The VideoLAN Forums

are we allowed to post links here ?? its an example Im following on wiki - using VLC to stream Download - but when I paste and this youtube Link into VLC/Media/ Open Network stream - Nothing happens - Im trying use VLC to see if I can download a video off youtube ?? just like in the wiki example -
am I allowed to post this - wiki Link example ??? here ?

if it is Not downloading as in the example could this mean I accidentally disabled something in VLC settings ??

If you want to download the video to your own machine you have to copy the link in the Location field and then paste it into your browser. That will open the youtube link directly on their servers instead of on the youtube site. From there click "File ---> Save Page As" and the video will download as videoplayback.mp4. All you need to do then is to rename it to whatever you wish.

The Location field can be found by clicking Tools ---> Codec Information. It's at the bottom of the window which opens.

If you can't open the video in vlc post the link to it here so that we can check it.

Hy Hitchhiker - I sent u a private message -due to us Not being allowed to post Links here - I dont want my account deleted . please see my pm

Hy Hitchhiker - I sent u a private message -due to us Not being allowed to post Links here - I dont want my account deleted . please see my pm

Yes, I saw it. Here's a series of screenshots to show you what to do.

Here's the field you want to copy in the Codec info (Ctrl + J).


(click to enlarge)

Open your browser and paste it into the URL field. I'm using the Waterfox browser here, but it doesn't matter which one you use.


(click to enlarge)

Hit Enter and you'll see this page.



Click Play button to make sure it works and then click File ---> Save Page As



The file name is always the same i.e. videoplayback.mp4. You can either change the title immediately or leave it as it is and change it later.



If you still have a problem please don't hesitate to ask

But it does not actually show you how to play the youtube video in VLC - say for example - its https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPU0YS7t7xY

Vlc will not let me paste this into tools/codec information / Location - I copied url -but will not let me paste ?? what am I doing wrong ??
I know once if it will play in vlc - the downloading will be the easy bit.
the vlc - is version 2.2.1
I tried pasting it & playing it - via Open network stream - its trying to but its Only Flashing this for Half a second - I managed to take a screen shot of it - cant Upload that screen shot here Either ?

But it does not actually show you how to play the youtube video in VLC - say for example - its https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPU0YS7t7xY

Vlc will not let me paste this into tools/codec information / Location - I copied url -but will not let me paste ?? what am I doing wrong ??
I know once if it will play in vlc - the downloading will be the easy bit.
the vlc - is version 2.2.1
I tried pasting it & playing it - via Open network stream - its trying to but its Only Flashing this for Half a second - I managed to take a screen shot of it - cant Upload that screen shot here Either ?

To upload screenshots to the forum go to https://postimages.org/ and then copy one of the links which appears after it uploads and post that here.

Reset prefs and try again if your current version won't function properly: https://wiki.videolan.org/VSG:ResetPrefs

You might want to consider upgrading to the latest version of vlc which you can download from here: https://www.videolan.org/

Last, but not least please post which version of Windows you have installed. If you don't know which one it is hit Windows key + R to open the Run command and type WINVER and click OK.

EDIT: the thought occurs to me that your problem posting links to the forum may be related to the graphics drivers you have installed. Do you know which version of those is in use?