Downloading video content from Stream Classic and uploading it to a new location


Introduction

This knowledge article describes how to download content from your video library in Stream Classic to prepare for the Stream Classic retirement. Before you download your content, we ask that you visit the U of T Stream Classic Retirement webpage for an overview of your options, how to get support and answers to frequently asked questions.

Downloading content from Stream Classic

If you plan on manually downloading your Stream Classic videos prior to the August 29 retirement, please follow these steps carefully.

Step 1 - Review your videos

Before downloading your videos, look through your list of videos in Stream Classic and make a note of the videos you want to keep. You can access your video library directly using this URL: https://web.microsoftstream.com/studio/videos. In some cases, you might only want to keep a few videos. When you decided which videos to keep, you should also think about any of the following items associated with each video: 

  1. Captions: You do not need to download your video’s captions if you are going to re-upload your video to Stream on SharePoint: in Stream on SharePoint, you can generate captions for any videos you upload there. However, if you have custom captions associated with the video, you can download these separately (see instructions below). 
  2. Description: If your video has a description you want to keep, you can copy and paste it into a Word document so you have it to add it to the video description when you have uploaded it elsewhere. 
  3. Thumbnails: In Stream Classic, video thumbnails are generated by default. However, in some cases you may have added an image to use as a custom thumbnail. While you cannot download your custom thumbnails, you will be able to add a new custom thumbnail in Stream on SharePoint. 

Step 2 - Download your videos and any associated content

When you have decided which videos you want to keep, you are ready to start downloading your videos and any associated content such as captions. 

To download your videos, do the following:

  1. Go to your video list. To the right of each video, you will see an options menu:
    Stream Classic options menu 
  2. Click on the three-dot icon on the far right of the menu. A list of options will appear:
    Stream Classic editing options
  3. Click on Download video. Your video will start downloading to your computer.
  4. Repeat this step for all videos you wish to download.
  5. When your videos have finished downloading, you may wish to organize them into a single folder on your computer to make them easier to upload to OneDrive, SharePoint or another new location. 

To download caption files for videos, do the following:

You only need to download captions if you have customized them and want to retain them. You do not need to download your non-custom video’s captions if you are going to re-upload your video to Stream on SharePoint: in Stream on SharePoint, you can generate captions for any videos.

  1. Go to your video list. To the right of each video, you will see an options menu:
    Stream Classic options menu 
  2. Click on the three-dot icon on the far right of the menu. A list of options will appear:
    Stream Classic editing options
  3. Click on the pencil icon. This will launch the Update video details view. 
  4. On the right side of the Update video details view, there is a menu called Options. In this menu next to Captions you will see a link that says Download file. Click on this text, and a VTT file with the video's captions will automatically start downloading onto your computer:
  5. On the left side of the Update video details view you will also see a menu called Details. You can copy and paste the video description from this menu into a Word document to save for later.

    Note: It is not necessary to download your video captions unless you have edited them significantly or uploaded a custom version. Stream on SharePoint can generate captioning for all uploaded videos. 

Uploading Stream Classic content to a new location

Once you have successfully downloaded your Stream Classic videos and any associated content such as captioning, you can move your videos to a new location of your choice. The University has several video storage options available to you:

Steps to upload Stream Classic content to your personal OneDrive 

1. Sign in to Microsoft 365 using your U of T credentials then click the waffle icon at the Top left corner, then select One Drive:  


2. Click Upload 

 

3. You can organize the videos that you have downloaded from Stream Classic into folders and upload the videos in a bulk

You can choose to upload multiple Files or a Folder: 

This way, you can easily manage and access your videos from one place and they will be automatically displayed on the Start Page on the new Stream.