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===Discontinuation of lifetime license (''2023'')===
===Discontinuation of lifetime license (''2023'')===
The developer has sold Lifetime Licenses for 4k Video Downloader since 2012,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> but has discontinued it to sell 4k Video Downloader+, starting July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid for 4k Video Downloader+ because they are "two different programs".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
The developer has sold Lifetime Licenses for 4k Video Downloader since 2012,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> but has discontinued it to sell 4k Video Downloader+, starting July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid for 4k Video Downloader+ because they are "two different programs," according to InterPromo GMBH.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== Widespread downloading issues (''2025)'' ===
In April 2025, users of both the 4k Video Downloader and 4k Video Downloader+ were experiencing a number of similar issues to one another, with users of the new version stating that the newer version is less user-friendly than before, but can no longer utilize the old version. [5]


==Questions regarding the company's explanation for a new version==
==Questions regarding the company's explanation for a new version==
According to the company's FAQ,<ref name=":0" /> the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is impossible to fix.     
According to the company's FAQ,<ref name=":0" /> the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is simply impossible to fix.     


While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.   
While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.   


Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes.  Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed as the applications are visually identical.     
Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes.  Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed as the applications are visually identical to one another.     


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}5. https://geekermag.com/4k-video-downloader-failed-to-download-videos/
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Latest revision as of 05:00, 20 August 2025

Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub


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4k Video Downloader+
   
    
   
Release Year2018
Product TypeSoftware
In ProductionYes
Company NameInterpromo GMBH
Prior Company NameOpen Media OOO
Official Website 4KDownload.com

4k Video Downloader+ is a program created by InterPromo GMBH used to download videos from YouTube and other video sources.

Consumer impact summary[edit | edit source]

Consumers who purchased a lifetime license for "4K Video Downloader" will no longer receive additional software updates[1] as the application is being phased out in favor of the newer "4K Video Downloader+".

Company rebranding[edit | edit source]

The earlier version "4K Video Downloader" is branded in the "About" menu as "Copyright 2025 Open Media OOO." The latest version "4K Video Downloader+" is branded as "Copyright 2025 InterPromo GMBH". It's not clear at this time if an acquisition was a precursor for the re-release of the program.

Code review and versioning[edit | edit source]

A cursory review of the libraries and files[2] from both applications shows that "4K Video Downloader+" has only six new files not existing in the prior version. See screenshot. Also, about 27 files were eliminated/not included in the new version.

Despite having been released relatively recently, the "4K Video Downloader+" .exe file shows it is version "25.0.0.182", which may suggest it is a continuation of the prior version.

Incidents[edit | edit source]

This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the 4k Video Downloader+ category.

Discontinuation of lifetime license (2023)[edit | edit source]

The developer has sold Lifetime Licenses for 4k Video Downloader since 2012,[3] but has discontinued it to sell 4k Video Downloader+, starting July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid for 4k Video Downloader+ because they are "two different programs," according to InterPromo GMBH.[4]

Widespread downloading issues (2025)[edit | edit source]

In April 2025, users of both the 4k Video Downloader and 4k Video Downloader+ were experiencing a number of similar issues to one another, with users of the new version stating that the newer version is less user-friendly than before, but can no longer utilize the old version. [5]

Questions regarding the company's explanation for a new version[edit | edit source]

According to the company's FAQ,[3] the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is simply impossible to fix.

While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.

Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes. Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed as the applications are visually identical to one another.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 4KVideoDownloader FAQ: No New Features
  2. 4K DL Update Comparison
  3. 3.0 3.1 "4k Video Downloader". Archived from the original on 2012-07-23.
  4. Klara (2023-07-26). "4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers". Archived from the original on 2025-01-24. Retrieved 2025-04-03.

5. https://geekermag.com/4k-video-downloader-failed-to-download-videos/