Google Chrome users have many ways to download videos. One of the easiest ways is to install browser add-ons (extensions). A quick search for video download extensions in the official Google Chrome online store reveals over a hundred different extensions that you can easily install. But not all of them are equally good, and there are also some that can be dangerous. In this article, I will talk about the best Chrome browser add-ons that will help you download videos from YouTube and other similar sites that host video content.
When it comes to add-ons for downloading YouTube videos, one problem arises. The fact is that Google does not allow extensions to download videos from YouTube. You won't find any extension called "Download YouTube Videos" etc. Why? Because the same Google is behind the YouTube service, and they are interested in users watching videos exclusively on YouTube. Why? Because of advertising!
So how do you choose the right extension to download media files from video portals and other sites? We will help you with this!
Best extensions for downloading videos in Chrome
I looked through a bunch of different add-ons and selected the best ones for you. In this article we will talk about extensions that can download videos from different sites.
How did I conduct the tests? I selected all the most popular extensions and tested each one. In my test, I tried downloading videos in the Chrome browser from sites such as Vimeo, DailyMotion, LifeLeak, YouTube, and a popular adult site, which I won’t name, of course.
In addition to the main task of downloading videos in Chrome, extensions must be able to download videos into multiple streams and preferably in good resolution (maximum).
Here are my TOP 3 best add-ons for downloading videos in Chrome:
- Flash Video Downloader
- Free Video Downloader
- Video Downloader professional
Flash Video Downloader
Flash Video Downloader adds its icon to Chrome's address bar when you install it. It indicates the videos that can be loaded with an icon change so you know it directly without having to interact with the icon first.
It lists multiple versions of the video if available, also indicates the quality of the video and allows you to choose the best one for you.
I didn't like the interface very much because it links to other extensions and asks you to rate the extension. But there is the ability to manage settings, which you can open after installing the extension. The Flash video extension has the following settings:
- Add 3gp video format to the list of detected formats (it defines mp4, flv, mov, avi, wmv, asf, swf and webm by default).
- Enable original file download.
Free Video Downloader
Free Video Downloader adds an icon to the main Chrome toolbar during installation that you interact with. It changes the icon whenever a video is detected on the active page.
Clicking an icon displays a list of videos found on it, and clicking any of the listed videos opens a save prompt.
The best Chrome extensions to download videos. Sometimes, but not always, the extension would list multiple videos even though they were more or less identical.
Free Video Downloader comes without an options page.
Video Downloader professional
Video Downloader Professional is the most popular video extension for Chrome. It also adds an icon to the Chrome toolbar you interact with.
The icon shows the available video content on the active page, and the interface displays all available videos when you click on it.
The best Chrome extensions to download videos. Video Downloader Professional lists the video format, file name and size in its interface. Clicking the download button will immediately begin the download. One interesting option is the built-in option that allows you to work with a Chromecast device (a digital media player from Google that allows you to play streaming audio or video content using a WiFi connection).
conclusions
My testing showed that all three video downloader extensions for Chrome work well, but sometimes there are problems. For example, Video Downloader Professional did not detect the main video that was playing on the page, it also downloaded another video a couple of times.
A distinctive feature of RealDownloader is its simple interface and ease of use.
During the installation process, it automatically syncs with the browser.
After the installation is complete, you need to go to settings and look at all available browser extensions.
A new icon called RealDownloader will appear here. This means that the installation was successful and you can now proceed to downloads.
The utility has a simple design, due to which you cannot get confused when choosing a particular function.
For example, when using RealDownloader to download a video from YouTube, you need to hover over the top right corner of the display and select the “Download video” icon.
DownloadVideoCacheView
The VideoCacheView utility is compatible not only with Chrome, but also with a number of other popular browsers.
The work is carried out according to a typical principle for programmers.
You can upload video or audio yourself, but to do this you will have to rummage through the source code of the page, which takes a huge amount of time.
And the result itself may be ambiguous. Therefore, the VideoCacheView extension makes the task easier.
Before starting work, it independently reads information from the Internet browser cache, filtering all data, leaving only multimedia files.
VideoCacheView is popular largely due to its support of all the most popular resources.
Operation requires a minimum amount of RAM. Accordingly, the performance of a personal computer will always be consistently good.
A chrome extension for downloading videos is available in the market, but we recommend installing a separate download file.
In this case, the VideoCacheView program will apply to all browsers saved in the operating system, which is very convenient.
