How to Download the Seal App and Download Videos with It (2026 Guide)

If you use Android and you want to save videos from the internet, you may have heard of an app called Seal. Seal is a free and open source video and audio downloader. It is built on top of a very powerful tool called yt-dlp. In this post, we will look at what Seal is, what it can do, and how you can use it step by step.

What is Seal App?

Seal is a video and audio downloader app for Android phones. It is made by a developer named JunkFood02 and the code is hosted on GitHub. The app lets you download videos, audio, playlists, and subtitles from many websites using a simple and clean interface.

Seal is not a website. It is not a browser extension. It is a real Android app that you install on your phone. Once it is installed, you just paste a video link into the app and it starts the download for you.

The app is fully open source. This means anyone can look at the code, check how it works, and even help improve it. It is licensed under GPL-3.0, which is a well known open source license that keeps the software free for everyone.

Seal App Features

Seal comes with many useful features. Here are the main ones:

• Download videos and audio from many platforms supported by yt-dlp.
• Embed metadata and thumbnails into audio files. This means when you download a song, it can also carry the title, artist, and cover image.
• Download full playlists with just one click, instead of downloading each video one by one.
• Use aria2c as a built in external downloader to make downloads faster.
• Embed subtitles directly into the downloaded video file.
• Run custom yt-dlp commands using templates, for advanced users.
• Manage all your downloads and command templates inside the app.
• Material Design 3 interface with dynamic colors that match your phone’s theme.
• Simple and easy to use design that does not feel cluttered.

These features make Seal much more than a basic downloader. It gives both beginners and advanced users what they need.

Why Use Seal Instead of Other Video Downloaders?

There are many video downloader apps on the internet, so why should you pick Seal? Here are some simple reasons.

First, Seal is completely free and there are no hidden charges. Many other downloader apps show heavy ads or ask you to pay for basic features. Seal does not do this.

Second, Seal is open source. You or anyone else can check the source code on GitHub. This builds trust because there is nothing hidden inside the app.

Third, Seal is powered by yt-dlp, which is one of the most reliable and widely used downloading tools available. This means Seal can support a huge number of websites and keeps working even when websites change their code, because yt-dlp is updated very often by its community.

Fourth, Seal has a clean Material You design. Many downloader apps look outdated or messy. Seal feels modern and blends nicely with your phone’s look.

Lastly, Seal does not force you to sign up or log in just to download a video. You open the app, paste the link, and download.

Supported Websites in Seal App

Since Seal is built on yt-dlp, it supports the same large list of websites that yt-dlp supports. This includes very popular platforms such as:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook
• Twitter, now known as X
• Reddit
• SoundCloud
• Twitch
• Many other smaller and regional platforms

yt-dlp maintains a full list of supported sites, which has thousands of entries. Seal automatically gets this same support because it uses yt-dlp under the hood. So if yt-dlp can grab a video from a site, there is a good chance Seal can do it too, as long as the site does not block third party tools.

How Seal Works (Powered by yt-dlp)

To understand Seal properly, it helps to understand yt-dlp first. yt-dlp is a command line tool that can extract and download video and audio from websites. It was created as an improved version of the older tool called youtube-dl.

Seal takes this powerful tool and wraps it inside a friendly Android app. So instead of typing commands in a terminal, you just use buttons and menus on your phone screen. Behind the scenes, Seal is sending your request to yt-dlp, which then talks to the website, finds the video file, and brings it back to your phone.

Seal also uses a few other helpful tools alongside yt-dlp:

• aria2c for faster and more stable downloads.
• mutagen to add metadata and thumbnails into audio files.

Because Seal depends on yt-dlp, keeping yt-dlp updated inside the app is important. We will explain how to do that later in this post.

How to Download and Install Seal

You can install Seal in a few different ways depending on what you are comfortable with. Below are the three main methods.

GitHub

The most direct way to get Seal is from its GitHub releases page.

1. Open your phone browser and go to the Seal GitHub repository.
2. Tap on the Releases section.
3. Look for the latest stable release at the top.
4. Under that release, you will see APK files for different processor types, such as arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, x86, and x86_64.
5. For most modern Android phones, download the arm64-v8a version, since this is what most devices use.
6. Once the file is downloaded, tap on it to install.

If your phone blocks the installation, you may need to allow installs from unknown sources in your phone settings first.

F-Droid

F-Droid is a store dedicated to free and open source Android apps. Seal is officially listed there.

1. Install the F-Droid app on your phone if you do not already have it.
2. Open F-Droid and search for Seal.
3. Tap on the app and then tap Install.
4. F-Droid will also notify you automatically whenever a new update is available, which is a nice advantage over manual APK downloads.

