Import from URL — powered by the CLI

picut.app can't download a video by itself (the browser blocks cross-site media). The PiCut CLI runs the download on YOUR machine and IP, merges it locally with mediabunny, and hands it to the editor — nothing through our servers.

  1. 1On the SAME computer where your browser runs, open a terminal and run: npx picut-cli@latest bridge (no install, no admin needed; needs Node.js ≥ 22 — extraction and muxing are built into the CLI, no yt-dlp or ffmpeg).
  2. 2Run: picut bridge — it installs a background service that starts now and auto-starts on login, then returns to the prompt (stop with `picut bridge --stop`).
  3. 3Back in the editor: File → Import from URL, paste a link, pick a quality. Chrome or Edge. When Chrome asks to access your local network, click Allow.
sudo npm i -g picut-cli picut bridge # or, no install: npx picut-cli@latest bridge

Prefer a global install? `sudo npm i -g picut-cli`, or set a user npm prefix. `npx` avoids permission (EACCES) errors.

Downloads happen on your computer and your IP; nothing goes through PiCut's servers. (Safari won't let an HTTPS page reach a local bridge — use Chrome or Edge.)

Open the editor