Collect watermark-free Douyin videos and photos on your local machine
Copy a link from your browser and paste it, and the tool saves the original quality video or photo to your folder. It analyzes the complex structure of web pages to locate the actual media files. It also lets you monitor progress when downloading multiple videos and automatically skips files you have already downloaded.
Desktop app vs. command-line tool
The repository offers two ways to use the software. The first is a desktop app called 'Douzy', which provides a graphical interface for pasting links and tracking downloads on Windows and macOS. The second is a Python-based command-line interface (CLI), suitable for automation tasks via scripts. However, due to changes in the Douyin platform's security policies, the command-line tool currently blocks individual video downloads. Therefore, the desktop app is recommended for routine downloads, while the command-line tool is limited to profile-based bulk downloads or specific search functions.
Bulk downloads and duplicate prevention
A key feature of this tool is its ability to download multiple pieces of content at once by specifying a user's profile. You simply enter the profile address in the configuration file and specify the number of items or date range to download. Files that have already been downloaded are recorded in a database, so re-running the tool does not result in duplicate downloads. It also automatically detects missing files for re-downloading and includes logic to prioritize original quality, switching to an alternative quality if that fails.
Installation and initial setup
Using the command-line tool requires an environment with Python 3.9 or higher installed. After cloning the repository, you must install the required libraries and the Playwright browser engine. Copy the example file to create the configuration file config.yml, then run the cookie retrieval tool to log in via the browser. When the browser window opens, log in manually and press Enter in the terminal to save the cookies. Finally, enter the profile address to download in the configuration file and run the python run.py -c config.yml command to start the download.
Things to check before use
This tool is recommended for learning and personal data management purposes, and you must comply with copyright and platform rules. Specifically, the command-line tool may be unable to download individual videos or music because the Douyin platform has strengthened its request verification system. Creating new cookies or retrying may not resolve this block, so consider the desktop app first if you need stable downloads. Also, note that the live streaming recording feature is experimental, and HLS sources may be saved as playlist files rather than playable videos.
