Chrome has never shipped a built-in "download video" button. On most websites, and on Facebook in particular, the browser simply does not offer a way to to save a video to your computer. The practical solution is a video download Chrome extension, or a web-based downloader that needs no installation at all.
In this guide, we compare the best video download chrome extensions of 2026, walk you through how to download video from chrome on any website, explain how to download Facebook videos step by step, and show you what to do when a downloaded video turns out corrupted or will not play.
- Best all-rounder: Video DownloadHelper, supports 1000+ websites and live streams.
- Best for Facebook: FDownload - F.B Video Downloader, saves Facebook videos up to 4K.
- Best no-install option: fdown.net, paste a URL and download in your browser.
- Best privacy-friendly: Video Downloader Professional, follows Chrome recommended practices.
- Best for corrupted downloads: Repairit Online Video Repair, fixes unplayable MP4, MOV, and more in 3 steps.
In this article
Part 1. How to Download Videos from Any Website in Chrome
You can download video from chrome using two approaches: an online video downloader that runs in your browser tab, or a dedicated Chrome extension that adds a download button to the pages you visit. Online downloaders need no installation and work on any computer, while extensions are more convenient because they detect the video that is currently playing on the page.
Option 1. Use an Online Video Downloader
An online video downloader such as fdown.net lets you save a video by pasting its URL. It is the fastest route when you do not want to install anything. Follow these steps:
- Open the video page in Chrome and copy the video URL from the address bar.
- Go to fdown.net and paste the URL into the input box.
- Click the Download Video button and wait a few seconds.
- If the video starts playing instead of downloading, right-click the download link and choose Save link as to store it in your Downloads folder.
Online downloaders are convenient, but they usually support only one or two websites each. If you regularly save videos from many sites, a Chrome extension is the more practical choice.
Option 2. Install a Chrome Video Download Extension
A chrome video download extension (also called a video downloader add-on) lives in your browser toolbar and detects the videos on the page you are viewing. Installing one from the official Chrome Web Store takes about a minute:
- Open the Chrome Web Store and search for a video downloader, for example Video Downloader Professional.
- Open the extension page and click Add to Chrome, then confirm the install in the pop-up.
- Click the puzzle icon in the toolbar and pin the extension so its icon is always visible.
- Open the page that contains the video you want to save, then click the extension icon and choose the quality you want.
Only install extensions from the official Chrome Web Store. Third-party download sites often bundle adware or request permissions they do not need.
Part 2. What to Look For in a Video Download Chrome Extension
Not all chrome extensions for video download are equal. Before you click Add to Chrome, check the extension against the criteria below.
| Criteria | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Site coverage | Some extensions support only a few sites; others work on 1000+. | Read the description and confirm your target site is listed. |
| Privacy and data collection | Downloaders see every page you visit. | Open the Privacy section on the Chrome Web Store page and check the developer's data disclosure. |
| Security and permissions | Over-broad permissions are a red flag. | Prefer extensions that ask for minimal permissions and are published by a verified developer. |
| Maintenance and updates | Websites change their video players often. | Check the last update date and user rating on the store page. |
| Quality and formats | You want the original resolution, not a blurry re-encode. | Look for HD, 2K, or 4K support and MP4/MP3 output options. |
| Ease of use | A downloader should add a button, not a tutorial. | Scan the interface screenshots on the store page. |
| Price | Free tools often cap quality or features. | Compare the free tier with the paid plan before committing. |
One honest limitation: many extensions deliberately do not support YouTube, because downloading from YouTube conflicts with its Terms of Service. If a page says "does not support YouTube", respect that boundary rather than hunting for workarounds.
Part 3. Top 6 Video Download Chrome Extensions in 2026
Based on current Chrome Web Store listings and user reviews, these are the most reliable video download chrome extensions in 2026. All of them are free to try, and all should be installed from the official Chrome Web Store.
1. Video DownloadHelper
Video DownloadHelper is the best all-rounder. It has been maintained for over ten years and supports more than 1000 websites, including sites that stream with DASH, HLS, or MPD. It can also download live streams and convert videos to MP4, MKV, and WebM, or extract audio as MP3. Note that it does not support YouTube.
- Supports 1000+ websites and live streaming.
- Converts downloads to MP4, MKV, WebM, and MP3.
- Free to use; the developer declares no data collection.
2. Video Downloader Professional
Video Downloader Professional is a privacy-conscious choice that follows Chrome's recommended practices for extensions. It lets you download videos from web pages or simply collect them in a video list for later. Its clean interface makes it a good first extension for beginners.
- Download videos or save them to a watch list without downloading.
- Follows Chrome recommended practices for extension security.
- Free with optional paid features.
3. Video Downloader Pro
Video Downloader Pro is a straightforward video downloader pro chrome extension that supports media from over 1000 websites. Its user-friendly interface is ideal if you want a simple button that just works, without configuration menus.
- Supports 1000+ websites with a simple interface.
- One-click download of the video playing on the page.
- Free to install.
4. FDownload - F.B Video Downloader
For Facebook specifically, FDownload - F.B Video Downloader is the strongest chrome extension for facebook video download. It saves Facebook videos in HD, 2K, and 4K, converts videos to MP3, and works with public videos, private videos, and content from groups and pages. The developer states that it does not collect user data.
