# History and re-encoding · OmniGet Docs

- URL: https://getomniget.com/docs/history
- Updated: 2026-10-02
- OmniGet 1.0.0

> Free, open-source yt-dlp GUI for Windows, macOS and Linux. Paste a link to save video, audio and files from 1,000+ sites, or run AI coding agents.

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Downloads

# History and re-encoding

History keeps a list of the downloads that finished or failed, so you can open their folder or download them again after the queue is cleared. From the queue or from History you can also re-encode a video to a smaller file.

## Where it is

-   **Downloads › History** (the tab next to **Downloads** at the top of the page).
-   When the queue is empty, **View download history** opens it too.

## How to use it

### Find and reopen a download

1.  Open **Downloads › History**. The newest downloads come first, with the time since they finished.
2.  A finished item shows its size; a failed one shows the error.
3.  Click **Show in folder** to open the file’s folder.
4.  Click **Download again** to put the link back in the queue. OmniGet shows **Re-queued for download** and switches to the queue.

**Download again** uses your **Default folder** and your default **Video quality** from **Settings › Downloads**, not the choices you made the first time.

History keeps the latest 200 downloads. Older ones drop off the list on their own.

### Clear History

Click **Clear history** at the top and confirm **Clear the entire download history? This won’t delete the files.** Only the list is erased; your files stay where they are.

### Re-encode a video

Re-encoding makes a smaller copy of a video you already downloaded.

1.  Find the video in the queue (a **Complete** item) or in **History**.
2.  Click **Re-encode (compress)**. The **Re-encode video** window opens.
3.  Under **Codec**, pick one:
    -   **HEVC / H.265**, marked **recommended**: the best balance of quality and size; plays on most modern devices.
    -   **H.264 / AVC**: plays everywhere; files are larger.
    -   **AV1**: the smallest files and the slowest encode; check that your devices play it.
4.  Turn on **Replace original file** if you want the new file to take the place of the old one.
5.  Click **Re-encode**. The button shows **Encoding…** until it is done.

When it finishes, OmniGet tells you how much space it saved and which encoder it used. It uses your graphics card’s encoder when one works on your computer, and falls back to a software encoder when none does, which is slower.

Without **Replace original file**, the new video is saved next to the original as `name.reencoded.mp4`. With it on, OmniGet swaps the new file in only if it is smaller; if it is not, both files stay.

Warning

With **Replace original file** on, the original is deleted after a successful swap. Keep a copy if you may want the untouched file.

## Options

| Option | What it does | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Codec** | The video format of the new file. | **HEVC / H.265** |
| **Replace original file** | Puts the new file in place of the original when it is smaller. | Off |

## Shortcuts

| Action | Keys |
| --- | --- |
| Switch between the queue and **History** (on the Downloads page) | `⌃H` (macOS) / `Ctrl+H` |

## Common problems

### This link has expired or had its access key removed for privacy.

OmniGet removes the secret keys of signed links before it saves them in History. **Download again** cannot rebuild those links; paste the original link on Home.

### Re-encode (compress) is missing

The button appears only on finished videos whose file is still on disk. Audio files and failed downloads do not have it.

### The re-encode fails

Re-encoding needs FFmpeg. Check that it shows **Installed** in [Dependencies](https://getomniget.com/docs/dependencies). The error message lists each encoder OmniGet tried and why it failed.

[Previous**← Queue**](https://getomniget.com/docs/queue) [Next**Video tools with AI →**](https://getomniget.com/docs/video-ai)