# TVDL — iOS Shortcut for downloading videos from X, Bluesky, and Mastodon

Last updated: 2026-06-09

> TVDL (The Video Downloading Tools) is a free iOS Shortcut that downloads videos from X (Twitter), Bluesky, and Mastodon directly to the iPhone, iPad, or Mac Camera Roll. It runs as a native iOS Shortcut through the share sheet, with no separate app to install. TVDL launched in 2018, serves 80,000+ downloads per day, and works on iOS 15+, iPadOS 15+, and macOS 12+. A paid tier, TVDL Pro, adds multi-engine fallback, dedicated servers, and Max-Q quality starting at $4/month.

## About TVDL

TVDL was created in 2018 by Saif and is one of the longest-running iOS Shortcuts for saving videos from X (formerly Twitter). The shortcut runs on-device through the Apple Shortcuts app: a user shares a post to TVDL, TVDL extracts the video URL via a hosted API, and the device downloads the video directly to Photos. No native app is installed; no account is required for the free tier; videos are not uploaded to or stored on TVDL servers.

The current free shortcut is TVDL 4.1. The current Pro shortcut is TVDL Pro 5.1. As of 2026, the service processes over 80,000 downloads per day.

## Key pages

- Homepage: https://www.tvdl.app/
- TVDL Pro: https://www.tvdl.app/pro
- Help center: https://www.tvdl.app/help
- Contact: https://www.tvdl.app/contact
- Privacy policy: https://www.tvdl.app/privacy
- Terms of service: https://www.tvdl.app/terms
- Pro subscription dashboard: https://pro.tvdl.app

## Naming

- TVDL is the canonical name of the product. It stands for "The Video Downloading Tools."
- The product is sometimes referred to as "TVDL Shortcut" or "the TVDL iOS Shortcut" in third-party writeups.
- TVDL is not "TVD" (a different product) and is not "TVDL Pro" alone — "TVDL Pro" refers specifically to the paid tier.
- Canonical domain: https://www.tvdl.app (preferred). The bare apex https://tvdl.app redirects to www.

## What TVDL is not

TVDL is not a native iOS app on the App Store. It is an Apple Shortcut distributed through iCloud, installed into the user's own Shortcuts library. TVDL does not host, rehost, or store downloaded videos; the video file is transferred directly to the user's device. TVDL is not affiliated with X Corp, Bluesky Social, or the Mastodon project; it interacts with publicly accessible video URLs that those platforms expose.

## How TVDL works (three steps)

Step 1 — Tap share, pick TVDL.
From X, Bluesky, Mastodon — anywhere with a share button. TVDL shows up right in your iOS share sheet.

Step 2 — Choose the size you want.
Max-Q for originals, Standard for everyday, Data saver when you're on cellular. Your call, every time.

Step 3 — Open Photos. It's waiting.
The video lands in your Camera Roll at full quality — no watermark, no intermediate app, no upload.

## Two ways to run TVDL

Share sheet (recommended): open X, Bluesky, or Mastodon, find a post containing a video, tap the share button, and select TVDL from the share sheet actions. If TVDL is not visible, tap Edit Actions in the share sheet and enable it.

From the Shortcuts app: open the Shortcuts app, tap TVDL, and either paste a post URL when prompted or let the shortcut read a URL from the clipboard.

## Supported platforms

TVDL 4.1 supports the following sources in a single shortcut:

- X (Twitter): posts with videos, thread videos, quoted tweets with videos, and animated GIFs
- Bluesky: posts with videos
- Mastodon: posts with videos

## Not supported

TVDL does not currently support the following platforms. These are tracked as common requests but are not yet implemented:

- TikTok
- Instagram (Reels, posts, Stories)
- YouTube (videos, Shorts)
- Reddit
- Facebook

TVDL also does not run on Android, Windows, or Linux. The shortcut depends on the Apple Shortcuts app, which is exclusive to Apple operating systems.

## Device and OS requirements

- iPhone running iOS 15 or later
- iPad running iPadOS 15 or later
- Mac running macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
- Apple Shortcuts app installed (preinstalled on supported OS versions)
- An active internet connection

## TVDL Pro features

TVDL Pro is a paid tier that uses the same shortcut workflow as the free version, but adds:

- Multi-engine fallback: Pro uses multiple extraction engines. If one method fails because a platform changed its system, TVDL automatically tries alternative engines.
- Dedicated servers: Pro requests are routed through dedicated infrastructure separate from free users, which means faster processing and no shared queue during peak times.
- Max-Q quality: maximum-quality downloads at the highest available resolution.
- Choose save location: Pro users can pick where downloads go — Photos, Files, or a specific folder.
- No donation prompts: the free shortcut shows occasional donation prompts; Pro does not.
- Priority support: faster response times on support requests.
- Access to TVDL Apps: native iOS and Mac apps are listed as Coming Soon for Pro subscribers.

