Download Task
Download tasks save online videos, audio, subtitles, covers, or playlist content. Entry path: plus icon on the left, then Download.
Video Downloading
Section titled “Video Downloading”Normal downloads are parsed by YT-DLP. They work best when you already have a clear URL. You can save one video, extract audio, download subtitles and covers, or turn many pasted links, playlists, and collections into a group of tasks.
| Goal | Recommended Entry | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Save one video or audio quickly | Direct download or quick mode | XiaDown creates a task with default rules and moves it to Running. |
| Choose resolution, audio track, subtitles, or transcode | Custom mode | XiaDown checks the link first, then lets you choose media and output options. |
| Download many links | Batch download | Each link appears in the batch list and can be adjusted one by one. |
| Download a playlist or collection | Paste the playlist link | XiaDown expands the entries and enters batch download. |
| Download content that requires sign-in | Sign in through App Sessions first | Enable App Session download and use your account access. |
YT-DLP supports many sites, including YouTube, Bilibili, Douyin, RedNote, TikTok, Facebook, X, and more. Availability depends on the site rules, your account permissions, the network, and whether the link is accessible.
Required Tools
Section titled “Required Tools”Download tasks rely on tools managed in Settings. The first launch guide can install them, and Settings can verify, reinstall, update, or open their folders.
| Tool | Purpose | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| YT-DLP | Parses and downloads online videos, audio, subtitles, covers, and playlists. | Direct download, quick mode, custom mode, and batch download. |
| FFmpeg | Merges streams, handles segments, and transcodes by preset. | Post-download transcode, audio/video merging, and local transcode. |
| Bun | Provides runtime capability needed by YT-DLP when parsing some websites. | Link checks and downloads for certain sites. |
YT-DLP currently supports Bun only up to 1.3.14, so XiaDown will not manage Bun above that range. If download buttons are disabled because required tools are not ready, repair them in Settings.
Download Settings
Section titled “Download Settings”Open lower-left avatar menu, Settings, Download page:
| Setting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Download folder | Where downloads, transcodes, and output files are saved. |
| Download concurrency | Controls how many download tasks run at the same time. A high number may trigger site limits; 5 or less is recommended. |
| Fragment concurrency | Controls YT-DLP concurrency for HLS and m3u8 media segments used by sniffing downloads. Direct file downloads are not affected. 16 or less is recommended. |
| Tool status | Shows current version, latest version, and install path for YT-DLP, FFmpeg, and Bun. |
Changes affect tasks created after the setting is saved. Existing tasks usually continue with the configuration they had when created.
Paste Links
Section titled “Paste Links”- Paste one or more links into the input box.
- Click Direct Download or wait for XiaDown to check the link.
- If the link needs account access, sign in through App Sessions first and enable App Session download.
- After the link passes checking, configure the download.
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| No valid downloadable link found | The link is not recognized or is incomplete. |
| This link is not supported | This site is not suitable for normal download; use Sniff or Sniff Desk. |
| Multiple links detected | The input contains more than one link and will enter batch download. |
| App Session available | The site has an exportable App Session that can be used for this task. |
App Sessions and Member Content
Section titled “App Sessions and Member Content”App Sessions store website sessions that you sign into inside XiaDown. Download tasks do not automatically take accounts from your normal browser. Sign in first, then enable App Session download in the task.
Use App Sessions for YouTube, Bilibili, TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitch, Niconico, and other content that needs login, membership, age, region, or private-list permission. App Sessions represent your own access; they do not bypass platform rules.
Quick Mode
Section titled “Quick Mode”| Control | Result |
|---|---|
| Best | Prefer the best overall downloadable media. |
| Highest bitrate | Prefer streams with a higher bitrate. |
| Audio | Save audio only. |
| Subtitles | Try to download subtitles together. |
| Transcode | Convert the file after download using the selected preset. |
| Keep transcoded file only | Remove the original after the converted file is ready. |
Click Start to create the task.
Custom Mode
Section titled “Custom Mode”Use custom mode when you want manual control:
- Click Custom Mode.
- Click Check Link and wait for available media.
- Choose video or audio quality.
- Choose an audio track if the page provides multiple tracks.
- Choose subtitles or leave subtitles disabled.
- Choose a transcode preset if needed.
- Click Start.
If no downloadable media is found, XiaDown shows the reason. For sites that do not fit normal downloading, use Sniff or Sniff Desk.
Batch Download
Section titled “Batch Download”Batch download appears when you paste many links at once, or when the link itself is a playlist or collection. Each row can use an App Session, select quality, enable subtitles, and choose whether to transcode. When the batch is too large, reduce the number of links and retry.
Start with quick mode for normal saves. Use custom mode for quality, audio track, subtitles, and output control. For playlists, paste the playlist link and let XiaDown expand it into batch download. For account-gated content, sign in through App Sessions first.