Res-Downloader: Grab Videos from WeChat, Douyin & More
What Is Res‑Downloader?
Res‑Downloader (short for resource downloader) is an open‑source application written in Go and powered by the Wails framework. It lets you capture a wide range of media – videos, audio, images and even live‑stream feeds – from mainstream Chinese platforms such as WeChat (video‑号 & 小程序), Douyin, Kuaishou, Xiaohongshu, KUGA music, QQ Music, and m3u8 streams.
The project is maintained on GitHub under the Apache‑2.0 license and currently boasts more than 14k stars, 1.7k forks, and a community of developers who contribute new features and bug fixes.
Why Use Res‑Downloader?
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Cross‑platform | Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux (even Win7 with older releases) |
| Wide platform support | One tool for WeChat, Douyin, Kuaishou, etc. |
| Proxy-based capture | Mimics a browser‑level proxy to intercept network traffic, similar to Fiddler or Charles |
| Fast, lightweight UI | Built with Go+Wails + Vue; no heavy dependencies |
| Open source | Inspect the code, fork, or add custom plug‑ins |
| Active community | Frequent releases, quick issue resolution |
Getting Started
1. Install the Application
- Download the Release – Grab the latest binary for your OS from the releases page.
- Unzip / Extract – Place the executable in a known folder.
- Run – Double‑click
res-downloader.exe(Windows) or./res-downloader(macOS/Linux).
Tip: On macOS you may need to allow the app in “Security & Privacy” settings because it is not from the App Store.
2. Start the System Proxy
- Click the “Launch Proxy” button on the home screen.
- The UI will show your proxy details, typically
127.0.0.1:8899. - Verify in a browser or curl that
http://127.0.0.1:8899reports a proxy status.
3. Choose Resource Types
From the left panel, you can enable or disable resource types. For most users the default All setting works fine.
4. Open the Target Page
Open the media page in an external browser (e.g., a WeChat mini‑program or a Douyin clip). Res‑Downloader will automatically sniff the traffic, detect the media URL, and populate a list on the home screen.
5. Start Downloading
Select one or more items in the list and click Download. The tool supports concurrent downloads and shows progress in real time.
Common Use Cases
| Platform | What to download | How to do it |
|---|---|---|
| WeChat Video‑号 | Short video + description | After proxy is started, open the video in the Mini‑Program, then return to Res‑Downloader – the video will appear automatically. |
| Douyin / Kuaishou | Video clips, songs | Same procedure – open the page, the app intercepts the m3u8 or mp4 URLs. |
| Live‑Stream | OBS recommended for recording | Res‑Downloader can detect the stream source; use OBS to capture the stream directly. |
| Music (QQ/KUGA) | MP3 files | The app lists downloadable tracks; simply click download. |
Troubleshooting
- Slow or failed downloads – Use external download managers like Neat Download Manager or Motrix for large files.
- Resources not detected – Make sure the proxy is running and the system proxy settings are enabled.
- Cannot start proxy – Check firewall rules; on Windows ensure the executable is allowed by Windows Defender.
- After closing the app network stops – Remember to manually reset the system proxy (
netsh winhttp reset proxyon Windows,networksetup -setwebproxystate Wi-Fi offon macOS,sudo systemctl restart NetworkManageron Linux).
Conclusion
Res‑Downloader is a robust, developer‑friendly tool that brings the convenience of platform‑specific downloaders into one lightweight, cross‑platform application. Its proxy‑based technique is simple to use and powerful enough for everyday media harvesting. Whether you’re saving a popular Douyin dance for later, archiving a WeChat video‑hot, or collecting audio tracks from QQ Music, Res‑Downloader gives you the speed and flexibility you need.
Open‑source best practice – Feel free to fork the repo, tweak the code, or submit pull requests. The community welcomes enhancements, such as support for additional platforms or improvements to the UI.
Happy downloading!