another tool, or convert what you've saved.

M3U8 PlayerPaste an .m3u8 link and it plays right here, in any modern browser.M3U8 CheckerPaste an .m3u8 link to see what's inside: every rendition with its resolution, bitrate, and codecs, plus the duration, segments, encryption, and anything worth fixing.TS to MP4Turn .ts files into an MP4 that plays everywhere.