Video DownloadHelper for Firefox Review

Everything you need to know about this video-extraction extension

By
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Writer
Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified.
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Updated on January 31, 2020

Video DownloadHelper is a Firefox extension that helps you capture and download audio, video, and image files from websites like YouTube. Video DownloadHelper will even send you an alert when it finds a new video that fits your interests on designated websites. There's no special action to take. Just surf the web as you normally do, and Video DownloadHelper will tell you when it encounters a file it can work with.

Video DownloadHelper is also available for the Chrome web browser.

Video DownloadHelper for Firefox
What We Like

  • Retrieve and save multimedia files from sites with no download option.

  • You're alerted when a file becomes available for download on the page you're viewing.

  • Supported sites are displayed and sorted based on user interest and ratings.

  • Works on more sites and file types than similar extensions and applications.

  • Available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

What We Don't Like

  • Some sites remain in the supported list even after they've been taken offline.

  • Complicated toolbar.

  • The add-on can be buggy, especially after a Firefox update.

More Information on Video DownloadHelper for Firefox

  • The DownloadHelper icon is added to Firefox's navigation toolbar upon installation.
  • When a media file that can be captured and downloaded is detected, the DownloadHelper icon becomes colorful and animated.
  • Clicking on the down arrow next to the animated icon displays the filename(s) available for download.
  • Selecting a specific filename gives you the option to choose a destination location and begin the download process.
  • The DownloadHelper option in Firefox's menu offers several choices, including the extension's Preferences dialog.
  • Configure Download Mode to either retrieve one file at a time or all files at once.
  • Modify the default storage directory for downloaded files via the extension's Preferences settings.
  • MediaLink settings allow you to download files based on their extension type (i.e., .jpg, .gif, .mov).
  • The Supported Sites option, located in the DownloadHelper menu, displays all media sites currently supported.

The Bottom Line

Video DownloadHelper for Firefox eliminates the need for advanced knowledge or complicated software to obtain the media files you want. A simple mouse click transfers a video, audio clip, or image from a website directly to your computer.

Better yet, configure the extension to alert you when videos fitting keywords you set become accessible. The list of supported sites is impressive and it continues to grow. It's apparent that DownloadHelper's developers take pride in their work and are constantly updating the extension with new features and sites.

There are other media-download extensions for Firefox, but they pale in comparison to Video DownloadHelper. It's a must for anyone interested in downloading embedded media.

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