How to download videos from Dailymotion
You download Dailymotion videos by copying the page URL and using yt-dlp, a browser-based downloader that supports Dailymotion, or—when the same clip is on YouTube—a YouTube to MP4 converter. Dailymotion doesn't offer a consumer offline library like YouTube Premium. Most saves go through third-party tools, which means you should pick a trusted method and avoid ad-filled ripper sites. The platform itself is legitimate; see our is Dailymotion safe review for browsing vs downloader risks.
Copy the Dailymotion link
- Open the video on dailymotion.com (official site).
- Copy the URL from the address bar:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8abcde
Short embed URLs work too, but the full video page is clearest for tools.
Method 1: yt-dlp (desktop, most reliable)
Install from GitHub only—is yt-dlp safe.
cd ~/Downloads
yt-dlp "https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8abcde"
720p cap for smaller files:
yt-dlp -f "best[height<=720]" "URL"
Update when extraction fails: how to update yt-dlp.
Windows users: how to use yt-dlp on Windows.
Output location follows your terminal folder—see where does yt-dlp download to.
Method 2: Browser downloader
- Paste the Dailymotion URL into a downloader site you already trust.
- Pick quality if offered.
- Save MP4 via browser Downloads.
Watch for: fake download buttons, ".exe codec required" prompts, notification permission traps. Same red flags as YTMP3 clones.
Videozify's core tools target YouTube. If your Dailymotion clip also exists on YouTube legally, use our YouTube to MP4 instead of gambling on obscure Dailymotion ripper domains.
Method 3: Phone (iPhone/Android)
Mobile workflow mirrors desktop:
- Copy link in Safari/Chrome on the Dailymotion page.
- Open a mobile-friendly downloader in the same browser.
- Paste → download → Save to Files (iOS) or Downloads folder (Android).
Heavy ads on mobile ripper sites are worse than desktop—consider emailing the link to yourself and using yt-dlp on a PC.
Embed downloads: when the video lives on someone else's site
Blog posts and news articles often embed Dailymotion players instead of linking to the watch page. The embed iframe URL is harder for tools to parse.
- Click through to Watch on Dailymotion (logo or title link).
- Copy the full
dailymotion.com/video/...URL from the address bar. - Run yt-dlp or your browser tool on that canonical link.
Trying to rip directly from an embed URL inside a random blog sometimes returns errors—the parent page wraps the player in extra tracking parameters.
After download: trim, compress, or extract audio
A raw Dailymotion MP4 might include intro slates or long tail frames you don't need. On desktop:
- Trim: Video trimmer to cut head/tail before sharing.
- Compress: Video compressor if the file exceeds email or Discord limits (8 MB on free Discord without Nitro).
- Audio only: Extract audio for interview clips where video doesn't matter.
These tools work on files already on your device—they don't pull from Dailymotion directly.
Quality expectations
| Dailymotion source | Typical max quality |
|---|---|
| News clip | 720p |
| Music video syndication | 1080p sometimes |
| Old upload | 480p |
A 4-minute 720p file often lands around 80–120 MB.
Age-restricted and geo-blocked videos
Age gates may require login cookies in yt-dlp:
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser firefox "URL"
Geo blocks need a VPN in the allowed region—downloading may still violate terms even if playback works.
Audio-only saves
Download MP4 first, then on desktop use extract audio. Or find a YouTube copy and run YouTube to MP3 at 192 kbps for music.
Troubleshooting
"Video unavailable" — Removed, private, or region-locked.
Download stalls at 0% — Ad blocker interfering with ripper site; try yt-dlp instead.
Wrong file (tiny KB) — You grabbed an error page HTML, not video. Delete and retry.
Legal note
Dailymotion Terms restrict unauthorized downloads. Save content you own, Creative Commons uploads, or material with explicit permission. News fair use is jurisdiction-specific—don't treat this guide as legal advice.
Conclusion
Copy the Dailymotion URL, download with yt-dlp on desktop or a trusted browser tool. Skip ad-heavy ripper portals. When the clip is on YouTube too, our converter is the simpler path.
Same video on YouTube: YouTube to MP4 converter — free, browser-based, no install.