Hotstar is one of the most popular Indian-based web platforms for watching movies and popular TV shows on SmartPhones. They allow SmartPhone users to download films and shows on Mobile Phones for offline watching.
It sounds great, but there are some untold restrictions that many users don't know. The downloaded videos are encrypted, and only the Hotstar App can read them.
In other words, only the Hotstar App can play those video files.
You cannot play them on other media players like VLC, GOM, etc. The second restriction is the inability to change the download path of Hotstar video downloading.
Hotstar App, by default, saves downloaded video files in the Mobile Phone's Internal memory.
Those having lower Internal memory on their Mobile handsets face issues with exhausting Phone memory by Hotstar downloaded files.
This tutorial explains how to change the Hotstar video download path to external memory, or even external memory storage, and convert the Hotstar downloaded video files to regular video files using professional applications.
Default Hotstar Video Download Path
Most users wonder where to look for Video files downloaded from Hotstar on their Mobile Phones. I do not blame them because the Hotstar app does not provide data about the path to the storage folder.
There is no official method to find where it saves the video files.
Hotstar allows users to play the downloaded files through their App and gives an option to delete videos once the user watched them.
However, it is possible to see the downloaded video files on the device through File Manager. All we need to know is the download path.
The default download path on Hotstar is:
Internal Storage > Android > data > in.startv.hotstar > files > downloads
You can find the video files downloaded using the Hotstar App by looking at the location given.
Transfer Hotstar Downloaded Files from Phone to External Memory
You can copy the files stored in the download location in Phone Internal Memory to any external memory device. You can even copy the files to an SD card.
However, these files are encrypted. So, you should copy them back to the exact location if you want to play them using Hotstar App.
Convert Hotstar Video files to Normal Video Files and Download
It is possible to convert movies and TV shows hosted on Hotstar to a regular video file format and download them. To perform this task, we need third-party applications.
I suggest you check the local rules regarding downloading video files from Hotstar. In some countries, it is illegal.
Flash Video Downloader (FVD) by NimbusWeb
I download Hotstar videos using an Opera Browser Extension named Flash Video Downloader (FVD). You can install this free Hotstar Video downloader from Opera Extensions.
Install Flash Video Downloader (FVD) by NimbusWeb on Opera Browser
Load Hotstar website on Opera
Play the video
Click the blue icon to select the download format
Videoder
My favorite application to convert encrypted Hotstar video files to ordinary video files and download them is Videoder.
The official website to download Videoder is https://www.videoder.net
Note: Videoder no longer supports direct downloading from Hotstar.
The direct link to download the Videoder App is
http://videoder.br.uptodown.com/android/download
PS: It is important to note that Videoder is unavailable on the Google Play Store due to the strict guidelines about downloading applications.
This App includes ads, and sometimes you may get annoying ads (as per my personal experience).
Author: Alex George
Alex George is the Chief Editor and founder of CoreNetworkZ Tech Solutions. He is a senior software developer with 20 years of experience.
You can contact him at alex.george@corenetworkz.com.
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ReplyDeleteGet Free Access to Hotstar Premium Movies and Shows
Where will be the videos downloaded from hotstar saved? I searched the entire Samsung Galaxy note but I could not find the Hotstar videos downloaded. I use Android 6
ReplyDelete@Anish Gupta
ReplyDeleteYou can find downloaded hotstar video files on your Note in Internal Storage. The exact location to find those video files:
Internal Storage > Android > data > in.startv.hotstar > files > downloads
but, when i open those steps in pc by connecting the phone using usb cable, i didn't see the download video !
Deletehow to access downloaded video like normal video file
ReplyDeleteIf you want to access and play the downloaded video files, the only option is via Hotstar app. To access and view the downloaded video files in its encrypted format, follow the route below.
ReplyDeleteInternal Storage > Android > data > in.startv.hotstar > files > downloads
videos downloaded via videoder doesnt play the last 20 mins while pendrive connected to television
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThanks Buddy Really Helpfull
ReplyDeleteThank you. Your tips helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteBut now videoder is not support. The videos can be open by only videoder app.....
ReplyDeleteWhat will do?????
thank for saying the storage space
ReplyDeleteNow I can copy those videos to my laptop......Thanks a lot!!!
@ NMJ
ReplyDeleteHotstar seems increased their security. I will soon update the article with other options.
Videoder no longer seems to work for Hotstar as I'm unable to download and play anything at all for that matter. Kindly suggest any other third party application that would help me download videos from hotstar. Please...
ReplyDeleteIs it illegal watching Hotstar from Soudi Arabia? I can't access programs from Hotstar from both mobile app and website. Plz tell me how to Watch Hotstar in Saudi Arabia?
ReplyDelete@ Rejith Menon
ReplyDeleteI do not know whether the Saudi Arabian laws prohibit people from watching Hotstar content. If Hotstar is blocked in Saudi Arabia, you may need good VPN / Proxy to access it.
https://www.corenetworkz.com/2009/05/access-websites-if-domain-name-and-ip.html
Hi priyanka,NMJ & @lex George.