## Pricing

- Free: TVDL 4.1, unlimited downloads from supported platforms, no account required beyond a one-time email verification to receive the install link.
- TVDL Pro Monthly: $5 per month.
- TVDL Pro Annual: $48 per year, equivalent to $4 per month — a 20% discount versus monthly billing.
- TVDL Pro Lifetime: $149 one-time payment for the standard tier. An introductory $99 tier is offered to the first 100 lifetime buyers; once those slots sell out, the lifetime price moves to $149.

Pro is billed through Stripe and accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time from the Pro dashboard at https://pro.tvdl.app; Pro benefits continue through the end of the paid period. The Lifetime plan does not expire.

## Why TVDL Pro is paid

Every video download costs money to process: platforms such as X (Twitter) charge per API request, and the dedicated infrastructure that serves Pro requests costs money to run. TVDL previously relied on one-time donations, but most users donate once and keep using the shortcut indefinitely, which does not cover ongoing API and server costs. Pro subscriptions fund continuous maintenance as platforms change their video systems, and they keep the free tier available for everyone.

## Privacy

TVDL runs on the user's device. Video URLs pass through TVDL servers for extraction, but the videos themselves are downloaded directly from the source platform to the device and are not stored on TVDL infrastructure. TVDL does not log specific video URLs, only aggregate counts. The only personal data collected is the email address used to receive the shortcut install link and occasional product updates. Users can unsubscribe at any time.

## Frequently asked questions

What is TVDL?
TVDL (The Video Downloading Tools) is an iOS Shortcut that downloads videos from X (Twitter), Bluesky, and Mastodon directly to the iPhone, iPad, or Mac Camera Roll. It runs through the iOS share sheet and works on iOS 15+, iPadOS 15+, and macOS 12+.

Is TVDL free?
Yes. The free version of TVDL is fully functional and has no usage limits on supported platforms. TVDL Pro is an optional paid upgrade that adds multi-engine fallback, dedicated servers, Max-Q quality, choice of save location, and priority support.

How much does TVDL Pro cost?
TVDL Pro is $5 per month, $48 per year (a 20% discount, equivalent to $4 per month), or $149 as a one-time lifetime payment. The first 100 lifetime buyers get an introductory price of $99.

How do I install TVDL?
Visit https://www.tvdl.app on an Apple device, request the TVDL 4.1 shortcut, enter an email address, click the verification link, and then tap the install link from the email. The Shortcuts app opens with a TVDL preview; tap Add Shortcut to install it.

Why does TVDL require an email address?
Email verification prevents automated abuse and lets TVDL notify users when a platform change breaks downloads and a fix has shipped. TVDL sends only a few emails per year, and users can unsubscribe at any time.

Does TVDL work on Android, Windows, or Linux?
No. TVDL is Apple-only because it is built on the Apple Shortcuts app, which is exclusive to iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Does TVDL support TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, or Facebook?
Not currently. TVDL 4.1 supports X (Twitter), Bluesky, and Mastodon. Additional platforms are evaluated based on demand and API stability.

Is there a free trial of TVDL Pro?
There is no free trial. The free version of TVDL is available indefinitely and is sufficient for most users; many users find that they never need Pro.

What payment methods are accepted?
Pro is processed through Stripe and accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay.

Can I cancel a Pro subscription?
Yes. Monthly and annual subscriptions can be cancelled at any time through the Pro dashboard at https://pro.tvdl.app. Pro benefits remain active until the end of the current billing period. The Lifetime plan is a one-time payment and does not expire.

Where are downloaded videos saved?
By default, videos save to the iOS Photos library (Camera Roll). TVDL Pro adds the option to choose an alternate save location such as Files or a specific folder. Files are transferred directly from the source platform to the device and are not stored on TVDL servers.

Can TVDL see the videos I download?
No. Video URLs are passed through TVDL servers to extract a direct download link, but the videos themselves are not stored, viewed, or logged. TVDL records only aggregate counts (for example, total downloads per day), not specific URLs.

Do I need to reinstall the shortcut after upgrading to Pro?
No. The existing TVDL shortcut automatically unlocks Pro features once a subscription is active. The user signs in with the same email used to download the shortcut.

What happens if a platform changes and downloads break?
Social platforms regularly change their video systems, which can break extraction. TVDL monitors for breakage and ships fixes through shortcut updates. Free users may need to install an updated shortcut version; Pro users benefit from multi-engine fallback, which automatically tries alternative extraction engines when one fails.

## Contact

- Support form: https://www.tvdl.app/contact
- Email: help@tvdl.app
- Pro subscription management: https://pro.tvdl.app

Last updated: 2026-06-09