Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about using MediaGrab, troubleshooting errors, privacy, copyright, and supported platforms.
What is MediaGrab?
MediaGrab is a free, open-source tool that lets you download publicly available videos, audio, and images from 20+ platforms including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Reddit, Pinterest, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitch, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more. It uses open-source extraction tools on the server side and does not require any user accounts or registration.
Which platforms are supported?
MediaGrab supports YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Reddit, Pinterest, Facebook, Snapchat, Threads, Vimeo, Twitch, LinkedIn, Telegram, Tumblr, Flickr, Imgur, Mastodon, Spotify, and SoundCloud. The "Any URL" option also lets you try links from other websites that host public media. Check the homepage for the full list.
Is MediaGrab free to use?
Yes. MediaGrab is 100% free with no premium tiers, hidden fees, or paywalls. The service is supported by unobtrusive advertising.
Do I need to create an account?
No. MediaGrab does not require registration, login, or any personal information. Just paste a URL and download.
What video qualities are available?
Quality options depend on what the source platform provides. MediaGrab shows all available resolutions — which may include 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, or 4K. Not all content is available in all resolutions.
For audio, you can typically choose between the original format (M4A/Opus), MP3 at 128kbps, or MP3 at 320kbps.
Why did my download fail?
Common reasons for download failures include:
- Private or restricted content — The video or post is behind a login, age gate, or private account setting.
- Content removed or unavailable — The original post was deleted or the URL is broken.
- Platform rate limiting — The source platform is temporarily blocking requests. Try again after a few minutes.
- Server temporarily unavailable — Our processing server may be restarting. Wait a moment and retry.
- Unsupported URL format — Some platform URLs (e.g., stories, live streams, DRM-protected content) are not supported.
If the problem persists, try refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, or contact us.
Can I download private or login-required content?
No. MediaGrab can only process publicly accessible media. Content that requires authentication, is behind a login wall, or is marked as private cannot be accessed. MediaGrab does not bypass login requirements, paywalls, or access restrictions.
Does MediaGrab bypass DRM or copy protection?
No. MediaGrab does not circumvent Digital Rights Management (DRM), encryption, or any form of copy protection. Only unprotected, publicly accessible media can be processed.
Is it legal to download media?
The legality of downloading media depends on your jurisdiction, the type of content, and whether you have the necessary rights or authorization. MediaGrab is a technical tool — it does not provide legal advice.
You should only download media that you own, that you have explicit permission to download, or that is in the public domain. Always comply with the terms of service of the source platform and applicable copyright laws in your jurisdiction.
See our Responsible Use page for more guidance.
Does MediaGrab store my downloads or data?
No. MediaGrab does not permanently store any downloaded media on its servers. Temporary files created during processing are automatically deleted immediately after the download completes or if the connection is interrupted.
Your download history is stored only in your browser's local storage and is never sent to our servers. You can clear it at any time through your browser settings or the History page.
See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Does MediaGrab work on mobile devices?
Yes. MediaGrab is designed to work on mobile browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) on both iOS and Android. The interface is mobile-responsive and touch-optimized.
Note that on iOS, the browser may open the media for preview rather than downloading it directly. In that case, you can long-press on the media and select "Save to Files" or "Download Linked File."
Can I download multiple URLs at once?
Yes. Paste multiple URLs into the input field (one per line) and MediaGrab will process them in batch mode. Each URL is processed sequentially and added to the download queue.
Why is the download taking a long time?
Download speed depends on several factors: the size of the media file, the speed of the source platform's servers, the selected quality, and the current load on MediaGrab's processing server.
Higher-quality videos (1080p, 4K) take longer because they are larger files and may require merging separate video and audio streams. If a download is unusually slow, try a lower quality setting or try again later.
I see 'Backend unavailable' — what does that mean?
This means MediaGrab's processing server is temporarily unreachable. This can happen if the server is restarting or under heavy load. Please wait a minute and try again. If the issue persists for more than a few minutes, the server may be undergoing maintenance.
Still have questions? Contact us