Methods of Installation

yt-dlp can be installed using various methods depending on your platform, preferences, and use case. This comprehensive guide covers all available installation methods to help you choose the best approach for your needs.

Overview of Installation Methods

Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
Release Binaries	Most users	Simple, self-contained	Larger file size
pip (Python)	Python users	Latest features, flexible	Requires Python
Package Managers	System integration	Easy updates	May lag behind releases
Building from Source	Developers	Cutting-edge features	Complex setup

1. Release Binaries (Recommended for Most Users)

Pre-compiled binaries are the simplest installation method for most users. They include all dependencies and don't require Python installation.

Windows

Standard Installation

1. Download: Get yt-dlp.exe from the official releases page
2. Install: Place the executable in a directory within your PATH
3. Verify: Open Command Prompt and run yt-dlp --version

Recommended Locations

System-wide (requires admin rights)

C:\Windows\System32\

User-specific

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\

Custom directory (add to PATH)

C:\Tools\yt-dlp\

Adding to PATH

Add directory to PATH permanently

setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Tools\yt-dlp"

macOS

Intel Macs

1. Download: Get yt-dlp_macos from releases page
2. Rename and Make Executable:

mv yt-dlp_macos yt-dlp

chmod +x yt-dlp

3. Install System-wide:

sudo mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin/

Apple Silicon (M1/M2) Macs

1. Download: Get yt-dlp_macos (universal binary works on both architectures)
2. Handle Security Warnings:

Remove quarantine attribute if needed

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine yt-dlp

3. Install:

chmod +x yt-dlp

sudo mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin/

Linux

Universal Linux Binary

1. Download: Get yt-dlp from releases page
2. Make Executable and Install:

chmod +x yt-dlp

sudo mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin/

Alternative Installation Locations

User-specific installation (no sudo required)

mkdir -p ~/.local/bin

mv yt-dlp ~/.local/bin/

echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc

source ~/.bashrc

Auto-update Feature

All binary installations support self-updating:

Update to latest release

yt-dlp -U

Update to specific version

yt-dlp -U --update-to 2023.12.30

2. Python Package Installation (pip)

Best for Python users who want the latest features and flexible installation options.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.9+ (CPython) or Python 3.10+ (PyPy)
• pip package manager

Basic Installation

Standard installation with common dependencies

python3 -m pip install -U "yt-dlp[default]"

Minimal installation (core features only)

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

Advanced Installation Options

With browser impersonation support

python3 -m pip install -U "yt-dlp[default,curl-cffi]"

Development/pre-release version

python3 -m pip install -U --pre "yt-dlp[default]"

From GitHub master branch

python3 -m pip install -U "yt-dlp[default] @ https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/archive/master.tar.gz"

Virtual Environment (Recommended)

Create isolated environment

python3 -m venv yt-dlp-env

Linux/macOS

source yt-dlp-env/bin/activate

Install in virtual environment

python3 -m pip install -U "yt-dlp[default]"

Using pipx (Recommended for CLI Tools)

Install pipx

python3 -m pip install --user pipx

Install yt-dlp with pipx

pipx install "yt-dlp[default]"

3. Third-party Package Managers

Convenient for users who prefer system package managers for software management.

Windows Package Managers

Chocolatey

Install Chocolatey (if not already installed)

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force

[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

Install yt-dlp

choco install yt-dlp

Update

choco upgrade yt-dlp

Scoop

Install Scoop (if not already installed)

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

irm get.scoop.sh | iex

Install yt-dlp

scoop install yt-dlp

Update

scoop update yt-dlp

winget (Windows Package Manager)

Install

winget install yt-dlp.yt-dlp

Update

winget upgrade yt-dlp.yt-dlp

macOS Package Managers

Homebrew

Install Homebrew (if not already installed)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Install yt-dlp

brew install yt-dlp

Update

brew upgrade yt-dlp

MacPorts

Install MacPorts (requires separate installation) Then install yt-dlp

sudo port install yt-dlp

Update

sudo port selfupdate

sudo port upgrade yt-dlp

Linux Package Managers

Debian/Ubuntu (APT)