ReplyDeleteTry this path /storage/sdcard1/videoder/.cp_data/.data to access the downloaded hotstar files in videoder app.
Hope this will help you guys.
This is insane! This is the only hack man. You're amazing. It worked for me. Whoever reading this ❣️
DeleteHi Frnds use this path to /storage/sdcard1/videoder/.cp_data/.data to access downloaded hotstar files in videoder app.hope this will help you guys.
ReplyDelete@ Thangamani
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving the Videoder download location.
/storage/sdcard1/videoder/.cp_data/.data this path is empty in my mobile, even i have downloaded 4 videos from hotstar
ReplyDelete@ Customer
ReplyDeleteOpen FileManager on your Android Phone and follow the path.
Internal Storage > Videoder
You can see the downloaded files here.
I am not able to see the downloaded video from vidioder. Even I check all the root folder. Cleaner is saying you have 5 GB residual files but not showing. Why to do to them them in card.
ReplyDelete@ Unknown
ReplyDeleteHave you checked the path I provided in the article?
Internal Storage > Videoder
I downloaded a tamil movie on videoder through hotstar. But the app does not show any subtitles. Please resolve as soon as possible
ReplyDeleteIf me and my friend are using same hotstar account, can I watch a video in my mobile, which my friend downloaded in his mobile?
ReplyDelete@ Raj
ReplyDeleteYou can play Hotstar video files on the same phone (on which you have downloaded the video) only as per the latest Hotstar settings.
i use Allavsoft to Download any Hotstar video, any live sports video, any movie video, any Indian TV show, etc for you to conveniently play the downloaded Hotstar video in any location, US, Canada, India and many other countries.
ReplyDeletei use Allavsoft to Download any Hotstar video, any live sports video, any movie video, any Indian TV show, etc for you to conveniently play the downloaded Hotstar video in any location, US, Canada, India and many other countries.
ReplyDelete@ Tomminy
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your favorite App to download and convert Hotstar video files.
Hi sir I'm not able to see the videos which I downloaded from videoder to Hotstar. Is there any option to download the videos from Hotstar please suggest me
ReplyDelete@ Jhansi
ReplyDeleteOpen the file manager and go to Internal storage. Open Videoder folder to see the files you have downloaded through the Videoder App.
I can no longer download videos from hotstar. Any way around it? Plus, does anyone a good app to convert .webm file to mp4 without losing quality and without any change to original file size?
ReplyDelete@ Toobs.S
ReplyDeleteIf you open Hotstar in the Opera browser, you can download the video files in mp4 format using the Opera video download app.
Hey Alex. Thank you so mu5ch for sharing tgis. Will you please share the name of the opera video downloader. I couldn't find it on playstore
ReplyDeleteI can download from hotstar in Android but I don't know where the downloaded file...I looked up all the path mentioned above. :(
ReplyDelete@ Toobs S
ReplyDeleteIt is an Opera browser Extension.
Search for Flash Video Downloader (FVD) in https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/?hl=en-US
I cannot find the files downloaded via videoder from hotstar. Searched all the files and folders in my file manager still i am unable to do so. Plz help.
ReplyDelete@ Baani, Sowmya
ReplyDeleteVideoder no longer supports downloading from Hotstar in normal video format. You should try Flash Video Downloader from Opera.
Dear Author,
ReplyDeletePlease note that the video is getting successfully downloaded in the location mentioned by u, however inside downloads folder there are multiple folders are getting created with numbers(like 1,2,3,4...) and inside each folder more than one files are getting downloaded with .exo format. Now please tell me two things, 1st how I can get it in a single file so that it could be easier to convert into any format and 2nd why multiple folders are getting created on the first place?
Ricky
Dear Author,
ReplyDeletePlease note that the video is getting successfully downloaded in the location mentioned by u, however inside downloads folder there are multiple folders are getting created with numbers(like 1,2,3,4...) and inside each folder more than one files are getting downloaded with .exo format. Now please tell me two things, 1st how I can get it in a single file so that it could be easier to convert into any format and 2nd why multiple folders are getting created on the first place?
Ricky
@ Ricky
ReplyDeleteWhich download application you have used to download from the Hotstar?
I think you have downloaded video files directly from the Hotstar app using the download option. If so, you cannot use that file to play the video on other devices.
Internal Storage > Android > data > in.startv.hotstar > files > downloads
ReplyDeletebut file not shown
@ surendra jha
ReplyDeleteIf you have downloaded the video using the HotStar app, the file must be in the encrypted format. You need a third-party application to download the video files from the Hotstar.
As you said i have searched the path the video is not there but the video is downlaod in offline, can you please tell me how to resolve this
ReplyDeleteHi Venky,
ReplyDeleteWhich tool you have used to download the video?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer
ReplyDeleteKindly download the mi explorer from play store. And then go to videoder. Please set the settings to show hidden files.. you'll get it.
i recommend the most powerful RAM to Android converter - iDealshare VideoGo.
ReplyDeleteCan i access to a hotstar premium video free?
ReplyDeleteFrom their coding
Is it possible to watch Premium hotstar movies for free?
ReplyDelete