How to download an M3U8 (HLS) video and save it as MP4
Open the page and play the video once. FileSnatch finds its M3U8 stream, shows the qualities it has, and saves it as one normal MP4, joining the hundreds of small pieces for you.
The problem
An M3U8 file isn't the video itself: it's a playlist pointing to hundreds of small pieces, often in several qualities. Saving it usually means command-line tools like ffmpeg, copying the playlist link from the browser's developer tools, and dealing with pages that refuse requests from outside.
How FileSnatch helps
- FileSnatch notices the M3U8 stream when the page loads or plays it, including streams inside embedded players.
- It reads the playlist and offers every quality it has, with the estimated size.
- It downloads the pieces several at a time and joins them into one MP4 (or MP3 for sound-only streams), never re-encoded.
- It asks for the pieces the way the page does, so streams that refuse other tools usually work.
- Live M3U8 streams can be recorded until you press Stop.
Step by step
- Open the page and play the video
Some pages only load the stream once it plays.
- Open FileSnatch
The video shows in the Videos tab with its length and qualities.
- Pick a quality
Use the arrow next to Download.
- Download
The pieces come down and are joined into one MP4 in your Downloads folder.
Good to know
- Want only a part? Trim downloads only the pieces it needs.
- Stop a long download early with Save what's done: what's downloaded so far becomes a shorter video.
- Encrypted (DRM) streams can't be saved; FileSnatch labels them Protected.
Free saves up to 720p, 20 a day. Pro adds 1080p and 4K, unlimited.
Compare every feature →Questions
Do I need ffmpeg?
No, everything happens inside the browser.
Does it work with DASH (MPD) streams too?
Yes, DASH streams are joined the same way.
What else FileSnatch does
Add FileSnatch to Chrome