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Guide · Open source

How to use ReClip: install, download videos and MP3s

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

ReClip is a free, open-source, self-hosted downloader with a web interface. You paste links from sites such as YouTube, TikTok or Instagram into a page on your own machine, and it saves each one as an MP4 video or MP3 audio file. This guide covers what you need installed, how to start ReClip, and how to fetch and download one or many links.

ReClipaverygan/reclip · ★ 11.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install yt-dlp and ffmpeg. Install both tools first. On macOS with Homebrew, run brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg.
  2. 2Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/averygan/reclip.git to download the project.
  3. 3Open the project folder. Change into the project with cd reclip.
  4. 4Start ReClip. Run ./reclip.sh, then open http://localhost:8899 in your browser.
  5. 5Paste your links. Add one or more video URLs to the input box and pick MP4 or MP3.
  6. 6Fetch and download. Click Fetch to load info and thumbnails, pick a quality if offered, then click Download or Download All.

What you need before installing ReClip

ReClip relies on two outside tools: yt-dlp, which does the downloading, and ffmpeg, which handles conversion. The README also lists Python 3.8 or newer as a requirement. Setup involves a terminal, so this tool suits people who are comfortable running a short command or Docker.

  • yt-dlp (download engine)
  • ffmpeg (conversion)
  • Python 3.8+
  • A terminal, or Docker if you prefer that route

Install ReClip and start it

On macOS with Homebrew, the README installs both tools in one line, then clones the repository and starts the app from its folder. The README notes an alternative for ffmpeg and yt-dlp on other systems: apt install ffmpeg and pip install yt-dlp.

Once the server is running, open http://localhost:8899 in your browser.

brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg git clone https://github.com/averygan/reclip.git cd reclip ./reclip.sh

Run ReClip with Docker instead

If you prefer containers, the README gives a build and run command. The app is then available on the same port, 8899.

docker build -t reclip . && docker run -p 8899:8899 reclip

Download videos or MP3s from the web interface

Paste one or more video URLs into the input box and choose MP4 for video or MP3 for audio. Click Fetch to load video info and thumbnails. If quality options are available, select a resolution. Then click Download on a single video, or Download All to grab everything in the list.

ReClip also removes duplicate URLs automatically, so pasting the same link twice does not add it twice.

  • Paste one or more URLs
  • Choose MP4 or MP3
  • Click Fetch
  • Select quality if offered
  • Click Download or Download All

Which sites does ReClip support?

ReClip supports anything yt-dlp supports. The README names YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X, Reddit, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitch, Dailymotion, SoundCloud, Loom, Streamable, Pinterest, Tumblr, Threads and LinkedIn, among many others. Check the yt-dlp supported sites list for the full picture, since support depends on that engine.

Responsible use and licence

ReClip is MIT licensed. The README says it is intended for personal use only and asks users to respect copyright laws and the terms of service of the platforms they download from. It also states that the developers are not responsible for misuse.

ReClip is a small project: the README describes a single Python file backend and a single-file frontend with no build step, and it lists only Flask and yt-dlp as dependencies.

What people use it for

  • Saving a personal copy of a public video for offline viewing
  • Pulling the audio from a video as an MP3 file
  • Downloading several links in one batch from a simple web page
  • Running a private downloader on a home server or spare computer

Frequently asked questions

Is ReClip free?

Yes. ReClip is open source under the MIT licence, as stated in the README. You run it yourself on your own computer or server.

What do I need to install ReClip?

You need yt-dlp, ffmpeg and Python 3.8 or newer, according to the README. Alternatively, you can use Docker with the provided build and run command.

Which websites can ReClip download from?

The README says it supports 1000+ sites through yt-dlp, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter/X and Vimeo. Support is whatever yt-dlp supports.

Can ReClip download audio only?

Yes. Choose MP3 instead of MP4 in the interface to extract audio from a video.

Can I download several videos at once?

Yes. Paste multiple URLs into the input box, then use Download All. ReClip removes duplicate URLs automatically.

What if ReClip will not start or fetch a link?

The source does not include a troubleshooting section. Confirm that yt-dlp, ffmpeg and Python 3.8+ are installed, and check the yt-dlp project for site-specific issues, since downloads depend on that engine.

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Our verdict

ReClip suits people who want a local, self-hosted way to save videos or MP3s for personal use, and who are comfortable with a terminal or Docker. If you cannot install software or need a polished desktop app with automatic updates, the README does not describe either, so consider a different tool such as yt-dlp itself or another self-hosted option.

Install options & downloads