As soon as the system finishes installing the program, it is enough to open any site where there are audio or video materials.
A special icon will always appear next to them. It will allow you to download the file to the desired folder.
A distinctive feature is the ability to choose the optimal size, quality and expansion. This is also convenient for those who plan to later use the same file on mobile devices - tablets, smartphones, and so on.
A similar method is also relevant for files published on social networks VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and so on.
In some cases, slight delays may occur during the download process.
But developers are trying to reduce their occurrence to a minimum. For this purpose, appropriate updates are released.
The design of the add-on will be appreciated not only by professionals, but also by those who are just downloading video/audio to their computer for the first time.
To download, you need to go to your favorite site, then copy the link to the video file, which you need to save on your personal computer.
Freemake Video Downloader will provide the user with the choice of optimal video quality.
The last step is to proceed to download using the appropriate “Download” button.
DownloadYouTube Video Downloader
If you need to download videos from the popular YouTube hosting, the YouTube Video Downloader extension is a good option.
It is written specifically for Google Chrome.
Its entire interface consists of the appearance of an additional button under each video, clicking on which automatically starts downloading to the device.
To download, go to the official market, then click on the green button.
After that, open the list of all extensions in Google Chrome, install the program there by dragging it onto the Internet browser page.
To use YouTube Video Downloader to download video files, you need to scroll down the content page a little.
The “Download” button will be located here.
Each time the user must independently select the optimal resolution and file type.
This is very convenient because the user can save internal disk space.
Downloadconclusions
As you can see, even if the site does not allow you to download a video or audio file, this does not mean that you will not succeed.
Simply select a download utility that your Chrome browser supports.
This extension will allow you to share files with anyone with one click. To do this, you just need to drag a picture, video, document or archive into the pop-up window of the extension. The resulting download link can be sent by email, messenger or posted on a social network. No registrations, no restrictions.
2. Fwrdto.me
Despite the huge number of different notes and messages, many users still continue to send themselves links to interesting pages by email. Fwrdto.me makes this easy and quick.
3. Copy All URLs
If you find on some page a whole scattering of useful links that may be useful to you, then it is not at all necessary to waste time saving each of them in your favorites. The Copy All URLs extension can instantly collect all addresses from an open page and save them to a file (txt, html, json).
4. Chrono Download Manager
The default download manager built into Chrome is not very feature rich. If you often download pictures, videos and files from the Internet, pay attention to Chrono Download Manager. This extension can do almost everything you need, including pausing downloads, downloading on a schedule, capturing files using specified masks, and much more.
5. Fine Link Selector
Sometimes problems arise completely out of nowhere. For example, when you are trying to highlight a piece of text that is a link. Have you ever tried it? If yes, then you will quickly understand everything and install the Fine Link Selector extension.
6. Don't Fuck With Paste
For security reasons, some services prohibit pasting passwords from the clipboard during authorization. You have to manually enter long combinations of letters and numbers, swearing at the developers. The Don’t Fuck With Paste extension solves this problem.
7. Clipboard History 2
By default, the system clipboard allows you to save only one value. This, of course, is not enough, so there are third-party clipboard managers that significantly expand the capabilities of this tool. Clipboard History 2 can securely store everything you've copied over the course of several days in the Chrome browser. It is possible to make backups on a local machine or in the Google cloud.
8. Downloads Router
Downloads Router is another extension to improve the built-in download manager of the Chrome browser. With its help, you can automatically save files in different folders according to the rules you specify. For example, all downloaded pictures will be sent to the “Pictures” folder, audio files will be saved to the “Music” folder, and archives will be in the “Archives” directory.
9. gleebox
gleeBox is a command line for your browser. With its help, you can perform almost any action by entering the necessary commands from the keyboard. You can take a screenshot, share a page, upload a file, or write a letter completely without using a mouse. Programmers will appreciate it.
10. MINI Fast Forward
This extension will help save the most valuable resource - . After installing it, you will be able to instantly speed up the playback of videos on YouTube and Facebook. You can quickly skip boring and drawn-out moments without losing the ability to follow what is happening on the screen.
What useful extensions do you have in your kit?