- Downloads Facebook videos up to 4K resolution.
- Converts Facebook videos to MP3 audio.
- Works with private videos, groups, and fan pages.
5. fdown.net (Online, No Installation)
fdown.net is not an extension but a web-based Facebook video downloader. You paste a URL and download the video directly in your browser, with no install and no account. It also keeps no copy of your videos, since all files stay on Facebook's servers. This is the best option for a one-off download on a shared computer.
- No installation or sign-up required.
- Works on any computer with a browser.
- Does not store or track downloaded videos.
6. Video Downloader Plus
Video Downloader Plus recognizes the video that is currently playing in your browser, including content from Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo, and downloads it with one click. It is free and supports a range of output formats.
- One-click download of the video playing on the page.
- Recognizes videos from Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo.
- Free with no ads.
Comparison Table
| Extension | Best for | Site coverage | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video DownloadHelper | All-round use and live streams | 1000+ | Yes | Free |
| Video Downloader Professional | Privacy-conscious users | Many | Yes | Free |
| Video Downloader Pro | Simple one-click downloads | 1000+ | Yes | Free |
| FDownload - F.B Video Downloader | Facebook videos up to 4K | Yes, 4K | Free | |
| fdown.net | No-install online download | Yes | Free | |
| Video Downloader Plus | One-click multi-site | Many | Yes | Free |
Part 4. How to Download Facebook Videos in Chrome Step by Step
Facebook does not provide a download button on most videos, so a dedicated chrome extension to download facebook videos is the easiest way to save them in Chrome. Here is the complete workflow using FDownload:
- Open the Facebook video you want to save in Chrome.
- Install FDownload - F.B Video Downloader from the Chrome Web Store.
- Reload the Facebook tab so the extension can detect the video.
- Click the Download button that appears on the video player.
- Choose your preferred quality (HD, 2K, or 4K) and save the file to your computer.
If a Facebook video plays instead of downloading, right-click the download link and choose Save link as. Facebook Live videos can only be downloaded after the stream has finished.
Part 5. Bonus: Fix Corrupted Downloaded Videos with Repairit
Even with the best video download chrome extension, downloaded files sometimes come out corrupted. The download may have been interrupted, the source file on the server may have been damaged, or the video's codec and container may not match. The result is the same: the video will not play, or it stops halfway with an error.
This is exactly the problem Repairit Video Repair is built for. It repairs corrupted or unplayable videos such as MP4, MOV, 3GP, MKV, and M4V directly in your browser, in three steps, without installing software.
- Upload the corrupted video. Open the Repairit Online video repair page and click Add, or drag and drop the damaged video into the upload area.
- Repair the video. Repairit scans the file automatically. If the video is severely damaged and the quick repair does not finish, use the Advanced Repair option and upload a sample video recorded with the same device and in the same format. The tool uses the sample to rebuild the damaged file.
- Preview and download. When the repair completes, play the preview to confirm the video is fixed, then click Download to save the repaired file.
Repairit Online repairs one video up to 50 MB for free, and premium plans support files up to 3 GB. For larger files, batch repair, or additional formats, the Repairit desktop version removes the file size limit entirely. Keep your original download until the repaired file plays correctly, and remember that repair cannot recover data that was never saved.
Conclusion
You do not need to fight with Chrome's missing download button. Install a reliable video download chrome extension from the official Chrome Web Store to save videos from most websites, use a Facebook-specific extension such as FDownload or the online tool fdown.net for facebook video download, and keep Repairit Online Video Repair bookmarked for the day a download comes out corrupted. With these tools, your favorite videos are always one click away.
FAQ
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Is it legal to download videos with a Chrome extension?
Downloading a video for personal, offline viewing is generally accepted in most regions, but downloading copyrighted content for redistribution or commercial use without the owner's permission is not. Check the terms of the website you are downloading from, and respect content that is explicitly protected. -
Are Chrome video downloader extensions safe?
Extensions installed from the official Chrome Web Store are far safer than files from third-party sites. Before installing, check the developer's privacy disclosure, the permissions the extension requests, and its user rating. Avoid extensions that ask for access to all websites when they only need to read video pages. -
Which Chrome extension is best for downloading Facebook videos?
FDownload - F.B Video Downloader is the strongest choice for Facebook because it supports HD, 2K, and 4K downloads, converts videos to MP3, and works with private videos, groups, and pages. If you prefer not to install anything, fdown.net downloads Facebook videos directly in the browser. -
Why will not my downloaded video play?
A downloaded video usually fails to play because the download was interrupted, the source file was corrupted on the server, or the video codec is not supported by your player. Use Repairit Online Video Repair to fix corrupted MP4, MOV, 3GP, and MKV files, and try a different player such as VLC for codec issues. -
Can I download YouTube videos with these extensions?
Many video downloader extensions deliberately do not support YouTube because downloading from YouTube conflicts with its Terms of Service. If an extension states that it does not support YouTube, respect that limitation instead of using unofficial workarounds. -
Do I need to pay for a video downloader extension?
No. All the extensions in this guide are free to install and use for basic downloads. Paid plans usually add higher resolutions, batch downloads, or ad-free support. Start with the free tier and upgrade only if you need those extras.
