Even though 8K is still rare in YouTube videos, people still want to download them. Whether it’s future-proofing your video collection, archiving ultra-high-definition content, or just wanting the absolute best quality available, 8K downloads represent the pinnacle of video resolution. The problem? Most downloaders can’t handle 8K properly. They either cap out at 4K, compress the file during download, or fail entirely when faced with those massive 8K video streams.
These 8K YouTube video downloaders require tools that actually work, not ones that claim to support 8K but deliver disappointing results. We’ll give you a list of those tools that genuinely handle youtube video download 8k without issues, along with clear instructions on how to use them. No guesswork, no trial and error – just downloaders that do what they promise.
1. Tubly – No Restrictions When Quality Is in Question
We have no restrictions when quality is at question, and this tool works best for 8K downloads. Tubly was built to handle whatever resolution YouTube throws at it, including 8K (4320p) when it’s available. While other tools might cap your downloads or compress files to save bandwidth, Tubly grabs the original 8K stream directly from YouTube’s servers without any quality loss.
How to use Tubly for 8K downloads:
Install the Tubly extension from the official Tubly website. It works on Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, and other Chromium-based browsers. Once installed, navigate to any YouTube video that’s available in 8K. You’ll know it’s 8K if you can select 4320p or 8K in YouTube’s quality settings while watching.
Click the download button that Tubly adds below the video player. A menu appears showing all available quality options for that video. If the video was uploaded in 8K, you’ll see “8K” or “4320p” listed among the options. Select 8K from the quality menu. Tubly will show you the estimated file size (8K videos are large, often several gigabytes for just 10-15 minutes of content). Click download, and Tubly fetches the full 8K video stream and saves it to your downloads folder.
Tubly doesn’t re-encode or compress the video. What you download is exactly what’s hosted on YouTube’s servers, pixel for pixel. If you’re downloading 8K content, you’re getting true 8K quality with no compromises.
The extension handles 8K downloads as smoothly as it handles any other resolution. There’s no special configuration needed, no premium tier required for 8K—if the video exists in 8K and YouTube serves it, Tubly can download it.
2. 4K Video Downloader Plus
Despite its name suggesting a 4K limit, 4K Video Downloader Plus fully supports 8K downloads. It’s desktop software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it’s been reliable for high-resolution downloads for years.
How to use it for 8K:
Download and install 4K Video Downloader Plus from the official site. Open the app and copy the URL of the 8K YouTube video. Click “Paste Link” in the app. The app analyzes the video and displays all available quality options. If the video is available in 8K, you’ll see “8K” or “4320p” in the resolution dropdown menu.
Select 8K as your preferred resolution. Choose MP4 as your format (it’s the most compatible). Choose where you want to save the file. Keep in mind 8K videos can be 5-10 GB or more for longer content, so make sure you have adequate storage space. Click “Download,” and the app grabs the 8K stream.
4K Video Downloader Plus handles 8K reliably and preserves the original quality. The free version lets you download 10-15 videos per day, which might be enough if you’re only occasionally grabbing 8K content. For unlimited downloads, you’ll need the paid version (around $15/year or $25 for a lifetime license).
3. SnapDownloader
SnapDownloader is desktop software (Windows and Mac) that supports downloads up to 8K resolution from over 900 websites, including YouTube. It’s fast, handles large files well, and doesn’t compress or downgrade quality during the download process.
How to use it for 8K:
Download and install SnapDownloader. Copy the URL of the 8K YouTube video. Open SnapDownloader and paste the URL into the search field. The app analyzes the video and shows all available resolutions. Select 8K from the quality dropdown. SnapDownloader will display the file size so you know what you’re getting into.
Choose your output format (MP4 is recommended for compatibility). Click “Download Now,” and SnapDownloader grabs the 8K video at full quality. SnapDownloader uses multi-threading technology, which means it downloads faster than many other tools without sacrificing quality. For 8K videos, which are massive files, this speed advantage is noticeable.
SnapDownloader offers a 48-hour free trial with no payment information required upfront. After that, you’ll need a paid license for continued use, but the software is solid and worth it if you regularly download high-resolution content.
Understanding 8K: What It Is and Why It Matters
If you’ve heard about 8K somewhere or noticed it as a quality option on some YouTube videos and you’re not entirely sure what it means, don’t worry. We’ll give you all the necessary info so you can actually understand what you’re dealing with.
What is 8K?
8K refers to a video resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels. To put that in perspective:
- 1080p (Full HD) = 1920 x 1080 pixels (about 2 million total pixels)
- 4K (Ultra HD) = 3840 x 2160 pixels (about 8 million total pixels)
- 8K = 7680 x 4320 pixels (about 33 million total pixels)
8K has four times the resolution of 4K and sixteen times the resolution of 1080p. That’s an enormous amount of detail packed into each frame.
