How to Download Niconico Videos in 2023 [PC/Mac/Online/Extension]

Chloe LEE
August 01, 2023 Preview 929 Preview 0
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“I tried downloading MMD and music videos from niconico thru a variety of methods. All of them to no avail... Any way to download from Niconico?"                                                                                --Reddit

Niconico (Nicovideo.jp) is a Japanese video sharing site with many popular videos about anime, computer games and pop music. Many users, like the Reddit user above, are looking for a reliable way to download Niconico videos. Most methods found online are now outdated, especially since Nicovideo has changed its video playback method to HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) only on July 5, 2023, complicating downloads further.

Thankfully, there are still reliable ways to save Niconico videos with the right tools. This article will show you 4 proven solutions to download Niconico videos to your computer or mobile devices. Just follow our up-to-date guidance for successful downloading.

 

1. Use the Best Nicovideo Downloader (recommended)

Applied to: Windows, Mac 

Advantages:

  1. Batch download Niconico videos to MP4 files
  2. Choose the output video quality
  3. Fast download speed
  4. Also support other streaming sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Soundcloud, Facebook, etc.
  5. Easy and safe to use

Limitation:

  1. Not yet available for mobile devices

The easiest and fastest way to download Nicovideo is to use a dedicated third-party Nicovideo downloader. iFunia YouTube Downloader is a powerful video downloader that allows you to easily download all kinds of videos from Nicovideo to watch offline on any device. With this powerful program, you can save Niconico videos in the highest quality and freely choose the resolution of each clip before downloading. It’s a best option for anyone who wants to download online videos from Nicovideo effortlessly.

How to easily download Niconico videos to PC:

Step 1. Download and run iFunia YouTube Downloader for Windows or Mac.

Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7 Free Download macOS 10.11 or later

Step 2. Copy the video URL. Right click on the Niconico video you want to download, and select the first option “Copy video URL”.

copy niconico video url

Step 3. Go back to the downloader, paste the video URL into the box and press Enter to get the video information. You can download multiple videos in bulk by repeating this step.

paste video url to downloader

(Optional) Step 4. Select your desired video quality. This best Niconico video downloader will select the highest quality by default, you can also manually adjust the resolution from the Format drop-down list.

choose quality

Step 5. Finally, click the Download button at the bottom right corner to start downloading video(s) to your computer.

Tip: After the download is completed, you can click the Check icon to open the file location. You can also watch the video via the built-in player by clicking the Play button.

complete download

2. Use yt-dlp (command-line tool)

Applied to: Windows, Mac 

Advantages:

  1. Free and open-source video downloader
  2. Download Niconico videos in high quality
  3. Customizable download

Limitations:

  1. No support for bulk downloads
  2. A little difficult for beginners

Another reliable way to download Niconico videos is to use yt-dlp, a command-line program that lets you download videos and audio from many websites like Nicovideo. It’s a fork of youtube-dl and the latest release can easily download user-uploaded Niconico videos to PC/Mac. The learning curve is rewarded with automated downloading. To download Niconico videos with yt-dlp:

  1. Install yt-dlp on your computer. Windows users can go to https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp, scroll down to Release Files and download “yt-dlp.exe” for Windows. Mac users can install via Homebrew with a simple command brew install yt-dlp.  
  2. Enter a command line. Open Command Prompt tool (or Terminal on Mac), then Type cd Downloads to navigate to “Downloads” folder or wherever you put the program. Then type a command like yt-dlp [video URL].
  3. Press Enter to start the download process. yt-dlp will automatically select the highest quality available and display the progress.

download nicovideo with yt-dlp

3. Use Nicozon.net (online Nicovideo downloader)

Applied to: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and other major browsers

Advantages:

  1. Download niconico videos online without additional installation
  2. Can save videos on both computer and mobile phone

Limitations:

  1. Slow download speed
  2. Complex procedures
  3. Ads supported

After trying numerous ad-full online downloaders and unreliable browser extensions, Nicozon.net is probably the only reliable website that lets you download from Nicovideo. Nicozon is a website designed to downloading Nico Nico Douga videos through bookmarklet in web browser. With the help of this online Nicovideo downloader, you can use Chrome, Firefox, Safari and other browsers to download Niconico videos on PC, iOS, iPad and Android devices. Here is how it works:

1. Go to Nicozon.net. Enter the URL of the video you want to download into the search box and click the third option to open the video.

download nicovideo with nicozon step 1

2. Click the third button under the thumbnail to save the video.

download nicovideo with nicozon step 2

3. On the save page, add the HTTP version bookmarklet to the bookmarks bar, then click on the link above it to go to the next page.

download nicovideo step 3

4. On the new page, click on the bookmark you just saved and a download link of the MP4 video file will appear. Juts right-click the link and select Save Link As to start downloading the niconico video.  

download nicovideo via nicozon step 4  

Note: Do not close the page or put your computer to sleep during the download process, otherwise the download will fail.

4. Use Stream Recorder (Chrome extension)

Applied to: Chrome

Advantages:

  1. Capture HLS video from Nicovideo to MP4
  2. Record the video while it’s playing

Limitations:

  1. Need enough free memory to use (set in Chrome with a limit up to 2 GB)
  2. Not available for browsers other than Google Chrome
  3. Can’t download videos longer than 13 hours

Although most Nicovideo downloader extensions/add-ons don’t work now, you can still save Niconico videos via Stream Recorder. Designed for downloading HLS (m3u8) videos, this Chrome extension lets you save Niconico videos delivered in HLS as MP4 files. To download Nicovideo with browser extension:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store, search for Stream Recorder and add it to Chrome.

chrome extension

2. Go to Nicovideo.jp and play the video you want to download in the browser. Then click the action button of the extension to download if it’s activated.  

download nicovideo with browser extension

3. Click the Save button to save the recorded Nicovideo to your computer. Do not close the tab before the the video is downloaded.    

save recorded niconico video

Tip: You can switch to the Capture mode to record niconico live video as it’s playing, just make sure you have a stable and fast network.

FAQs about Nicovideo Download

How to download Niconico videos on mobile phone?

You can download Niconico videos on iOS and Android smartphones via Nicozon.net. More detailed information can be found on this page https://www.nicozon.net/howto_bookmarklet.html.

Alternatively, it can be simpler to download the Niconico video on computer and transfer it to your mobile phone. Professional Nicovideo downloaders like iFunia can batch download Niconico videos to H.264 MP4 files in different definitions, compatible with all devices.     

How to download Nicovideo to MP3 audio?

Consider a professional Nicovideo downloader app, such as iFunia, which can download and convert niconico videos to MP3. Or you have to download the video first and extract the audio from the video using a video converter program.

Can I download Niconico Videos with online downloaders?

Most online downloaders don’t work for Nicovideo, either they don’t recognize the URL or just redirect you to some other pages. So beware of scams and malvertising when trying online options, including Nicozon.net. The safest way to download Nicovideo is to use a desktop program.  

Conclusion

We’ve explored 4 ways to download videos from Nicovideo, each comes with its own advantages and limitations. For casual users who only need to download an occasional video, the online downloader and browser extensions provide a quick solution without requiring additional software. iFunia Nicovideo Downloader, on the other hand, offers more power and convenience for frequent downloaders, with batch download capabilities and advanced options. Those who prefer open source tools and are comfortable with the command line will appreciate yt-dlp.

With these tools at your disposal, it’s simple to save Niconico videos for offline viewing on any device. Happy downloading and watching!  

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Chloe LEE

Chloe LEE is good at explaining and solving complex technology problems to her readers. Since joining iFunia Studio, she has focused on writing articles about video and DVD software, and how-to tutorials.

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