Bilibili Downloader FAQ

Q: What is the difference between BV and AV?

AV is the older numeric ID (like av170001) and BV is the newer alphanumeric ID — every video has both, and they point to the exact same video. Bilibili switched to BV IDs years ago, but old links and references using AV IDs still resolve correctly. Either one works when you paste it into a downloader.

Q: Where do I find the BV ID in a Bilibili link?

It is the part right after /video/ in the URL — for example, in bilibili.com/video/BV1xx411c7mD, the BV ID is BV1xx411c7mD. On the phone app you usually get a short b23.tv link instead; paste that into the link inspector and it will expand it and show you the full BV ID.

Everything you need to know about downloading Bilibili videos: how links and BV IDs work, what quality you can expect, how to save on iPhone and Android, how to fix common problems, and what the legal and safety picture looks like. Every answer below is written by the SaveBili team from real questions people search for.

Getting started

Can you download Bilibili videos?

Yes — publicly available Bilibili videos can be downloaded on any device with a browser. Copy the video link (or its BV ID), paste it into a downloader like SaveBili, pick your quality, and save the MP4. It works on phones, tablets, and computers, and you do not need to install anything. More: SaveBili — free Bilibili video downloader

How do I download a Bilibili video?

Open the video in the Bilibili app or on the website, tap Share and copy the link (even a short b23.tv link works), then paste it into the box on bbvideosaver.com. Choose the resolution you want and hit download — the file saves as MP4 in seconds. Public videos need no account, no app, and no signup. More: SaveBili

Can I download Bilibili videos without the Bilibili app?

Absolutely — everything happens in your browser, so the Bilibili app is optional. A web-based downloader reads the public video page directly from the link you paste, which is why people without a Bilibili account can still save videos. Just make sure the video itself is public and not deleted or region-locked. More: Best Bilibili downloader

How do I download a Bilibili video as MP4?

MP4 is the default output of SaveBili and nearly every Bilibili downloader, because it plays on virtually every phone, tablet, TV, and computer without conversion. One thing to remember: MP4 is a container format, not a quality guarantee — a 480p MP4 and a 1080p MP4 are both “MP4,” so always check the resolution label next to the download button. More: Bilibili video format guide

Do Bilibili downloads have a watermark?

Downloads made from the direct video stream do not get an extra watermark added by the downloader — you receive the video as Bilibili serves it. If the uploader baked a logo or text into the video itself, that is part of the original content and stays in the file. If you share or re-upload a video, keep the creator’s credit intact. More: SaveBili

How do I download a Bilibili video thumbnail?

Paste the video link into SaveBili and use the Bilibili link inspector — it resolves the link and shows you the video’s cover image at its full original resolution so you can save it directly. That is the same image Bilibili uses as the video poster. More: Bilibili link inspector

Links & IDs

What is a BV ID?

The BV ID is Bilibili’s current video identifier — a code like BV1xx411c7mD that uniquely identifies one video. Every video page URL contains its BV ID (for example, bilibili.com/video/BV1xx411c7mD), and you can paste either the full link or just the BV code into SaveBili. More: Bilibili video links & BV IDs explained

What is the difference between BV and AV?

AV is the older numeric ID (like av170001) and BV is the newer alphanumeric ID — every video has both, and they point to the exact same video. Bilibili switched to BV IDs years ago, but old links and references using AV IDs still resolve correctly. Either one works when you paste it into a downloader. More: Bilibili video links & BV IDs explained

Where do I find the BV ID in a Bilibili link?

It is the part right after /video/ in the URL — for example, in bilibili.com/video/BV1xx411c7mD, the BV ID is BV1xx411c7mD. On the phone app you usually get a short b23.tv link instead; paste that into the link inspector and it will expand it and show you the full BV ID. More: Bilibili link inspector

What is b23.tv?

b23.tv is Bilibili’s official URL shortener. When you tap Share in the Bilibili app, it generates a compact b23.tv link instead of the long video URL — it is legitimate, safe, and resolves to the real video page. You can paste a b23.tv link straight into SaveBili; no need to expand it yourself. More: Bilibili link inspector

Why does the Bilibili app share b23.tv links?

Short links are easier to fit into chat apps and social posts, so the Bilibili share button compresses every video link through b23.tv. Nothing is lost in the process — the short link leads to the same video with the same BV ID and quality options, and downloaders accept it just like a full URL. More: Bilibili video links & BV IDs explained

Quality

Can I download Bilibili videos in 1080p?

Yes, when the video was uploaded in 1080p — most public uploads offer it, and SaveBili lists every available resolution so you can pick 1080p when it appears. If 1080p is missing from the list, the uploader simply did not provide an HD source, so no downloader can create quality that is not there. More: Bilibili video quality guide

Can you download Bilibili videos in 4K?

Some videos do offer 2160p (4K) — usually uploads from creators with professional equipment — and SaveBili will show 4K as an option when the source file exists. 4K files are very large, so if you are unsure how much space or data a file needs, check it with the file size calculator before downloading. More: Bilibili video quality guide

Why is 1080p unavailable on a Bilibili video?

The most common reason is that the uploader’s original file was lower resolution — the quality menu can only show what was actually uploaded. Other causes include anonymous or logged-out viewing being capped at lower quality, and licensed or official content that reserves HD for logged-in users. The fix is to download the highest resolution the video genuinely offers. More: Bilibili video quality guide

Why do some Bilibili videos only show 480p?

