Install ClipGrab Video Downloader in Ubuntu 14.04

Last updated: April 4, 2019

ClipGrab Youtube Downloader

This quick tutorial shows you how to install ClipGrab, a simple video downloader and converter, and create a launcher icon in Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty LTS.

ClipGrab is a simple graphical tool that allows you to search and download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Metacafe, and other video sites. It allows to save original video format or convert to MPEG4, MP3, WMV, OGG.

This free app supports HD 1080p videos after ffmpeg or avconv is installed.

ClipGrab search video

ClipGrab download video and convert format

ClipGrab has an Ubuntu PPA, but Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty is not supported yet. Below steps will show you how to install the .tar.gz package from its web site.

For easy way, you can grab the deb directly from ubuntuupdates. Remember to install libav-tools to get HD 1080p support.

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open the terminal. When it opens, run below command so the app will support HP 1080p videos.

sudo apt-get install libc6 libgcc1 libqt4-network libqt4-xml libqtcore4 libqtgui4 libqtwebkit4 libstdc++6 libvorbis0a libogg0 libavcodec-extra-54 libav-tools

ClipGrab HD 1080p support

2. Download ClipGrab for Linux from its website:

Download ClipGrab

So far, it is clipgrab-3.4.2.tar.gz.

3. Extract the package to /opt/ for global use:

cd /opt/ && sudo tar -xvzf ~/Downloads/clipgrab-*.tar.gz

In file browser, go to Computer -> opt -> clipgrab-3.4.2 and you’ll see the app executable files. Run below command to allow executing them as program and finally click one to launch ClipGrab.

cd /opt/clipgrab-3.4.2/ && sudo chmod +x *

ClipGrab Executable

Create a launcher icon for ClipGrab:

Besides “lock to launcher” after you launched ClipGrab, you can create a shortcut icon manually by running below command:

sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/clipgrab.desktop

Paste below content when the file opens. You may change the PATH to exec and icon to yours.

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Name=ClipGrab
Exec=/opt/clipgrab-3.4.2/clipgrab-3.4.2.x86_64
Icon=/home/handbook/Pictures/clipgrab-logo-icon.png
Comment[de_DE]=Videos von Online-Portalen wie YouTube herunterladen und konvertieren
Comment=Download and convert videos from various portals (e.g. YouTube)
Categories=Application;Network

ClipGrab launcher

Save the file and done.

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I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via [email protected] Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1 |

8 responses to Install ClipGrab Video Downloader in Ubuntu 14.04

  1. Thanks, but you have made a little mistake:
    sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/clipgrab.desktop
    (you have forgot a “i” in applications ;) )

  2. Felippe HD de Castro July 21, 2014 at 1:35 am

    It Works fine in Xubuntu 14.04, thanks Ji m.
    In portuguese brazil: Funcionou bem no Xubuntu 14.04, obrigado Ji m.

  3. Packaging for 14.04 was difficult as ffmpeg is dropped with Ubuntu 14.04. A new package creates a symlink from /usr/bin/avconv to /usr/bin/ffmpeg as a temporary workaround. Have fun :)

  4. Thank you very much,I used this app in Windows. I did not know it can be used in Ubuntu! I am so exited!

  5. Hello!
    This program can download a whole playlist from youtube and converted to mp3?

  6. It works perfect in my Ubuntu 14.04 Excellent tutorial. Thanks a lot!!

  7. i encounter this problem on ubuntu 14.04 any help plc ????
    (gedit:6407): Gtk-WARNING **: Calling Inhibit failed: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.gnome.SessionManager was not provided by any .service files

  8. I often use allavsoft to download all YouTube 1080p videos to 1080p, 720p, 480p, MP4, FLV, AVI, WMV, MKV, MOV, etc.