FFMPEG API Guide

How do I download YouTube as MP4 with an API?

Turn a supported YouTube video URL into a downloadable MP4 through FFMPEG API.

Get API Key API Docs MCP Server OpenAPI JSON

YouTube to MP4

Accepts a standard YouTube watch URL, youtu.be URL, Shorts URL, embed URL, or /v/ URL and returns a downloadable MP4 URL.

Endpoint: POST /api/youtube_to_mp4

Authentication: send X-API-Key: your_api_key_here.

curl Example

curl -X POST "https://ffmpegapi.net/api/youtube_to_mp4" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "youtube_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
}'

Request Body

{
  "youtube_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"
}

Success Response

{
  "download_url": "https://ffmpegapi.net/api/storage/video_abc123.mp4",
  "filename": "video_abc123.mp4",
  "message": "YouTube to MP4 completed successfully",
  "success": true
}

Use From AI Agents

Agents can call this workflow from REST using the OpenAPI spec or from the hosted MCP server at https://mcp.ffmpegapi.net/mcp. Keep API keys in request headers, not tool arguments.

FAQ

FFMPEG API exposes POST /api/youtube_to_mp4 for individual YouTube videos, Shorts, youtu.be URLs, and embed URLs.

Use async: true for larger media, caption rendering, or jobs likely to exceed a normal HTTP timeout. Poll job status until completion.