8K vs. 4K: Is It Really That Better?
This is the question everyone asks, and the answer depends on your setup and what you’re watching.
On an 8K display (which very few people have), the difference between 8K and 4K is noticeable. You get sharper details, smoother edges, and more clarity, especially in scenes with fine textures like grass, hair, or distant landscapes. Text is crisper, and when you zoom in or crop the video in editing, 8K gives you much more room to work without losing quality.
On a 4K display (which is what most high-end TVs and monitors are), 8K content still looks better than native 4K because of downsampling. When you play an 8K video on a 4K screen, the extra information gets compressed down, which results in a cleaner, sharper image with better color depth and less visible compression. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
On a 1080p display, the difference between 8K and 4K is minimal. You’re not going to see much benefit from 8K content on a 1080p screen because the display can’t show all that extra detail anyway.
Read also: How to Download 4K YouTube Videos: A Complete Guide
So, is 8K worth it?
For most people right now, 4K is the sweet spot. 8K is impressive, but the file sizes are massive, very few people have 8K displays, and there’s limited 8K content available on YouTube. However, if you’re future-proofing your collection, working with video editing, or you just want the absolute highest quality available, 8K makes sense. In a few years, as 8K displays become more common and affordable, having that content in 8K will be valuable.
The main advantage of downloading in 8K now is that you’re preserving the video at the highest quality it was created. You can always downscale 8K to 4K or 1080p later if needed, but you can’t upscale 4K to true 8K. If the content exists in 8K and you have the storage space, grabbing it in 8K is the safest bet for long-term archiving.
Considerations and Downsides of 8K
While we’ve talked about what 8K is and how amazing it can be, we’d still like to give you the other side of the coin. We want you to have all the info before you start your downloads. This doesn’t mean 8K is necessarily bad or that you shouldn’t download it. It just means you need to figure out if it’s best for you and your specific situation. Here are the realities you should know about.
Storage requirements are massive
A 10-minute 8K video can easily be 5-10 GB or more, depending on the bitrate and compression. A feature-length movie in 8K could be 50-100 GB. If you’re planning to download multiple 8K videos, you’ll need a lot of storage space. External hard drives or network storage become necessary pretty quickly.
Playback requires powerful hardware
Not every computer can play 8K video smoothly. You need a relatively modern processor, a decent graphics card, and plenty of RAM to handle 8K playback without stuttering. Older computers might struggle or fail entirely. Make sure your system can actually play 8K before committing to downloading it.
Limited content availability
There aren’t many 8K videos on YouTube compared to 4K or 1080p. Most creators don’t shoot in 8K because the equipment is expensive and the files are difficult to work with. If you’re downloading 8K, you’re limited to a small subset of YouTube’s library.
You probably don’t have an 8K display
8K TVs and monitors are expensive and rare. If you don’t have an 8K display, you won’t see the full benefit of 8K content. Yes, it still looks better on a 4K screen because of downsampling, but the difference isn’t dramatic enough to justify the massive file sizes for most people.
Slower downloads
Because 8K files are so large, downloads take significantly longer than 4K or 1080p, even with fast internet. If your connection isn’t great, downloading an 8K video could take hours.
Not all 8K YouTube video downloaders can handle 8K well
Even tools that claim to support 8K sometimes fail, compress the video, or limit download speeds. That’s why we’ve listed tools we know work properly, but it’s still worth testing with a short video first before committing to downloading a long-form 8K video.
Overkill for most uses
If you’re watching on a phone, tablet, or laptop, 8K is complete overkill. Even on a 65-inch 4K TV, the difference between 4K and 8K isn’t huge unless you’re sitting very close to the screen. For casual viewing, 4K is more than enough, and it saves you storage space and download time.
Final Thoughts
If after reading this article you’re convinced that 8K videos are what you need, we guarantee Tubly will get the job done. It handles ultra-high-definition downloads without restrictions, preserves the original quality, and you won’t have to deal with complicated settings or file conversion headaches.
But be realistic about whether you need 8K. For most people, 4K is plenty, and the storage and hardware requirements for 8K are significant. If you’re future-proofing, archiving, or working with video professionally, 8K makes sense. For casual viewing, you’re probably better off sticking with 4K and saving yourself the hassle.
Whatever you decide, now you know which tools work and what to expect. Choose the 8k video downloader that fits your needs, make sure you have the storage space, and enjoy ultra-high-definition content whenever you want.
