What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are vertical, short-form videos up to 60 seconds long. They're YouTube's answer to TikTok and Instagram Reels — designed for quick, mobile-first content like reactions, tutorials, memes, and highlights. Shorts are displayed in a dedicated feed with swipe-to-scroll navigation.
Despite their popularity, YouTube doesn't provide a download button for Shorts on desktop. The mobile app offers limited offline saving in some regions, but there's no native way to save a Short as a regular video file on your Mac.
Why YouTube Shorts are tricky to download
- No desktop download button — YouTube only offers offline saving for Shorts in the mobile app, and only in select regions
- Different URL format — Shorts use
youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_IDinstead of the standardyoutube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID, which can confuse some download tools - Vertical aspect ratio — Shorts are filmed in 9:16 portrait mode; some tools crop or distort the video if they don't handle vertical content properly
Star Video Downloader handles all three issues. It recognizes both URL formats, preserves the vertical aspect ratio, and saves Shorts as standard video files.
How to Download YouTube Shorts on Mac — Step by Step
Download Star Video Downloader
Get the free app from starvideoapp.com. Unzip and move to Applications. Works on macOS 14+ with Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Copy the YouTube Shorts URL
Open the Short you want to download in your browser. Copy the URL from the address bar — it will look like youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID. You can also use the Share button on the Short and copy the link.
Paste and download
Paste the URL into Star Video Downloader and click Download. The app detects the video, lets you choose quality (up to 1080p free, up to 4K with Pro), and saves it as a standard video file.
Play, edit, or convert
The downloaded Short is a regular video file on your Mac. Play it in any video player, edit it in iMovie, share it on other platforms, or use the Convert tab to change formats.
Tip: Both URL formats work — youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID and youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID. If one format gives you trouble, try the other. You can convert between them by replacing /shorts/ with /watch?v=.
What you can do with downloaded Shorts
- Edit in iMovie or Final Cut Pro — trim, add music, apply filters, or combine multiple Shorts into a compilation
- Share on other platforms — repost to TikTok, Instagram Reels, or Snapchat as a vertical video
- Archive for offline viewing — save your favorite Shorts locally for watching without internet
- Convert to GIF — use the Convert tab to turn a Short into an animated GIF for sharing in messages
- Extract the audio — save just the audio track as MP3 or AAC for sound bites or music clips
Quality options for YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are typically uploaded in 1080p, though some creators upload in higher resolutions. Star Video Downloader lets you choose the best available quality:
- Free tier: Download Shorts in up to 1080p — sufficient for most Shorts content
- Pro ($5 one-time): Unlock up to 4K downloads, batch downloading, and all premium features
The original vertical 9:16 aspect ratio is always preserved. Your downloaded Shorts look exactly as they do on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download YouTube Shorts in 4K?
Yes. With Star Video Downloader Pro you can download Shorts in up to 4K resolution (if the original was uploaded in 4K). The free tier supports up to 1080p.
Do I need to use the /shorts/ URL format?
No. Star Video Downloader accepts both youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID and the standard youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID format. Both work identically.
Can I download multiple Shorts at once?
Yes. Star Video Downloader Pro includes batch downloading — paste multiple Shorts URLs and download them all simultaneously.
Can I convert Shorts to other formats?
Yes. Use the Convert tab to change downloaded Shorts to MP4, MOV, GIF, MP3, AAC, or other formats.
Download YouTube Shorts to Your Mac
Save any YouTube Short as a regular video file. Free, offline, no ads.
macOS 14+ • Apple Silicon & Intel • No subscription