4k Video Downloader+: Difference between revisions
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{{Stub}}{{ProductCargo | {{Stub}}{{ProductCargo | ||
| Company | |Company= Interpromo GMBH | ||
| InProduction | |InProduction=Yes | ||
| Logo | |Logo=4K Video Downloader+ logo.svg | ||
| ReleaseYear | |ReleaseYear=2018 | ||
| Website | |Website=https://www.4kdownload.com/ | ||
| ProductLine | |ProductLine= | ||
| Category | |Category=Stream Ripping Software | ||
| Description | |Description=Audio/Video downloading tool. Prior guarantee of updates from lifetime licence no longer honored. | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''4k Video Downloader+''' is a program created by [https://interpromo.co/ InterPromo GMBH] used to download videos from [[YouTube]] and other video sources. | '''4k Video Downloader+''' is a program created by [https://interpromo.co/ InterPromo GMBH] used to download videos from [[YouTube]] and other video sources. | ||
==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
Consumers who purchased a lifetime license for "4K Video Downloader" will no longer receive additional software updates<ref name="4KVD">[https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/ 4K VD no new features] [ | {{Ph-C-CIS}} | ||
Consumers who purchased a lifetime license for "4K Video Downloader" will no longer receive additional software updates<ref name="4KVD">[https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/ 4K VD no new features] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260223005434/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/ Archived])</ref> as the application is being phased out in favor of the newer "4K Video Downloader+". | |||
==Company rebranding== | ==Company rebranding== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 21: | ||
==Code review and versioning== | ==Code review and versioning== | ||
A cursory review of the libraries and files<ref name="4KDL">[[:File:4K DL vs 4K DL Plus Ophaned (New) Files.png|4K DL Update Comparison Archived | A cursory review of the libraries and files<ref name="4KDL">[[:File:4K DL vs 4K DL Plus Ophaned (New) Files.png|4K DL Update Comparison]] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260324170451/https://consumerrights.wiki/images/7/78/4K_DL_vs_4K_DL_Plus_Ophaned_%28New%29_Files.png Archived]).</ref> 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. | 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<!-- There's one incident listed here. Why does this have a category? -->== | ==Incidents<!-- There's one incident listed here. Why does this have a category? -->== | ||
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
===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 | 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=23 Jul 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> but has discontinued it to sell 4k Video Downloader+, starting 26 July 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=26 Jul 2023|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=24 Jan 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
===Widespread downloading issues (''2025)''=== | ===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. <ref>{{Cite web |date=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. <ref>{{Cite web |date=26 Apr 2025 |title=4K Video Downloader failed to download videos |url=https://geekermag.com/4k-video-downloader-failed-to-download-videos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429095239/https://geekermag.com/4k-video-downloader-failed-to-download-videos/ |archive-date=29 Apr 2025}}</ref> | ||
==Questions regarding the company's explanation for a new version== | ==Questions regarding the company's explanation for a new version== | ||
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==Consumer friendly alternatives== | ==Consumer friendly alternatives== | ||
*[https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp yt-dlp] | *[https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp yt-dlp] | ||
*[https://github.com/StefanLobbenmeier/youtube-dl-gui youtube-dl-gui] | *[https://github.com/StefanLobbenmeier/youtube-dl-gui youtube-dl-gui] | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | [[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]] | ||
[[Category:Products]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:05, 24 March 2026
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| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2018 |
| Product Type | Stream Ripping Software |
| In Production | Yes |
| Official Website | https://www.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 26 July 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.
Consumer friendly alternatives
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 4K VD no new features (Archived)
- ↑ 4K DL Update Comparison (Archived).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "4k Video Downloader". Archived from the original on 23 Jul 2012.
- ↑ Klara (26 Jul 2023). "4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers". Archived from the original on 24 Jan 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ↑ "4K Video Downloader failed to download videos". 26 Apr 2025. Archived from the original on 29 Apr 2025.