What is an MPD file?
Updated 28 October 2026 · 4-minute read
You found a link ending in .mpd while trying to save a video, opened it, and got a page of XML code. That's expected: an MPD file isn't a video. It's the recipe for one.
MPD = the manifest of a DASH stream
MPD stands for Media Presentation Description. It belongs to a streaming format called DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP). The MPD lists the available qualities, and where to find the hundreds of short video and audio pieces the player downloads and stitches together while you watch.
DASH vs HLS
DASH and HLS (.m3u8) do the same job in slightly different ways. HLS came from Apple and is everywhere, including every iPhone. DASH is an open standard used by many large platforms. A key practical difference: in DASH, video and audio usually come as separate streams that have to be joined back together. (How HLS works.)
How to save a DASH stream
- Check for DRM first. DASH is often paired with DRM on big streaming services. If it's protected, no legitimate tool can save it. (Why.)
- ffmpeg can read MPD files that aren't protected:
ffmpeg -i "https://example.com/video.mpd" -c copy output.mp4. Like any command-line method, it fails on sites that require the page's cookies or headers. - Look for an HLS version. Many sites offer both. If the page also requests an
.m3u8, save that instead.
Where Vidtuck stands
Honestly: Vidtuck detects DASH streams but can't download them yet. It handles HLS, which is the more common format on ordinary websites, along with direct MP4 and audio files. DASH support is on the list.