Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vidlens free?

Yes — completely free and open source. No account, no subscription, no tracking.

Which video platforms are supported?

YouTube, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, Odysee, VK, direct .mp4/.webm/.mov links, and local files up to 2 GB.

Can Vidlens download YouTube or TikTok videos directly?

Not on its own — streaming platforms cipher-sign their stream URLs and block cross-origin access, so a page with no server cannot fetch them. Vidlens gives you three routes: the free Vidlens Downloader desktop app (~1.8 MB, saves video + subtitles), the platform's official download/offline feature, or the platform's own offline feature. Then attach the file and it's bundled straight into your Offline Pack ZIP.

Only download videos you have the right to save — your own uploads, Creative-Commons content, or where the platform permits offline copies.

Can I get true one-click downloads?

Yes — with the free Vidlens Downloader desktop app. A web page cannot fetch protected streams, but a desktop app can: paste the link, pick a quality, and it saves the video plus its subtitles. Then attach the file here and it plays offline, bundles into your Offline Pack and can be transcribed. Download it here — Windows, macOS and Linux.

What is the Offline Pack?

A ZIP folder with the video (when available), an interactive offline viewer (viewer.html), your comments in JSON/CSV/TXT/SRT, and the transcript. Unzip anywhere, open viewer.html — zero internet needed. See How it works and use cases.

Can I leave voice comments?

Yes. In the comment or reaction dialog, hit Record a voice note. Vidlens keeps the audio and also transcribes it on your device with Whisper, so every note is searchable text and the original recording. Play it back from the comment list; the audio is bundled into the Offline Pack (a voice/ folder) and embedded directly inside the HTML report.

Can I watch the video with the subtitles, and translate them?

Yes to both. Once you have subtitles, a CC button appears next to the reaction bar and overlays them on the player, in sync with playback. For translation there are two routes, both running on your device: tick write the subtitles in English when generating (free, no extra model), or use Translate in the transcript panel to convert existing cues between English and French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Dutch or Arabic. The original text is always kept — one click switches back, and SRT exports follow whichever version you are viewing.

What is comments.srt?

Your timestamped comments as a standard subtitle file. Open the video in VLC or mpv, load comments.srt as a subtitle track, and your notes appear on top of the video at the right moments.

Where is my data stored? Is it private?

Locally, in your browser. Vidlens has no server, no account and no analytics — your comments never leave your device except in the export files you download yourself.

Can I use it for team video feedback?

Yes — export a single-file HTML (video embedded for local files) or an Offline Pack and send it to anyone. They just open it in a browser.

What's the maximum file size?

Local videos up to 2 GB play in the app and fit in the Offline Pack. The single-file HTML export (base64-embedded video) is capped at 150 MB — use the Offline Pack beyond that.

Does transcription work for every video?

Live speech-to-text works for local videos in Chrome/Edge. For platform videos, copy the platform's transcript and use Import — timestamps are parsed automatically.

Can I export only comments, without reactions?

Yes — untick "Include reactions" at the top of the Export menu. Every format then contains text comments only. A video-only pack with zero comments works too.