Saving Authorized Course Videos for Offline Learning
Save course videos you created or have explicit permission to download, using supported HLS, DASH, and direct-file workflows.
This guide is for course creators, administrators, and learners who have explicit permission to download a local copy. Purchasing access does not automatically grant download or redistribution rights; check the course license and platform terms before proceeding.
Supported Source Types
Compatibility depends on the media source rather than the name of the course platform:
| Source type | Typical result |
|---|---|
| Direct MP4 or WebM file | Can be saved when the URL is accessible and downloading is permitted |
| Public HLS playlist | Can be inspected and merged when its segments are accessible |
| Public DASH manifest | Can be processed when its video and audio tracks are accessible |
| DRM-protected media | Not supported |
| Login-only or access-controlled source | Use only with explicit authorization; FlowPick does not bypass access controls |
| Short-lived source URL | May expire before processing finishes |
For technical details on DRM protection limitations, see Known Limitations — DRM Protected Content. For AES-128 encryption support scope, see Video Sniffing — Encrypted Streams.
Workflow
Step 1: Locate the Course Video Page
- Log in to the course platform and navigate to the course detail page
- Find the video lesson you want to download
- Click to play and let the video start loading
Step 2: Detect Media Resources
- Click the FlowPick icon in the browser toolbar
- The popup window will automatically list detected video streams
- If the list is empty, refresh the page, replay the video for a few seconds, then try again
For complete principles of media detection and troubleshooting when detection fails, see Video Sniffing — Detection Principles and Common Issues Troubleshooting — Media Detection Issues.
Step 3: Select Quality
Course videos typically offer multiple quality options:
| Quality | Resolution | Use Case | Estimated Size (1 hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth | 360p | Audio only, mobile network | ~150MB |
| Standard Definition | 480p | Small screen devices | ~300MB |
| High Definition | 720p | Laptop viewing | ~600MB |
| Ultra HD | 1080p | Large screen viewing, need clear text | ~1.2GB |
Recommendation: If the course contains extensive whiteboard content or code demos, choose 1080p to ensure text clarity. For lecture-only courses, 720p is sufficient.
Step 4: Configure Download Parameters
| Parameter | Recommended Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Output Format | MP4 | Best compatibility, plays on all devices |
| Concurrent Threads | 2-4 | Educational platform CDNs usually don't throttle |
| Save Directory | Organized by course | Create separate folders for each course |
For detailed configuration parameter explanations and adjustment recommendations, see Configuration Reference. For MP4 output format remuxing principles, see Format Conversion.
Step 5: Batch Download Courses
A course typically contains multiple video lessons. Use batch download:
- Open each lesson page sequentially, play a few seconds to trigger detection
- Each video will automatically join the download queue
- Monitor overall progress in the download management panel
- Verify file integrity after completion
For batch download queue management, concurrency control, and status tracking, see Batch Download. For write strategy and memory safety with large files (long lessons), see Download Engine Architecture.
FAQ
Can I download encrypted course videos?
FlowPick supports decryption of HLS AES-128 encrypted streams. If the course uses standard AES-128 encryption, it can be downloaded normally. However, the following cases cannot be handled:
- DRM encryption (Widevine, FairPlay, PlayReady)
- Custom encryption schemes
- Content requiring hardware-level decryption
For detailed technical documentation on encrypted streams and limitations, see Video Sniffing — Encrypted Streams and Known Limitations — DRM Protected Content.
What if download speed is very slow?
Educational platform CDNs usually have ample bandwidth. If speed is slow:
- Check if concurrent thread count is too low (recommend 4)
- Avoid peak hours (8-11 PM)
- Check if local network has throttling
For complete diagnosis process for slow downloads, see Common Issues Troubleshooting — Slow Download Speed.
Downloaded video has no sound?
Some platforms use separate audio-video streams. If you encounter this:
- Check if there's an independent audio stream entry
- Download both video stream and audio stream simultaneously
- Select MP4 output format; FlowPick will auto-merge them
For DASH stream audio-video separation handling, see Video Sniffing — DASH Audio-Video Separation.
Can't detect videos on some platforms?
Some platforms use special video loading methods that prevent FlowPick from detecting:
| Cause | Solution |
|---|---|
| Video loads in iframe | Right-click iframe → Open in new tab, then use FlowPick on that page |
| Uses dedicated player SDK | Some platforms' custom players don't use standard network requests; may not be detectable |
| Requires login to play | Ensure logged into platform, cookies valid |
| Segment URL dynamically generated | Refresh page and play immediately, complete download before token expires |
Best Practices
File Organization
Organize downloaded course files using this structure:
Course Name/
├── Chapter 01-Introduction/
│ ├── 1.1-Course Introduction.mp4
│ └── 1.2-Environment Setup.mp4
├── Chapter 02-Basics/
│ ├── 2.1-Core Concepts.mp4
│ └── 2.2-First Example.mp4
└── ...
Storage Planning
| Course Type | Average Lessons | Per Lesson Size | Total Storage Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Skill Course | 10-20 lessons | 200-500MB | 5-10GB |
| Comprehensive System Course | 50-100 lessons | 300-800MB | 30-80GB |
| University MOOC | 30-60 lessons | 400MB-1GB | 20-60GB |
Backup Recommendations
- Verify files can play normally immediately after download
- Back up important courses to external hard drive or NAS
- Periodically check file integrity (some platforms update course content)
Copyright & Compliance Statement
Before using FlowPick to download course videos, please understand and comply with these principles:
Permitted Usage Scope
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Download a course you created or administer | Share downloaded courses without permission |
| Save material whose license permits local copies | Upload downloaded courses to public platforms |
| Use an official written download authorization | Treat purchase alone as permission to copy |
| Convert an authorized local copy for compatibility | Bypass DRM, a paywall, login, or access control |
Platform Terms of Service
- Some educational platforms' user agreements explicitly prohibit downloading course videos, even if purchased
- Before using FlowPick, review the target platform's user agreement and terms of service
- If platform terms prohibit downloading, please respect their rules
- As tool provider, FlowPick is not responsible for users' download behavior
Risk Warning
- Some platforms may detect abnormal download behavior and take restrictive measures (e.g., account bans)
- Do not attempt to evade platform limits or conceal automated activity
- Stop if the platform or rights holder does not authorize downloading
For the extension's privacy boundaries and local-processing details, see Privacy & Security.
Related Documentation
- Video Sniffing — Video detection principles, HLS/DASH protocol support, encrypted stream decryption
- Batch Download — Queue management and concurrency control for multi-lesson batch downloads
- Format Conversion — MP4 output format remuxing technology
- Download Engine Architecture — Large file write strategy and memory safety
- Usage Guide — Basic operation guide and large file downloads
- Configuration Reference — Concurrent threads, output format, save directory configuration
- Common Issues Troubleshooting — Diagnosis for slow downloads, unplayable videos, etc.
- Known Limitations — DRM protection, dynamic token, and other technical limitations
- Privacy & Security — Extension privacy and local processing boundaries
Download Engine Architecture
Technical architecture details of FlowPick's download engine — segment concurrent download, AES-128 decryption, three-tier write strategy, memory safety management, and progress tracking.
Video Platform Stream Downloader for Public Media
Save publicly accessible video platform and creator content for offline viewing or permitted media reference with FlowPick.