How to Download Videos on Windows 10 and 11
Install VidBlaze, paste a link, pick a quality and find the file, plus what it cannot do.
The Short Answer
To download a video on Windows 10 or 11 with VidBlaze, install it (the installer is 43.8 MB and Windows SmartScreen will warn first), let it finish its first-start setup, paste a video link, pick a quality, and find the file in Downloads\VidBlaze. Keep the VidBlaze window open while it downloads.
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Free to download and use, no account, no ads.
- The first start downloads about 170 MB of tools, once, so you need an internet connection.
- One download runs at a time, and closing the window stops it.
- No batch download, no playlists, no subtitles, and you cannot change the save folder.
What You Need
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. VidBlaze does not run on 32-bit Windows.
- About 400 MB of free disk space for the app and its tools, plus room for your videos.
- An internet connection: for the first start and for every download.
- Tested by the developer on clean Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, with YouTube and Rumble, and on a standard (non-admin) account.
Install VidBlaze
Get the installer from the VidBlaze for Windows page. It is a 43.8 MB file, and the page shows its SHA-256 checksum so you can check what you downloaded.
- Download the installer from the Windows page.
- Open it. The installer is not code-signed, so Windows may show "Windows protected your PC". Select More info, then Run anyway (shown in your Windows language). The steps, with the checksum check, are in the Windows install guide.
- Follow the setup wizard. VidBlaze installs for your Windows user account, by default in
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\VidBlaze.
The First Start
The first time you open VidBlaze it downloads three programs it needs: yt-dlp, FFmpeg and Node.js, about 170 MB in total. Each download is checked with a SHA-256 checksum before it is used. It happens once for your Windows account. A progress bar shows what is happening, and VidBlaze does not open its main screen until all three are in place.
If something goes wrong, VidBlaze says why and offers a Retry button. Security software sometimes blocks or removes a downloaded tool; the fixes are in the troubleshooting section below.
Paste a Link and Pick a Quality
- Copy the link of the video from your browser.
- In VidBlaze, paste the link. VidBlaze only reads your clipboard when you press Paste.
- Wait while VidBlaze reads the details of the video. It then shows a list of qualities, the best one first.
- Pick a quality and start the download. What is offered depends on the video and the site, and some videos offer up to 4K.
VidBlaze works with sites that yt-dlp supports, but support for each site can change. The developer tested YouTube and Rumble. See the supported sites page for the list.
Where the File Goes
Finished videos are saved in the VidBlaze folder inside your Downloads folder: Downloads\VidBlaze. You cannot change this folder in the app, and there is no settings screen.
The file is named after the video and the quality, for example My_Video_1080p.mp4. If a file with that name already exists, VidBlaze adds (1), (2) and so on instead of replacing it.
The Downloads screen in the app lists your finished videos, with a search box. Choose Open file to play one in your default player.
While a download runs, VidBlaze keeps working files on drive C:, even if your Downloads folder is on another drive. It needs about 2.2 times the size of the video free there, and it says so if there is not enough space.
Audio Only
The quality list has an "Audio only" row. It saves the video's original audio track as it is. It is not converted to MP3, and VidBlaze has no conversion option.
Pause and Resume, and Their Limits
You can pause a download and resume it later; VidBlaze keeps the partial files. This works for most downloads, with two limits:
- Streaming-playlist formats, such as the ones Rumble uses, cannot be paused. The Pause button is not shown, and a retry starts again from zero.
- You cannot pause while the card says Merging or Saving.
One Download at a Time
Only one download runs at a time. If you start another, it waits in a queue and starts when the one before it finishes. The queue is kept in memory only, so it is lost when you close the app.
What VidBlaze for Windows Does Not Do
- No batch download or several links at once, and no playlist or channel download. Each link downloads one video.
- No subtitles.
- No choice of save folder and no settings screen.
- No browser extension, no system tray and no background mode: downloads run inside the VidBlaze window, so keep it open. If you close it while a download runs, VidBlaze asks first, and quitting stops the download.
- Private videos, DRM-protected videos and videos that need an account cannot be downloaded.
- The app is in English only.
Please only download videos you have the right to save. See the Terms of Use.
If Something Goes Wrong
The most common problems on Windows, and what to do:
- It says it could not reach github.com or nodejs.org. Check your internet connection, firewall or proxy, then press Retry. If the message says the download timed out, the connection is slow or blocked.
- It says it could not make a secure connection. Check your PC's date and time and any proxy or security software, then press Retry.
- It says a tool could not be saved or started after the download. Security software may have blocked or removed it. Allow the folder %APPDATA%\com.vidblaze\vidblaze\tools in your security software, then press Retry. If it says a download failed its integrity check, press Retry as well.
- It says there is not enough free space on drive C:. VidBlaze keeps the working files of a download on drive C: even when your Downloads folder is on another drive. Free some space on C: and try again.
- It asks "Download in progress. Quit anyway?" Closing the window stops the download. Choose Keep downloading to carry on, or Quit to stop. Downloads that you paused keep their partial files.
More answers are on the VidBlaze for Windows page and in the install guide. To ask for help, see the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VidBlaze for Windows free?
Yes. It is free to download and use. You do not need an account, and the app shows no ads.
Can I download only the audio on Windows?
Yes. Choose the "Audio only" row. VidBlaze saves the original audio track as it is. It does not convert it to MP3.
Can VidBlaze download a whole playlist on Windows?
No. VidBlaze downloads one video per link. It has no playlist, channel or batch download.
Can I close the VidBlaze window while it downloads?
No. Downloads run inside the window, so closing it stops them. VidBlaze asks before it quits.