How to download Dota 2 replays

People don’t get “good” at Dota 2 overnight. Improving at this complex game requires years of time and effort, and one of the best ways to amplify your growth is by watching gameplay replays – whether it’s your own or someone else’s. In this guide, we’ll teach you how you can download replays in Dota 2.

What Are Dota 2 Replays?

A Dota 2 replay is a saved recording of a match that you can rewatch through the game’s client. Replays in Dota 2 allow you to watch the game from any perspective, so you can switch between your own or another player’s. You also have the option to watch the game with a free camera view to see both teams at the same time. 

When watching a replay, you will also be provided options to pause, fast-forward, slow down, or rewind the game, allowing you to slowly analyze gameplay and notice the little plays and mistakes a player makes. 

Most experienced players will tell you that watching replays is one of the most effective ways to improve your gameplay and grind MMR in Dota 2.

How to Download Dota 2 Replays [Step-by-Step]

In Dota 2, you’re pretty much free to download replays from your own games or from matches played by other players. We’ll teach you how you can do both.

How to Download Your Own Dota 2 Replays

First, we’ll go over how you can download replays from the matches you’ve played:

1. Open the Dota 2 client. 
2. Go to your Profile by clicking your profile picture in the top-left corner.
3. Then, click on History to view your match history.
4. Select the game you’d like to rewatch by clicking on the match.
5. In the bottom-right corner, click the Download Replay button. 

After clicking Download Replay, wait for it to complete downloading. Then, you are free to watch it as many times as you’d like.

How to Download Other People’s Dota 2 Replays

You can also learn a thing or two by watching the replays of professional players. Before downloading, make sure you have the Match ID of the game you want to watch. 

Once you have the Match ID, follow these steps.

1. Open the Dota 2 client. 
2. Go to the Watch tab and select Replays.
3. Paste the Match ID into the search bar at the top-right corner.
4. Click Download Replay on the match details page. 

Once the download is complete, you can open the replay and watch the game. 

How to Find Match IDs for Dota 2 Replays

Every Dota 2 match comes with a unique Match ID, which comes in the form of a 10-digit number. Match IDs are needed to locate specific games in order for you to download them. So, if you’re trying to download another player’s replay, you must have the Match ID ready.

You can find Match IDs for professional tournaments and replays through third-party websites like Dotabuff, OpenDota, and Dota2ProTracker. Here’s how:

1. Visit a Dota 2 database website like Dotabuff, OpenDota, or Dota2ProTracker.
2. Search for the player, team, tournament, or a meta hero you’re interested in. 
3. Locate a specific match you want to watch.
4. On the match page, look for a 10-digit Match ID that is displayed for that game. 
5. Copy the Match ID and paste it into the Replays tab. 

Normally, these websites often organize matches by tournament, date, or hero used, making it easy for you to filter down results and grab Match IDs you’re actually looking for. 

Where Are Dota 2 Replays Stored in the Client?

Once you download a Dota 2 replay, that replay will be stored locally in your client until you delete it or become incompatible. This means you can revisit your downloaded replays any time. 

Here is how you can see a full list of your downloaded replays:

1. Open the Dota 2 client. 
2. Go to the Watch tab and head to the Replays section.
3. At the bottom, look for Saved to Watch Later, and click Downloads, which is right next to it. 

Here, you will see all your downloaded replays and how large the file sizes are. You can rewatch them, or delete them if they’re taking up too much space. Typically, replays take up anywhere from 50 to 100 MB, but matches attached with Dota 2 caster audio can go all the way up to 200 MB. 

Do Dota 2 Replays Expire?

Yes, Dota 2 replays can expire. Your typical normal and ranked matches are available for about 14 days on the Steam servers. After this window, the replay may no longer be downloadable, so make sure to immediately download matches you are planning to review.

On the other hand, pro and tournament matches usually stay available for much longer, especially for tournaments like The International and other Major events.