Coursera Downloader

Overview

Halfway through a Coursera specialization and the course is being retired next month. Or the Coursera Plus subscription is about to lapse with lectures still left to review. Either way, the knowledge you were counting on is about to vanish. This extension saves any Coursera lecture as a standard MP4 file before that happens. Open the lecture, click the extension icon or right-click, pick your preferred resolution, and the video downloads right to your computer.

It works across courses, specializations, and guided projects, covering anything with a video player on Coursera. The extension grabs the best available quality and shows real-time progress with speed and time remaining so you know exactly when it will finish.

Everything happens locally in your browser using your existing Coursera login. No credentials are stored, no data leaves your machine, and no third-party services are involved. Build your offline lecture library while you still have access. Try 3 free downloads to start, no credit card needed.

Why It Exists

• Build an offline lecture library for flights, commutes, and travel days
• Preserve access to courses before they retire or subscriptions lapse
• Keep study sessions private with on-device processing and storage

Key Features

• Detects Coursera lecture videos across courses, specializations, and guided projects
• Lists every available quality tier with format labels and estimated file sizes
• Downloads MP4 sources directly or converts HLS/DASH streams into MP4 automatically
• Right-click “Download with Coursera Downloader” for quick saving during study sessions
• Progress window shows stage, speed, ETA, and offers pause/cancel controls
• Stores licence details and quality preferences locally with no analytics or tracking
• Works with your existing Coursera login—no manual cookie export required
• Desktop notifications let you know when lectures finish downloading
• Supports Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Opera on Windows, macOS, and Linux

How It Works

• Open a Coursera lecture: Navigate to any Coursera course, specialization, or guided project lecture page and let the video player fully load.
• Click the extension icon or use right-click: The extension reads Coursera's player metadata and lists every available quality tier with format labels and estimated file sizes.
• Pick your preferred resolution: Select from available quality options. The extension handles both direct MP4 sources and HLS/DASH streams automatically.
• Save the lecture as MP4: The file downloads or is stitched locally from stream segments, then saves with the course and lecture name. Desktop notifications alert you when complete.

Reviews

• Perfect for studying on flights (5/5): I download lectures before travel days and the progress window keeps me updated. Every video saves with the course name so review sessions are painless. - Nia Delgado
• Handles Coursera streaming flawlessly (4.9/5): HLS and DASH always caused trouble with other tools. This pulls 1080p files reliably and keeps quality intact. - Jared Kim
• Essential for Coursera Plus (4.8/5): I’m working through a specialization and wanted permanent copies. Downloads stay private, and I can review tough lectures without buffering. - Lailah Suri

Platform Support

Browsers

• Chrome
• Edge
• Firefox
• Brave
• Opera

Operating Systems

• Windows
• macOS
• Linux

Supported Content

• Coursera course lectures and video lessons
• Specialization and guided project videos
• Direct MP4 and HLS/DASH adaptive streams
• Videos from courses you are enrolled in or can preview

Not Supported

• Courses you are not enrolled in or cannot preview
• Captions, transcripts, and supplementary materials
• Safari and mobile browsers
• Batch downloading of entire courses at once

Privacy and Permissions

Supported regions: Worldwide.

Limitations:

• Downloads are launched one lecture at a time, no batch export
• Captions and transcripts must be downloaded separately from the course materials
• Only captures videos you are legitimately enrolled in or can preview
• HLS/DASH stitching requires keeping the browser tab open during processing
• Safari and mobile browsers are not supported
• Available quality depends on what Coursera exposes for each lecture

Permissions:

• downloads: Saves finished lecture MP4s to your downloads folder and keeps the progress interface in sync while each file completes.
• storage: Stores the licence key and preferred quality so the extension stays activated and remembers your settings between sessions.
• activeTab: Detects Coursera lecture players on the tab you are viewing and enables inline controls for quick downloads.
• tabs: Allows downloads to continue if you switch between course tabs and restores the status window when you return.
• scripting: Extracts video stream URLs from Coursera’s player, including HLS and DASH manifests, so the downloader can retrieve the correct files.
• notifications: Sends completion and error alerts so you know when a lecture is ready without watching the tab.

FAQ

How do I download a Coursera lecture?

Open the lecture, click the Coursera Downloader icon, pick your preferred resolution, and keep the tab open while the progress bar completes. The MP4 will save with the course and lecture name.

Can I download entire courses automatically?

Downloads are launched one lecture at a time. There’s no batch export, but you can queue multiple lessons manually.

Does it include captions or transcripts?

No. The extension focuses on video and audio. Download captions or transcripts separately from the course materials if you need them.

Which browsers are supported?

Builds are available for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Opera on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Safari and mobile browsers aren’t supported.

Will it download content I’m not enrolled in?

No. The downloader works within your active Coursera session and only captures videos you’re legitimately enrolled in or can preview.

Why does it request scripting and offscreen permissions?

Scripting reads the player to enumerate stream URLs, and the offscreen context stitches HLS/DASH segments into a single MP4 without freezing your browser.

Is my data private?

Yes. All detection and conversion happen locally. Only licence verification touches remote servers, and no watch history or credentials are stored.

Is this legal?

DISCLAIMER: We are not attorneys and do not offer legal advice. Laws vary by country and platform. For any legal question please consult a qualified legal professional.

We give you full control over download speeds because we believe users should decide how they use their software.

That said, here are a few widely accepted best practices for safe, responsible downloading:

• Only download content you created, own, or have explicit permission from the rights holder to access.

• Protect your personal data by respecting platform rules and rate limits with reasonable download speeds to avoid automated abuse systems putting your account at risk.

• Protect your privacy by using a reputable VPN for IP protection before initiating downloads — this is the VPN we recommend & use.