B-ROLL frequently asked questions

Yes. B-ROLL is free forever: no paid tier, no trial, no ads and no account. Money enters only as a voluntary PayPal donation, which adds no features and is never needed to download, convert or update. Why donations exist is explained on the support page.

B-ROLL runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11, as an installer or a portable exe. It needs an internet connection, plus VLC media player for the preview player only. macOS and Linux versions are planned, with no release date yet. Sizes, checksums and requirements are on the download page.

Only when the file comes from the official links on this site or on GitHub and its SHA-256 checksum matches the published one. B-ROLL is not code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" before the first run: choose More info, then Run anyway. The checksum steps are in Is B-ROLL safe? SmartScreen, signing and checksums.

No. The source code of B-ROLL is not published, but the app is built on open-source software: yt-dlp, FFmpeg and Deno do the downloading and converting, while Python, Tcl/Tk and Pillow run the interface. Every component, its license and its role is listed in open-source credits and licenses.

B-ROLL downloads yt-dlp, ffmpeg and Deno from their GitHub releases, plus a local helper that yt-dlp uses with YouTube, into %LOCALAPPDATA%\Broll. On the maker's PC that folder measured 473.7 MB in September 2026. The helper runs deno.exe as a local service that can keep running until you sign out. The full list is on the download page.

B-ROLL saves to your Windows Downloads folder by default. Change it with Change in the SAVE TO row, pick a recent folder from its menu, or turn on Save audio to a different folder to keep audio files apart. Every option is described in B-ROLL settings and advanced options explained.

Yes. Mark in and out points in the preview player with I and O, or type start and end times, and B-ROLL downloads only that range. The player can queue several parts of one video, each saved as "Title [mm-ss to mm-ss]". The player needs VLC media player; see the YouTube clip downloader.

Yes. For a video that belongs to a playlist, B-ROLL asks whether you want the single video or the whole playlist. Channel downloads start once you set Download channels to Ask or Yes in Advanced options. A .txt list of links and Chrome, Edge or Brave bookmark folders work too; see the playlist and channel downloader.

Only for the preview and trim player. B-ROLL plays the preview through the VLC media player you install (pick the 64-bit VLC, because B-ROLL is a 64-bit app). Without VLC, B-ROLL asks for typed start and end times, and every other feature works. If the preview stays blank, read B-ROLL preview not loading.

B-ROLL saves video as MP4, MKV or WEBM with the codec YouTube serves, or converts it after the download into an edit-ready ProRes or DNxHR .mov. Audio comes as MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC or OPUS, and subtitles as SRT, ASS or VTT files or embedded. Why ProRes and DNxHR edit better: download YouTube videos in ProRes or DNxHR.

B-ROLL measures the source bitrate and picks the lightest tier whose data rate, scaled to the video's resolution and frame rate, is at least 10 times that bitrate. Resolution and frame rate stay as published, and 10-bit sources get DNxHR HQX. The rule and worked examples are in how B-ROLL picks a ProRes or DNxHR tier.

B-ROLL writes a .credits.txt next to each downloaded file and adds the same block to a running credits.txt in that folder. Each block holds the title, creator, channel, source link, upload date, license line and a ready credit line. The license line is what yt-dlp reports, so check the video page too; see automatic credit files.

Only when YouTube or the rights holder allows it, according to YouTube's Terms of Service, which forbid downloading content unless the service expressly authorizes it or you have prior written permission. Copyright is a separate question, decided by the law where you work. B-ROLL is for footage you have the right to use. This is general information, not legal advice; see what YouTube's terms say.

As of September 2026, YouTube shows that message when it wants a request to come from a signed-in account. Restart B-ROLL so yt-dlp updates itself, then follow the guided wizard to sign in with your own YouTube account through a cookies.txt export. The full fix is in Sign in to confirm you're not a bot.

B-ROLL checks GitHub for a newer release 4 seconds after launch and offers Update now, which downloads and runs the new installer. yt-dlp updates itself to the latest nightly build at every launch, while ffmpeg and Deno refresh only with Reinstall tools. Every release is listed in the changelog.

Turn off Open B-ROLL at login in Settings first, then uninstall from the Start menu or from Windows Settings, Apps. Uninstalling leaves %LOCALAPPDATA%\Broll behind with the tools, settings, history and any cookies.txt, so delete that folder by hand. Portable users delete the exe and the same folder, as shown on the download page.