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How to access my video's direct links

This feature requires a Standard, Advanced, Pro, Business, Premium, or Enterprise plan.

This feature enables you to access your converted video files, hosted on Vimeo, for playback or download via a third-party player or web page. It also addresses important privacy and analytics considerations. This article explains how to access direct links for your videos.

In this article:

What to know before accessing a video's direct links

Download links are permanent. Anyone with the link can download your videos. To prevent this, delete the video from Vimeo, or as an alternative, you can:

  • Use the Send file option. When sharing that page, you can always turn off the download links.
  • You can also share your video page with downloads temporarily enabled.
  • The direct links under both the Play the Video and Download the Video dropdown menus contain the same files. For downloads, we return a special header to instruct the browser to save the file to the local disk instead of playing it back. However, this does not prevent downloading the Play URL (or prevent playing back download URLs, if used in a player).

How to access my video's direct links for third-party playback

To access direct links for your video that you can play in a third-party player or web page:

  1. Select a video from the Library.
  2. Click the 3 vertical dots in the top right corner of the video settings page. 
  3. Select Video file links from the dropdown menu.
    A screenshot of a video player on a dark background. The video is paused at the beginning (00:00). An open context menu, accessed via the three-dot menu icon, is displayed on the right. The menu options include "Download," "Move," "View video page," "Replace," "Review links," and "Video file links," which is highlighted by a red box. The last option is "Delete." 
  4. Choose Play the video from the dropdown menu.
    A modal window titled "Video file links" with the header text, "Anyone with access to these links will be able to view and download your video." A dropdown menu is set to "Play the video." Below the dropdown, there is a list of streaming links: HLS (m3u8) and DASH (mpd), followed by video quality options: HD 1080p, HD 720p, and SD 540p. Each option has a "Copy Link" button.
  5. Select the Copy Link option.
  • We recommend open-source players like Dash.js and HLS.js for video playback. You'll see these along with progressive MP4, HLS, and DASH links.
  • HLS is Apple's adaptive streaming method, sending video over HTTP for native playback on Apple devices. HLS.js can extend HLS playback to non-Apple platforms.
  • DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) links are used for Vimeo-hosted files in other players, typically on non-Apple devices or environments. DASH supports more features and offers greater customization than other streaming protocols.
  • To tell if content is streaming via HLS or DASH:
    • HLS: Compatible with Apple devices (Apple TV, Safari, iOS).
    • DASH: Compatible with all browsers and environments except Apple products.

⚠️Note: Sharing a direct playback link shouldn't allow video downloads, but Chrome browsers may offer a download option due to Chrome's functionality, not Vimeo's. Other browsers will not have this option.

How to access my video's direct links for downloading

To access direct links for your video that you can play in a third-party player or web page:

  1. Select a video from the Library.
  2. Click the 3 vertical dots in the top right corner of the video settings page. 
  3. Select Video file links from the dropdown menu.
  4. Select Download the video from the dropdown menu.
    A modal window titled "Video file links." A dropdown menu is set to "Download the video." Below the dropdown, there is a list of video quality options for direct download links: HD 1080p (mp4, 1920 x 1080), HD 720p, SD 540p, SD 360p, and SD 240p. Each quality option is followed by a "Copy Link" button.
  5. Select the Copy Link button for the version of the video you'd like the link for.

Making the most of third-party players

Privacy

  • Vimeo's privacy and custom embed settings do not apply to third-party player links.
  • Third-party player links do not expire.
  • When sharing, copy the link directly from your video settings, not the redirected link in the browser.
  • Modifying the URL will result in a 403 error.

Analytics

  • Data gathering is limited for non-Vimeo players; only the approximate number of video file plays can be determined.
  • As of August 7, 2024, a separate metric called Third-party Impressions is provided, representing the number of times a video file is loaded via a third-party player.
  • Third-party view approximations are no longer included in the total views count in analytics.

What happens if I downgrade my membership?

If you downgrade to Free, Starter, Basic, or Plus, any direct links you've shared or embedded will stop working(for example, your embedded video will no longer load). If you decide to reupgrade to Standard, Pro, or a higher plan, your links will automatically reactivate.

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