01
Open BBC
Go to the BBC page with the video you want to save and let it load normally in your browser.
BBC Downloader
Save BBC iPlayer programmes as MP4 files and watch them offline permanently, before they expire.
Browser extension
Current-page workflow
Browser downloads
40,000+ SERP Apps users
Try it free — 3 downloads, no credit card
Your downloads never touch our servers
No ads, no tracking, no analytics
One-time payment, lifetime updates
Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Email support, answered by the people who built it
About BBC Downloader
BBC iPlayer programmes vanish after 30 days, but BBC Downloader lets you save them permanently as high-quality MP4 files. You can build a personal library of your favourite shows and documentaries, ready to watch whenever you want.
Offline viewing becomes truly flexible because the files work on any media player or device, not just iPlayer-compatible ones. Travel, commute, or relax without worrying about internet access or expiring downloads.
Simply open the video page, let the extension detect the source, and choose your preferred quality. The process is quick and keeps your content safe on your own computer.
Trusted at scale
Trusted by 40k+ SERP Apps users.
Private & local
Private downloads. No ads or tracking.
One connected library
Part of the SERP Apps Extensions Library.
How It Works
Download in 3 clear steps
Open the page, let the extension detect what is available, and save the file to your computer.
02
Detect the file
Open the extension so it can find the available video source and show the save options for the current page.
03
Save to your computer
Choose the available quality or file option and save the finished file directly to your device.
Happy Users
Recent customer feedback
Short, practical feedback from people using BBC Downloader in real workflows.
No more losing BBC programmes to the 30-day expiry
BBC iPlayer's 30-day expiry drives me mad. I download documentaries and nature programmes as permanent MP4s so I can rewatch them anytime. Quality is as good as what iPlayer streams and subtitles are embedded.
Oliver Blackwood
2025-03-10
Invaluable for British expats watching BBC content abroad
I'm a British expat and use a VPN to access iPlayer. This downloader saves my favorite BBC series so I can watch them offline without relying on the VPN connection. Batch season download with episode naming is brilliant.
Preethi Nair
2025-02-11
Reliable BBC News clip archiving for research
I research BBC news coverage and need archived copies for citation. This tool saves news clips from bbc.co.uk cleanly as MP4 files with proper dates in the filenames. Much better than screen recording.
Thomas Hargrove
2025-03-12
These comments and ratings were collected during our July 2026 customer survey and reviewed against support records before publication.
Features
Everything it does
Core capabilities included in BBC Downloader.
Save BBC iPlayer programmes as MP4 files before the 30-day window closes.
Grab BBC News clips and documentary material from bbc.co.uk for offline viewing.
Download an entire series in one go with episode and season names applied automatically.
Include subtitle tracks and audio description in the final MP4 container.
Keep programme details such as title, series, episode, and broadcast date inside the file.
Merge adaptive HLS stream segments without manual intervention.
Pick up an interrupted download right where it left off, skipping already saved parts.
The tool is designed to run on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Opera across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Navigate to the BBC page hosting the video and allow it to load completely in your browser.
Activate the extension so it identifies the video source and presents saving choices for that page.
Select the quality or file variant you prefer and store the completed download on your device.
Intended to let you keep iPlayer content beyond its typical 30-day availability limit.
Compare
BBC Downloader Extension vs Online Downloader Website
Save BBC programmes directly from the watch page instead of copying the address to another website.
BBC Downloader
Online Downloader Site
BBC Downloader
Activates on the current BBC video page to detect the source.
Online Downloader Site
You must leave the BBC page and paste the link elsewhere.
BBC Downloader
Shows save options right inside your browser toolbar.
Online Downloader Site
The external site provides its own interface, not the BBC player.
BBC Downloader
No need to copy and submit the page address manually.
Online Downloader Site
You copy the BBC page address and submit it to another service.
BBC Downloader
Keeps programme details such as title, series, and episode in the file.
Online Downloader Site
Result filenames may be generic and lose BBC programme context.
BBC Downloader
Aims to include subtitles and audio description in one MP4.
Online Downloader Site
Subtitle handling depends on the site and may not be combined.
BBC Downloader
Intended to let you keep iPlayer content beyond the 30-day window.
Online Downloader Site
The external site's processing may not extend availability.
Compatibility
Works where you work
Available on major desktop browsers and operating systems used in day-to-day workflows.
Browsers
ChromeEdgeFirefoxBraveOpera
Operating Systems
WindowsmacOSLinux
Supported Content
BBC iPlayer programmes, series, and documentariesBBC News video clips from bbc.co.ukSubtitle and audio description track embeddingBatch series downloads with episode naming and broadcast dates
Not Supported
Live BBC broadcasts still in progressBBC content requiring a UK IP address without proper accessProgrammes already expired from iPlayerSafari and mobile browsers
Downloads
Choose your browser
Pick the browser build you need. When a direct GitHub release is available, you can grab the ZIP there.
Chrome
Chrome support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Firefox
Firefox support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Edge
Edge support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Opera
Opera support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Brave
Brave support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Whale
Whale support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Yandex
Yandex support is in progress and will be enabled soon.
Coming soon
Install from GitHub releases or your user dashboard. ZIP builds include the full desktop extension.
Transparency
Extension permissions explained
Every requested permission and the job it performs inside the extension.
Saves downloaded MP4 programme files to your local downloads folder.
Detects BBC's video player on the current page to show download options only on BBC and iPlayer pages.
Stores quality preferences, download queue state, and completed download history locally in the browser.
Notifies you when programme downloads or batch series queues finish processing.
FAQ
Common questions
It is designed to save BBC iPlayer programmes, series, documentaries, and BBC News video clips from bbc.co.uk as MP4 files for offline viewing.
Know Before You Buy
What it cannot do
Better to know the boundaries up front than find out after checkout.
BBC account and UK IP address (or VPN) required for iPlayer content.
iPlayer programmes expire 30 days after broadcast; download before they are removed.
Maximum quality is typically 1080p HD for iPlayer content.
BBC's HLS segment processing requires the browser tab to remain open.
Some BBC content uses DRM that may prevent browser-based downloading.
Safari and mobile browsers are not supported.
Helpful reading
Posts
youtube
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How to Download YouTube Videos to Your Computer
Download YouTube videos from the watch page, choose an available quality, and save the completed file to your computer.
Devin Schumacher
m3u8
hls
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How to Download M3U8 and HLS Videos as MP4
Download a compatible M3U8 or HLS video as MP4 by starting playback, confirming the detected stream, choosing a quality, and using Save As.
Devin Schumacher
vimeo
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private-video
How to Download Vimeo Videos From Any Page Type
Download Vimeo videos from public pages, private links, password-protected players, embeds, and review pages.
Devin Schumacher
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Immediate Access
Product access begins after a successful checkout
Setup Guidance
Installation steps are provided for the supported package
Billing Shown Upfront
Review the selected billing interval before checkout
BBC Downloader
Save BBC iPlayer programmes permanently before the 30-day availability window expires
Watch BBC content offline during travel without depending on iPlayer's download feature
Archive BBC documentaries and news coverage for research and reference
Access downloaded BBC content on any device and media player, not just iPlayer-compatible ones