DOWNLOAD OR RECORD?
Choose the right saving mode
Understand what each option captures and when to use it.
Start with a detected download
If the popup lists an HLS stream or MP4 file, try its Download button first. A finished video can download without waiting for its entire playback. HLS is simply a way websites deliver video in small pieces; StreamCatcher joins supported pieces into a saved video. An MP4 is typically a single video file.
For a live HLS broadcast
A live stream grows while the broadcast runs. StreamCatcher saves available segments and continues collecting new ones. Use Stop & Save when you have enough. Starting late does not guarantee you can save from the beginning: many broadcasters only keep a short window of earlier footage available.
Stream Capture: save what a compatible player loads
Try Stream Capture when no usable download is detected. Start the video, open the extension, and choose Stream Capture. Keep the source tab visible and playing, with the recording tab open in the background. Avoid seeking around, which can create gaps or repeated portions. If asked to refresh because the start of the stream was missed, follow that instruction and begin a new capture.
Saving a Stream Capture recording
Click Stop Recording in the recording tab when finished. The captured video is assembled, and a compatibility conversion may follow to make the file easier to play in other apps. That can take time and extra storage. You can download the original capture too; if conversion fails, it remains available. Check the result, especially if the player changed quality during recording.
Tab Record: record the playing video
Use Tab Record as a fallback for a compatible video player. It captures the video element and its available audio while it plays, not your whole desktop or browser controls. Start playback before choosing it. A ten-minute section normally needs ten minutes of playback. The saved file may be MP4 or WebM, depending on browser support. Test a short clip first.
Know the boundaries
None of these modes removes DRM or grants permission to save someone else’s content. YouTube is not supported by the extension. Other websites may also be incompatible or restricted. For recording, keep both tabs open and leave the source visible; keep the recording tab open until the final browser download completes.