APK installation

If you already have the APK file from GitHub, F-Droid’s website, or another trusted mirror, you can install it directly.

1. Download the APK file to your phone.
2. Open your file manager and find the downloaded file.
3. Tap on it to begin installation.
4. If asked, allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps.
5. Follow the on screen steps to finish installing.

Always try to download the APK from the official GitHub page or F-Droid, so you know the file is safe and has not been changed by anyone else.

How to Download Videos Using Seal

Downloading a video in Seal is very simple.

1. Open the app you want to copy the video link from, such as YouTube, Instagram, or any other supported site.
2. Copy the video link.
3. Open the Seal app.
4. Paste the link into the input box on the main screen.
5. Seal will fetch the video details, such as title and available formats.
6. Choose the format and quality you want.
7. Tap the download button.
8. The video will be saved to your chosen download folder.

That is the whole process. There is no complicated setup needed for a normal video download.

How to Download Audio Only (MP3/M4A)

If you only want the sound from a video, like a song or a podcast, Seal lets you download just the audio.

1. Paste the video link into Seal as usual.
2. When the format options appear, look for the audio only option.
3. Choose your preferred audio format, such as MP3 or M4A.
4. Tap download.

Seal can also add metadata like the song title, artist name, and album cover into the audio file automatically, thanks to the mutagen library mentioned earlier. This makes your downloaded songs look proper in music player apps.

How to Download YouTube Videos with Seal

YouTube is one of the most common platforms people use Seal for.

1. Open YouTube and copy the link of the video you want.
2. Open Seal and paste the link.
3. Wait for Seal to load the video information.
4. Pick the video quality you want, such as 720p, 1080p, or higher if available.
5. Tap download and wait for it to finish.

You can download normal YouTube videos, Shorts, and even full playlists using the same basic steps.

How to Download Instagram Videos

Seal can also download videos, reels, and posts from Instagram.

1. Open the Instagram post, video, or reel you want to save.
2. Tap the share icon and copy the link.
3. Open Seal and paste the link.
4. Choose the format you want.
5. Tap download.

Keep in mind that private Instagram accounts may need extra steps, which we will cover in the cookies section later in this post.

How to Download TikTok Videos

TikTok videos can be saved with Seal in a similar way.

1. Open the TikTok video you like.
2. Tap the share button and copy the link.
3. Paste the link into Seal.
4. Select your preferred quality.
5. Tap download.

Many people use Seal for TikTok because it usually saves the video without the TikTok watermark, though this can depend on how yt-dlp handles that specific video at the time.

How to Download Facebook Videos

Facebook videos are also supported.

1. Open the Facebook video and copy its link using the share option.
2. Paste it into Seal.
3. Wait for the app to detect the video.
4. Choose the format and quality.
5. Tap download.

Some Facebook videos might be private or restricted, and those may not download properly since Seal, like yt-dlp, generally needs public access to the content.

How to Download Twitter/X Videos

Twitter, now called X, is another popular platform supported by Seal.

1. Copy the tweet link that contains the video.
2. Paste it into Seal.
3. Let the app load the available formats.
4. Pick your preferred quality.
5. Tap download.

This works well for most public posts on the platform.

How to Download Reddit Videos

Reddit videos and GIFs can be downloaded too.

1. Open the Reddit post with the video.
2. Copy the post link.
3. Paste it into Seal.
4. Choose your format.
5. Tap download.

Reddit videos sometimes have separate audio and video files behind the scenes, but Seal, through yt-dlp, usually merges them into one file automatically for you.

How to Download Entire Playlists

One of the best features of Seal is downloading whole playlists in one go, instead of doing each video separately.

1. Copy the playlist link, not just a single video link.
2. Paste it into Seal.
3. Seal will detect that it is a playlist and show you the list of videos inside it.
4. You can choose to download all videos or select only specific ones.
5. Pick your quality settings.
6. Tap download and Seal will queue up all the videos for you.

This saves a lot of time when you want to save a full course, music album, or series of videos.

How to Select Video Quality

Seal shows you a list of available formats after you paste a link. This list usually includes different resolutions like 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, and sometimes higher, depending on what the original video offers.

1. Paste your video link.
2. Wait for the format list to load.
3. Tap on the quality option you prefer.
4. Confirm and start the download.

If a video was not uploaded in high quality originally, Seal cannot create quality that does not exist. It can only offer what the source website provides.

How to Download 4K Videos

If a video on the original platform was uploaded in 4K, Seal can download it in 4K too, since it fetches whatever formats yt-dlp finds.

1. Paste the video link into Seal.
2. Check the format list for a 4K or 2160p option.
3. Select it if available.
4. Tap download.

Keep in mind 4K files are large, so make sure you have enough storage space and a stable internet connection before starting.

