GuideVideo

Bilibili video quality explained: why 4K needs a different download

Why Bilibili downloads stop at 720p or 1080p as single MP4s, what 1080p+, 4K, 8K, HDR and Dolby Vision mean, and how to get the highest quality file.

By xtoolsloops · Published October 11, 2026

Quick answer

Last updated October 11, 2026

Why can’t I download Bilibili videos in 4K as one file?

Bilibili serves two kinds of stream. Up to 720p (sometimes 1080p) it offers a single MP4 with video and sound together, which a browser can save directly. Higher qualities, such as 1080p+, 4K, 8K and HDR, come as separate video and sound tracks (DASH) that must be joined into one MP4. Many of them also need a logged-in, often paid, account.

If you have downloaded a few Bilibili videos you may have noticed the quality list is shorter than in Bilibili’s own player. That isn’t the downloader hiding options; it’s how Bilibili delivers video.

Two kinds of stream

Single-file MP4 (“progressive”). One file with the picture and the sound inside. It’s the format Bilibili’s mobile web player uses, and any browser can save it as-is. Bilibili offers it at 360p, 480p, 720p and, for some uploads, 1080p. This is what the Bilibili video downloader here saves.

Separate tracks (“DASH”). The picture and the sound are separate files, cut into pieces so the player can switch quality while you watch. Every quality Bilibili has is available this way, up to 8K. To get one MP4 you can play anywhere, the two tracks must be joined (remuxed). That’s quick and lossless, but it has to happen on a computer or server running FFmpeg.

The quality ladder

Bilibili label	Resolution	Single MP4?	Account needed
360P 流畅	640 × 360	Yes	No
480P 清晰	852 × 480	Yes	No
720P 高清	1280 × 720	Yes	No
1080P 高清	1920 × 1080	Sometimes	Usually logged in
1080P+ 高码率	1920 × 1080, higher bitrate	No	Premium
1080P 60帧	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	No	Premium
4K 超清	3840 × 2160	No	Premium
HDR / 杜比视界 (Dolby Vision)	Up to 3840 × 2160	No	Premium
8K 超高清	7680 × 4320	No	Premium

The “account needed” column is what Bilibili asks of its own viewers; it can change.

How to get the highest quality

Paste the link into the downloader. If Bilibili lists qualities above the best single MP4, a Want 4K? box names them.
Follow its link to BiliVideoDownloader, our sister site, which joins the separate tracks into a single MP4 without re-encoding, so nothing is lost.
Choose the codec your device plays: H.264 for older phones and TVs, HEVC or AV1 for smaller files on newer devices.

What about the audio?

The separate sound track is AAC at up to about 192 kbps, with Dolby Atmos or Hi-Res lossless on some videos. If you only want the sound, BiliVideoDownloader’s Bilibili to MP3 saves it as an MP3 or the original M4A.

Back to basics: how to download Bilibili videos.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What is 1080p+ (1080P 高码率) on Bilibili?

The same 1920 × 1080 resolution as 1080p, encoded at a higher bitrate, so fast motion and fine detail hold up better. On Bilibili it is a premium (大会员) quality.

Does Bilibili use H.264, HEVC or AV1?

All three. The single-file MP4s are H.264 (AVC), which plays everywhere. The separate high-quality tracks are offered in H.264, HEVC (H.265) and AV1; AV1 and HEVC give smaller files but need newer devices to play smoothly.

Why is my 1080p download blurry?

If the uploader only sent a low-resolution video, Bilibili’s 1080p option just repeats that file. The downloader labels each MP4 with the real resolution of the upload, so a 360p upload shows as 360p.

How big is a 4K Bilibili video?

Roughly 1 to 3 GB per 10 minutes depending on codec and motion, about 5 to 10 times a 720p file.

Try the Bilibili Video Downloader

Paste a bilibili.com or b23.tv link to download the video as an MP4 in 1080p, 720p or 480p when Bilibili offers it, plus the cover image. Free, no app or login.

Open the Bilibili Video Downloader

Sources

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