A downloader built into the app
HookWise downloads link imports with yt-dlp, an open-source downloader that HookWise sets up during first-run setup. The video is saved into your project at the quality you pick. If the source has subtitles or auto-captions, they come along when available, so a YouTube video can have a transcript without running Whisper.
Downloads run as background jobs. Paste several links, one per line, and HookWise downloads them one after another while you keep working. If a download breaks halfway, start it again and it resumes from where it stopped. Google Drive files go into the same queue after you sign in with your Google account.
Picking the right quality
Choose Best or 1080p when you plan to crop to 9:16. A crop keeps only a slice of a wide frame, so more source pixels mean a sharper reel. 720p is a lighter download and fine for a quick check of whether an episode has good moments. Audio only is enough when all you need is the transcript, for example to read a podcast before deciding what to clip.
Local files cover what links cannot: raw camera files in mp4, mov, mkv, webm, m4v or avi, and audio files. Drag in one file or a whole batch. Files in a format HookWise cannot read are skipped, and HookWise tells you how many.
Limits of link import
Link import needs an internet connection and works with public content. One link brings in one video. A playlist link is refused, so paste the links of the single videos instead. Sites change how they serve video from time to time, and when a download fails, Settings has a button to update yt-dlp.
Import works on every plan and needs no Gemini key. Some sites limit how many requests they accept, and HookWise shows a message when that happens, so wait a while and try again. Only import videos you have the rights to use, such as your own uploads or a client's footage shared with permission.
