How to Download YouTube Videos in 8K
Want to download YouTube videos at the highest quality possible? Here's how to get 8K (4320p) downloads — and what you need to know about file sizes, formats, and compatibility.
YouTube supports 8K video (4320p), but downloading at that resolution isn’t as simple as clicking a button. Most downloaders either don’t support it, or silently downgrade to a lower quality. Here’s how to actually get 8K downloads — and whether you should.
Does the video even have 8K?
First, check. Most YouTube videos are uploaded at 1080p or 4K. True 8K content is still relatively rare — you’ll find it in:
- Nature and travel videography channels
- Tech review channels demonstrating camera capabilities
- YouTube’s own demo content
- Professional filmmakers and drone footage creators
If the source video was uploaded at 1080p, no tool in the world will give you a genuine 8K download. You’ll get 1080p regardless of what you select.
Method 1: TubeArchiver
- Paste the video URL into TubeArchiver
- Select the highest available quality in the quality dropdown — if 8K is available, it will appear as an option
- Download
TubeArchiver automatically merges the best video and audio streams using ffmpeg, so you get a single file with the highest quality video and audio combined. No manual stream selection needed.
8K downloads require a paid plan (Start at €19/year or Pro at €49/year).
Method 2: yt-dlp
First, check what formats are available:
yt-dlp -F "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"Look for lines showing 4320p or 7680x4320. If they exist, download with:
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[height<=4320]+bestaudio" --merge-output-format mkv "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"The --merge-output-format mkv flag ensures the video and audio streams are combined into a single file. MKV handles 8K streams more reliably than MP4 in many cases.
What you need to know about 8K files
File sizes are enormous
A 10-minute video at 8K can easily be 5–10 GB, depending on the codec. A full hour of 8K content could require 30–60 GB. Make sure you have the storage space before starting.
Codecs matter
YouTube encodes 8K video in either VP9 or AV1. AV1 offers better compression (smaller files at the same quality) but requires a newer device to play back smoothly. VP9 is more widely compatible but produces larger files.
- AV1 — smaller file, needs modern hardware (2020+ GPU or Apple Silicon)
- VP9 — larger file, plays on more devices
You probably can’t play it natively
Most monitors are 1080p or 4K. Playing 8K video requires either an 8K display or a media player that can downscale. VLC handles 8K content reasonably well, but expect some stuttering on older hardware.
Downloading in 8K still makes sense for archival purposes — you preserve the maximum quality for the future, even if your current hardware can’t display it.
Download speeds
An 8K download is roughly 4× the size of a 4K download. On a 100 Mbps connection, a 10-minute 8K video might take 5–10 minutes to download. Plan accordingly for larger archives.
Which tools support 8K?
| Tool | 8K support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TubeArchiver | Yes | Automatic stream merging |
| yt-dlp | Yes | Manual format selection |
| 4K Video Downloader Plus | Advertised, inconsistent | Often caps at 1080p in practice |
| SnapDownloader | Yes | Requires paid plan |
| ClipGrab | No | Max 1080p |
| Downie | Up to 4K | Mac only |
Should you download in 8K?
Yes, if: you’re archiving content for long-term preservation and have the storage space. Downloading at the highest available quality means you never need to re-download if you upgrade your display later.
No, if: you’re downloading for casual offline viewing on a laptop or phone. 1080p or 4K will look identical on those screens, and the file will be a fraction of the size.
Ready to start archiving? Learn how to download an entire YouTube channel or download a playlist. For a full tool comparison, see our 10 best YouTube downloaders in 2026.