Why does my downloaded video have no sound, and how to fix it

If you downloaded a video and it has no sound, the cause is almost always that you picked a video-only track. At high resolutions (1080p, 4K), many platforms store the video and the audio separately; if you select the option marked as "video only," the file downloads without sound. The fix is to choose the full-quality option, which combines video and audio into a single file.

Why this happens at high resolution

Platforms like YouTube use a system (DASH) that serves 1080p or 4K video as a track separate from the audio, to save bandwidth. A good downloader merges both tracks automatically when you pick "best quality." The problem only arises if you manually choose a loose video track. PullVid combines video and audio for you at high qualities, so the result comes with sound.

How to download with sound guaranteed

1. In the format list, choose the full-quality option (the one marked "best" or that shows video + audio), not a track labeled "video only."
2. If in doubt, pick a resolution like 720p, which usually comes as a single file with audio included.
3. Download and check: the file should play both picture and sound in any player.

Other causes of "no sound"

• The original video had no audio: some clips (X GIFs, certain silent videos) don't include a source sound track.
• Your player doesn't support the audio codec: try opening it with VLC, which plays almost anything. We cover it in a downloaded video that won't play.
• Your device's volume or mute: check the obvious before downloading again.

If the sound is there but is out of sync with the picture, that's a different situation that we cover in audio and video out of sync when downloading. And if what you want is exactly the opposite —just the audio— use the MP3 converter.