Download Manager | Video downloader | Batch image downloader
Chrono Download Manager is the first (and only) full-featured download manager for Google Chrome. All your download management is done inside a browser tab instead of by installing a separate download managing application. Chrono is tightly integrated with Chrome by context menus, toolbar buttons and key shortcuts. Besides download management, Chrono is also your best video download helper and bulk image downloader. The Chrono Sniffer detects all links, images, audios and videos on a webpage, and you can filter URLs by their file types or by Regular Expression. Start downloading with Chrono today! Have fun playing with it, and don't forget to share! ================================================== *** FEATURES ==================================== * Totally override the Chrome's default download manager (e.g. Ctrl-J brings out Chrono Download Manager), and get rid of the Downloads Shelf(bar). * Use table to organize your downloads compactly and efficiently. * Just one click to browse and manage your downloads from a popup list at anytime. * Queue/Pause/Resume/Restart/Search/Recycle your downloads. * Desktop notifications and sound notifications for download completion/interruption. * Enter multiple URLs at the same time and downthemall with one-click. ===================================== *** MORE ADVANCED FEATURES ======== ============================ * Highly customizable task filters let you group downloads by type, date, url etc. * Batch descriptors help you download a range of URLs with pattern painlessly. * Naming Mask determines a file name for your download automatically by URL host name, sub-directories, referrer, date/time and many more. * Rule System uses programmable rules to set naming masks automatically for different downloads, and to route your files to different folders. ===================================== *** KNOWN ISSUES ========= =========================== * Chrono currently uses Chrome's built-in Downloads API, so it has several restrictions posed by the API. For example, you cannot pause/resume a download when you close the browser; you cannot choose file location freely, all files go into Chrome"s default Download Folder (except when using the Save As dialog). * Chrono's dialog will still prompt after Chrome's Save As dialog closes, if both dialogs are enabled. * Currently the extension may not work properly in incognito mode. * The extension is not for downloading youtube videos. ===================================== ** We are working on a multi-threaded download acceleration engine, please stay tuned for future release. ** If you find any bugs or if you want to request a feature, please let us know so we can make the extension better. You can either post comment here or send us an email ( [email protected]).
Good day, dear readers, today we will continue to study the Google Chrome browser, and consider a few more things from its functionality. The topic of today's note will be how to save the Google Chrome extension to your computer, by this we mean creating a folder on your computer from which, at any time without the Internet, you can install the extension.
And so earlier I told you which ones I use in my practice, we looked at how to install, disable and delete them. Let's imagine the situation. what you would always like to have in the arsenal of your distributions, installation files of your chrome extensions, so that you can install it anywhere and without the Internet. Let's first understand where the extensions folder is located in chrome.
It is located in your user profile, the folder itself is hidden, so you need to enable the display of hidden and Windows folders. I have a dozen, but it’s done the same way everywhere, read the article on the link on the left.
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
As you can see, their names are not particularly readable, but you can of course go into each of them and:
- Look at the extension icons to understand what’s here
- View version
- Get into the script code
But there is a much simpler way, follow the link
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/apps
And paste any copied name from this abracadabra into the search bar. As a result, you see, I found out that this is our Access to RuTracker extension.
And so, in which folder of the chrome extensions we found out, now we need to learn how to drag and drop them.
If you just want to copy the folder with extensions and transfer them to another computer, then you will not succeed. We have two options for transferring.
- This is a chrome extension packaging and porting
- Downloading packages in .crx format and then installing them.
How to install an extension in google chrome manually
And so, in order to be able to install the extension in Google Chrome manually, consider the two options described above.
Packaging extensions in chrome
Go to Setting up and managing Google Chrome > Additional tools > Extensions. Check the Developer mode box and click the Package extension button.
Select a review and indicate the full path to the folder with the plugin; I did it like this
C:\Users\lacky\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf\14.1_0
A file of .crx and .pem format is generated, the first is the installer, and the second is the private key.
This is what it looks like in the folder.
Next, you take these files and transfer them to a new computer. Then open Google Chrome and simply transfer the file with the .crx extension into it. Once the installation begins, sometimes you may be asked for confirmation.
I would like to note that, unfortunately, this is how you can transfer 90 percent of chrome extensions
For example, I transferred the WOT plugin like this
Alternative method to get CRX file
Installing the Give Me CRX extension will help us, then go to any plugin you like in the store, look at its installation page and right-click
As a result, you will be redirected to a page with a download link.
If a window appears that it is impossible to add an application, extension or script from this site, then go to the address in your browser chrome://extensions
Then simply transfer the crx file and you will see the installation wizard.
This is how easy it is to create your offline collection of Google Chrome extensions,
