How To: Download Videos From Facebook, Actually ANY Site & ANY File
Apple, Computers, How To's, Internet, Software Add commentsWe have all been in a situation where we have found something on the Web we would like to save to our computer but we can’t find the download button. Arrr!!! Pictures, YouTube videos, Facebook videos, MySpace music, you name it.
If I can view it on my screen why can’t I download it? Well you can, you just need the right browser.
There are many products, scripts, extensions, you can buy or download that will give you some of the same functionality, but why would you buy a software tool to download free internet content? Also you may not be to comfortable with installing a bunch of third party scripts that could infest your computer with Adware; how will you know!
Safari Is The Solution
Lets face it, Safari (Webkit) is becoming the de-facto standard for a web browser. It is now available for download for both Winblows and OS X. The best part about Safari is that is has a small secret under the Window menu, Activity.
The Activity window shows all the current files that Safari has(is) downloaded(ing) (to display the webpage you are viewing) and sorts them by site. To download a specific file from the web, just find it in the Activity window and double-click. If you are downloading a video from Facebook or any other site, it will probably be a large file size and still be downloading when you view the Activity window.
That should open up a new browser window and download the file. Then you can just save it to your computer.
That’s right, all your favorite artists that place music on MySpace but have not allowed you to download the songs can easily be downloaded in a few clicks. Unfortunately it doesn’t work for 100% of the stuff on the web but I would say it is more like 99%. You can download YouTube, Revver, AOL, Facebook videos, MySpace audio, and much more.
Conclusion
What I like about this method over others is that it works for ALL my websites. I don’t have to worry about installing a plugin for Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Revver, … you see where I’m going.
What do you think, is this the method you like using to download the not-so-easy content from the web?
This technique beats all others. Safari just keeps getting better, even though this feature has been in there for quite a while I think. After being a diehard Camino user, I’ve gone to 90% Safari, but I’m looking for some free plugin to force all new windows to open in tabs.
(via PaulStamatiou)
@Adam Yes, this feature is not new to Safari 3. I guess the open links in new tabs feature doesn’t work under the general settings?
No, well not for sites that have specifically javascriped a new window link- or links opened from other applications, (Newsfire). That said, I am at work on a nasty windows PC and as such have no access to check the validity of my comments… I could be talking bunkum! (ah, the joy of 1820’s terminology).
how do i watch the .flv files once i’ve downloaded them?
@tommy If you are using OS X, I recommend using either the Perian plugin for Quicktime.
If you are on a Windows box, You can use either the VLC player or if you just want a single .flv player try using Wimpy.
Thanks for the info. I’m making a website for a bunch of friends at college and they wanted their facebook vids on the site. Only many didn’t seem too excited about emailing me the files. Once again thanks a lot. ^_^
Hi Blake,
Thanks for the advice, that’s awesome. I never knew Safari had that feature.
However, I’ve downloaded some videos off facebook, but the volume does not seem to work. I’ve tried them with VLC, and with Quicktime with Perian component… I’s wondering if you could help me out.
If you want to try and download the same videos I was trying, they’re on my facebook video page - Nic Carvalho - The Cat Came Back, and St. James Infirmary. Thanks.
Pax, Nic
i have the same “no volume” problem. was there a solution to this? thanks~
@kim From my recollection from the previous volume problem, it was an issue with the player the person was using. Are you using VLC to play the video?