Viewers who are not logged in are typically capped at 480p on the Bilibili website, which is why a video can look low-quality in your browser but still have HD files on the server. A downloader reads the full stream list directly, so it can often access the 720p or 1080p versions that the capped web player hides. If the video truly only offers 480p, the source was never uploaded in HD. More: Bilibili video quality guide

Devices

How do I download a Bilibili video on iPhone?

Copy the video link from the Bilibili app or Safari, paste it into SaveBili in Safari, and tap download. The file lands in the Files app under Downloads — from there, tap the share button and choose “Save Video” to move it into your Photos library. No extra app installation is required. More: SaveBili

Can I download Bilibili videos on iPhone without the app?

Yes — you do not need the Bilibili app at all. If someone sends you a b23.tv link over chat, just open it in Safari, copy the URL, and paste it into SaveBili’s download box; the MP4 downloads straight through the browser. This works on any iPhone with a recent iOS version. More: Best Bilibili downloader

How do I download a Bilibili video on Android?

Paste the video link into SaveBili in Chrome (or any mobile browser), pick your quality, and download. Android saves the MP4 to your Downloads folder and your gallery app will pick it up after a media scan — if it does not appear immediately, open the file once from a file manager to trigger the scan. More: SaveBili

Where are Bilibili downloads saved on iPhone?

Safari downloads go to the Files app, in the Downloads folder (check Settings → Safari → Downloads if you changed the location). The file will not appear in Photos automatically — open Files, find the MP4, tap share, then “Save Video” to add it to your photo library. More: SaveBili

Where do downloads go on Android?

Chrome and most mobile browsers save to the internal storage Downloads folder. Your gallery app usually indexes new videos on its own; if a file does not show up, restart the gallery or open the MP4 from your file manager once, which forces Android to scan it. More: SaveBili

Problems

Can I download Bilibili videos with sound?

Yes. Bilibili delivers video and audio as separate streams, so a good downloader merges them into a single MP4 with the soundtrack included — SaveBili does this automatically. If your file has no sound, it was saved from the video-only stream; re-download it and make sure you pick the option with audio. More: Why Bilibili downloads have no sound

Why does my Bilibili download have no sound?

Bilibili uses DASH streaming, which splits every video into a picture stream and a separate audio stream — some tools grab only the picture and produce a silent MP4. The fix is simple: download the video again with a tool that merges audio, like SaveBili, or pick the download option explicitly labeled with audio. The original video’s sound was never lost; it just was not included in the first file. More: Why Bilibili downloads have no sound

Why can’t I download a Bilibili video?

Run through the usual suspects: the video may be deleted, private, or region-locked; the link may be incomplete (copy the full URL including the BV ID); or Bilibili may be having a temporary outage. First confirm the video actually plays on bilibili.com — if it plays there but the download fails, try the troubleshooting steps for your exact error. More: Bilibili download not working

Why is my Bilibili download failing?

Mid-download failures are usually a shaky connection, an expired browser session, or a very large 4K file timing out on mobile data. Retry on stable Wi-Fi, re-paste a fresh copy of the link, and if the file is huge try a lower resolution — a 1080p version of the same video is far more forgiving. If failures repeat across different videos, the downloader service itself may be temporarily down. More: Bilibili download not working

What does a “403 Forbidden” error mean when downloading?

A 403 means Bilibili’s server refused the request — usually because of hotlink protection or an expired download session, not because of anything wrong with the video itself. Copy a fresh link from the video page and try again; if it persists, wait a while and retry, since these blocks are often temporary rate limits. More: Bilibili download not working

Why does Bilibili say a video is unavailable in my region?

Licensed content — especially official anime and partnered series — is restricted to specific countries, and region-locked videos cannot be fetched by downloaders either. We do not recommend workarounds that bypass regional restrictions, and neither does Bilibili’s terms of service. Check whether the same series is officially available where you live, for example on bilibili.tv or a licensed streaming service. More: Bilibili download not working

Safety & legality

Is it legal to download Bilibili videos?

It depends on your country and, more importantly, on the video: downloading your own uploads, Creative Commons content, or videos whose creators allow downloading is generally fine, while downloading copyrighted works without permission is not. Bilibili’s terms of service also place their own limits on downloading. When in doubt, stick to content you own or have permission to save — this is general information, not legal advice. More: Is a Bilibili downloader safe?

Can I download Bilibili videos for personal use?

“Personal use” is not a blanket exemption — copyright rules differ by country, and some places have private-copying exceptions while others do not. The safest rule is content-based rather than use-based: if it is your own video, Creative Commons, or the creator explicitly allows downloads, you are on solid ground. Keep redistribution out of the picture entirely. More: Is a Bilibili downloader safe?

Do I need a Bilibili account to download videos?

No — public videos download without any account, and SaveBili never asks for your Bilibili login. Some licensed or members-only content does require a signed-in account on Bilibili itself, and that kind of gated content is outside what a downloader should be used for. As a rule, never enter your Bilibili credentials into any downloader site. More: Best Bilibili downloader

What is the best Bilibili downloader?

The best one for most people is a free web tool that needs no install, no signup, and no login — which is exactly what SaveBili is built to be. Desktop apps suit heavy batch users, and browser extensions add convenience but come with update and permission headaches. Whatever you choose, avoid any tool that asks for your Bilibili password or payment details. More: Best Bilibili downloader

Try SaveBili — free Bilibili video downloader

A quick reminder: only download videos you own, created yourself, or have permission to save — your own uploads, Creative Commons content, or videos whose creators allow downloading. Respect copyright and Bilibili’s terms of service.