Hacking Google Video Download
Filed in: Google, Tips n Tricks — October 23rd, 2006
In this guide of hacking Google Video download, I will show you how to download Google Video clips and save them on your computer.
Download Google Video for offline playback
By default, Google Video is for online viewing. If you want to watch the video offline, you are given two options:
- Download for Windows/Mac — You need to install Google Video Player, then use the player to open Google Video file link(.GVP). The Google Video Player will download the selected video file(.GVI) to your computer.
- Download for Video iPod/Sony PSP — this is a more straight forward way to download Google Video clips. You are provided a direct download link to the MP4 file.
Tip: GVI is an modified AVI file. It can be playback by most media player that support AVI format, such as VLC, Media Player Classic but not Windows Media Player.
However, some Google Video clips do not provide a download link, example: music videos, movies, and TV show. How do we download them? Read on for the hack. 
Download Google Video as .FLV, .AVI and .MP4
Some Google Video clips are protected and do not provide video download. BUT we still want to download the video clips, how? It can be done by using VideoDownloader, the great web tool to grab online video download links (read my previous review on “VideoDownloader“).
On the page of Google Video clip you want to download, copy the web page address and paste it to VideoDownloader to get the video download links for .flv, .avi, and .mp4. That’s simple!
Even on protected(no download link) Google Video, VideoDownloader still can get the .flv download link for you. Cool!
FLV is a flash video format. It can only playback with FLV players. I tell you how to convert FLV to AVI, MPG or MP4 format to playback using our favorite media player. Read on.
Convert FLV (flash video) to AVI or MPG or MP4
There are many free FLV players, but we prefer to playback the video clips on our favorite media player. In order to do so, we need to convert FLV flash video to the format supported by media player such as .AVI, .MPG, or .MP4.
For Windows users — Download Riva FLV Encoder(freeware). It allows you to convert FLV to MPG or AVI format. Riva FLV Encoder is easy to use, you can refer to the tutorial on VideoHelp.
For Mac users — Download iSquint(freeware). It is a free iPod video converter for Mac OS X. We can use it to convert FLV to MP4 format.
That’s it. I hope you enjoy this article. Feedback are welcome.
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October 25th, 2006 at 1:50 am
CF,
For Firefox users they might be interested in an extension, fits nicely on the status bar below. It’s named simply enough, VideoDownloader: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2390/
It’s working great. I’ve seen another one named Fast Video Downloader but have not tested it yet.
November 2nd, 2006 at 5:27 pm
A .gvp file is just a text file. Open it in your editor of choice and copy everything after the “url:” until the end of the line. You’ll never even have to install their media player. Honest. =)
February 7th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
many way for download google video at http://www.flash-video-mx.com/youtube_google_video_converter/.
May 31st, 2007 at 6:54 am
In microsoft flightsim X, I am trying to substitute my voice for the simulator pilot’s voice. I found the Soundfiles for air traffic controll,but they are GVP files and Windows player cannot open these. How do I get to open these,so I can replace them with my voice recorded in them??
Would appreciate your help. Herman S.
May 31st, 2007 at 3:38 pm
@Herman Schnitker: GVP is actually an AVI file. You can view it using VideoLan. Learn how to convert GVP to AVI
January 16th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
this does not work.
try: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1274687923573634720
protected videos can not be downloaded the way you say.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:16 am
Hi, I tried to download a google video - using the instructions above - but it doesnt work !! Video to download is
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8146344291595038205&am...
Appreciate any help - as I need this video on my computer - thanks
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Protected videos cannot be downloaded.
March 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
DOES NOT WORK
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
IT DOESN’T WORK!!!!! CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO DO IT???????
PLEASE!!!!!