How to Download 1080p Videos

1080p is a very common choice since it offers good quality without a huge file size.

1. Paste the video link.
2. Open the format list.
3. Choose the 1080p option if it is listed.
4. Tap download.

This is usually the sweet spot for most people who want clear video without using too much storage.

How to Download Subtitles

Seal allows you to download subtitles along with your videos, if the video has them available.

1. Paste the video link.
2. Look for a subtitles option in the settings or format screen.
3. Choose the subtitle language you want.
4. Select whether you want it as a separate file or embedded, which we explain next.
5. Tap download.

This is helpful for language learners or anyone who prefers watching videos with subtitles on.

How to Embed Subtitles

Instead of having a separate subtitle file, you can ask Seal to embed the subtitles directly inside the video file itself.

1. Turn on the subtitle option before downloading.
2. Look for an embed subtitles toggle in the settings.
3. Enable it.
4. Download your video as usual.

Once embedded, the subtitles will show up automatically when you play the video in most video player apps, without needing a separate file.

How to Embed Metadata

Metadata means details like title, artist, album, and other information attached to a file. Seal can add this automatically, especially for audio downloads.

1. Go to the settings inside Seal.
2. Find the option related to embedding metadata.
3. Turn it on.
4. Download your audio or video as normal.

This means your music library will show proper song names and artist details instead of random file names.

How to Embed Video Thumbnail into Audio

When you download a song as audio only, Seal can also attach the video thumbnail as the cover art for that audio file.

1. Open the settings in Seal.
2. Find the option for embedding the thumbnail.
3. Enable it.
4. Download your audio file.

Now when you open that file in a music player, you will see a proper cover image instead of a blank icon.

How to Change Download Folder

By default, Seal saves files to a certain folder, but you can change this to any folder you prefer.

1. Open Seal and go to Settings.
2. Look for the download location or download directory option.
3. Tap on it.
4. Choose a new folder using your phone’s file picker.
5. Confirm your choice.

All future downloads will now be saved in this new folder.

How to Rename Downloaded Files

Seal lets you control how your downloaded files are named, instead of using random or messy file names.

1. Go to the settings.
2. Find the file naming or output template option.
3. Choose a naming pattern, such as using the video title, uploader name, or upload date.
4. Save your settings.
5. Download your video or audio as usual.

Your files will now follow the naming style you picked.

How to Use Custom Output Templates

For more advanced control, Seal supports custom output templates, similar to what yt-dlp itself allows. This means you can decide the exact folder structure and file name pattern for your downloads.

1. Open Settings inside Seal.
2. Find the custom output template option.
3. Enter your desired template using the supported placeholders, such as title, uploader, or upload date.
4. Save your changes.
5. Try downloading a video to see if the naming matches what you expected.

This feature is great if you download a lot of content and want everything organized automatically.

How to Use Custom yt-dlp Commands

Since Seal is a GUI for yt-dlp, it also allows advanced users to write and run their own custom yt-dlp commands directly inside the app.

1. Open Seal and go to the custom command section.
2. Create a new command template.
3. Type your yt-dlp command with the options you need.
4. Save the template.
5. Run it whenever you need that specific download behavior.

This is useful for people who already know yt-dlp commands and want more control than the basic Seal interface offers.

How to Use aria2c for Faster Downloads

Seal comes with aria2c built in, which is a fast download tool that can split files into parts to speed up the download process.

1. Open Settings in Seal.
2. Find the option to enable aria2c as the downloader.
3. Turn it on.
4. Download a video or audio file as usual.

Many users notice faster and more stable downloads once aria2c is turned on, especially on larger files.

How to Download Age-Restricted Videos

Some videos, especially on YouTube, are age restricted and normally need you to be logged in to view them. Seal can sometimes handle these using cookies, which we explain in detail in the next section.

1. Export your login cookies from a browser where you are already signed in.
2. Import these cookies into Seal following the steps in the next section.
3. Paste the age restricted video link.
4. Try downloading as usual.

Without valid cookies, age restricted videos may fail to download since the app has no way to prove you are logged in and old enough to view them.

How to Use Cookies in Seal

Cookies allow Seal to access content that normally needs a login, such as private videos, age restricted videos, or content behind a members only wall that you already have access to.

1. Use a browser extension on your computer to export cookies from the website in the standard cookies.txt format.
2. Transfer this cookies file to your phone.
3. Open Seal and go to Settings.
4. Find the cookies option and select your cookies file.
5. Save the settings.
6. Try downloading the restricted content again.

Only use cookies for content you already have legal access to. This feature is meant to help with your own account access, not to bypass restrictions on content you are not allowed to view.

How to Update yt-dlp in Seal

Since websites often change their code, yt-dlp needs regular updates to keep working properly. Seal makes this easy.

1. Open Seal and go to Settings.
2. Find the section about yt-dlp version or updates.
3. Tap the update button.
4. Seal will fetch the latest yt-dlp version through GitHub and install it inside the app.

It is a good habit to check for yt-dlp updates whenever you notice downloads failing, since this often means the website changed something and yt-dlp needs a fix.

Download Queue Explained

When you start multiple downloads, Seal manages them using a download queue. This means your downloads are handled one after another, or in parallel depending on your settings, instead of causing errors or conflicts.

You can view your queue inside the app to see:

• Which downloads are currently running.
• Which ones are waiting in line.
• Which ones have finished.
• Which ones have failed and may need a retry.

This keeps everything organized, especially when you download many videos at once, such as with a playlist.

Batch Downloading

Batch downloading means downloading many videos together instead of one at a time. Seal supports this in a few ways.

1. You can paste multiple links at once if the app supports multi link input.
2. You can use the playlist feature, which is a natural form of batch downloading.
3. You can queue up several individual downloads back to back, and Seal will handle them in order.

This is especially useful for people who like to save many videos from a channel or topic in one session.

Playlist Downloading

We touched on this earlier, but it is worth explaining a bit more since it is one of Seal’s strongest features.

1. Copy the full playlist link, not a single video link.
2. Paste it into Seal.
3. The app will show every video inside that playlist.
4. You can select all videos or only the ones you want.
5. Choose your quality and format settings.
6. Tap download and let Seal handle the rest.

This feature saves huge amounts of time compared to downloading each video in a playlist one by one.

Download History

Seal keeps a history of everything you have downloaded, so you do not lose track of your files.

1. Open the app and go to the history or downloads section.
2. You will see a list of past downloads, often with thumbnails and titles.
3. Tap on any item to open it, play it, or find it in your file storage.

This is helpful when you download a lot of content and need to find something you saved earlier.

Download Manager

Along with history, Seal has a proper download manager that shows the current state of your downloads.

Inside the download manager, you can usually:

• See progress bars for ongoing downloads.
• Pause or cancel a download.
• Retry a failed download.
• Clear completed downloads from the list.

This gives you full control over what is happening at any moment, instead of just guessing.

Background Downloads

Seal supports background downloading, which means you do not have to keep the app open on your screen the whole time.

1. Start a download as usual.
2. Switch to another app or lock your phone.
3. Seal will continue downloading in the background using a foreground service, which also shows a notification about the ongoing download.
4. Once finished, you will get a notification.

This is very convenient for large files or big playlists that take a while to finish.

Material You Interface

Seal uses Material Design 3, also known as Material You, which is Google’s modern design system for Android apps.

This means Seal’s colors can automatically match your phone’s wallpaper and theme, giving the app a personalized look instead of a fixed, generic color scheme. The layout is also clean, with clear buttons and simple navigation, which makes the app comfortable to use even for beginners.

Dark Mode Support

Seal supports dark mode, which is great for users who prefer darker screens, especially at night or in low light.

1. Open Settings inside Seal.
2. Look for the theme or appearance option.
3. Choose between light mode, dark mode, or system default, which follows your phone’s overall theme setting.

Dark mode not only looks nice but can also help save battery on phones with certain screen types, and it is easier on the eyes for many people.

Quick Download Feature

Seal supports a quick download style workflow that fits naturally into how people already browse content on their phones.

1. Copy a video link from any supported app.
2. Open Seal, which may automatically detect the copied link and offer to paste it right away.
3. Confirm your quality choice quickly.
4. Tap download.

This fast flow makes the whole process feel smooth, since you do not need to dig through many screens just to save a video.

Settings Explained

Seal’s settings screen is where you can customize almost everything about how the app behaves. Here is a simple breakdown of common setting areas:

• General settings such as app language and theme.
• Download settings including default video quality, audio quality, and file naming templates.
• Folder settings where you choose where files are saved.
• Subtitle settings for language choice and embedding options.
• Metadata settings for embedding titles, artists, and thumbnails.
• Network settings including cookies and proxy options if needed.
• yt-dlp settings where you can check versions and update the underlying engine.
• Custom command settings for advanced users who want full control using their own yt-dlp commands.

Taking a few minutes to go through these settings once can make your daily use of Seal much smoother, since everything will already be set up the way you like.

FAQs

Seal is a great example of how open source tools can come together to build something genuinely useful. By combining the power of yt-dlp with a clean and modern Android interface, Seal gives users a free, transparent, and reliable way to save videos and audio from their favorite websites. Whether you are a casual user who just wants to save a video for offline viewing, or an advanced user who wants full control with custom commands, Seal has features built for you.