Add official PPA (most up-to-date)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yt-dlp/stable

sudo apt update

sudo apt install yt-dlp

Alternative: Use distribution package (may be older)

sudo apt install yt-dlp

Fedora/CentOS/RHEL (DNF/YUM)

Fedora

sudo dnf install yt-dlp

Enable additional repositories if needed

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

Arch Linux (pacman)

Official repository

sudo pacman -S yt-dlp

AUR for development versions

yay -S yt-dlp-git

openSUSE (zypper)

sudo zypper install yt-dlp

Alpine Linux (apk)

Add community repository

echo "http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community" >> /etc/apk/repositories

Install

doas apk add yt-dlp

4. Building from Source

For developers and users who want the absolute latest features.

Prerequisites

Install build dependencies

python3 -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel hatchling

Standard Build

Clone repository

git clone https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp.git

cd yt-dlp

Install dependencies

python3 -m pip install -U -r requirements.txt

Build and install

python3 -m pip install -e .

Creating Standalone Executable

Install PyInstaller

python3 -m pip install pyinstaller

Build executable

python3 -m PyInstaller --onefile --name yt-dlp yt_dlp/__main__.py

Development Installation

Clone and install in development mode

git clone https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp.git

cd yt-dlp

python3 -m pip install -e ".[default]"

5. Container/Docker Installation

For containerized environments and isolated execution.

Docker

Run directly

docker run --rm -v "$(pwd):/downloads" jauderho/yt-dlp:latest [OPTIONS] URL

Build custom image

cat > Dockerfile << 'EOF'
FROM python:3.11-alpine
RUN pip install yt-dlp[default]
ENTRYPOINT ["yt-dlp"]
EOF

docker build -t my-yt-dlp .

docker run --rm -v "$(pwd):/downloads" my-yt-dlp [OPTIONS] URL

Podman

Similar to Docker

podman run --rm -v "$(pwd):/downloads:Z" jauderho/yt-dlp:latest [OPTIONS] URL

6. Mobile and Alternative Platforms

Android (Termux)

Install Termux from F-Droid In Termux:

pkg update

pkg upgrade

pkg install python

pip install yt-dlp[default]

Optional: Install FFmpeg

pkg install ffmpeg

iOS (iSH)

Install iSH from App Store In iSH terminal:

apk update

apk add python3 py3-pip

pip3 install yt-dlp[default]

Chrome OS (Linux container)

Enable Linux development environment In Linux terminal:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install python3-pip

pip3 install --user yt-dlp[default]

Installation Verification

Basic Verification

Check version

yt-dlp --version

Test functionality

yt-dlp --simulate "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"

Check available extractors

yt-dlp --list-extractors | head -20

Comprehensive Testing

Test format listing

yt-dlp -F "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"

Test with different sites

yt-dlp --simulate "https://vimeo.com/123456789"

yt-dlp --simulate "https://soundcloud.com/example/track"

Check post-processing capabilities

yt-dlp --list-post-processors

Choosing the Right Installation Method

For Beginners

1. Windows: Use release binary (yt-dlp.exe)
2. macOS: Use Homebrew (brew install yt-dlp)
3. Linux: Use distribution package manager or release binary

For Power Users

1. Python developers: Use pip with virtual environments
2. System administrators: Use package managers for easier updates
3. Content creators: Use pip for latest features and customization

For Developers

1. Contributing: Build from source with development installation
2. Testing: Use pip with pre-release versions
3. Integration: Use pip in virtual environments

Keeping yt-dlp Updated

Binary Installations

Self-update (recommended)

yt-dlp -U

Check for updates without installing

yt-dlp --update --simulate

pip Installations

Update to latest stable

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp[default]

Update to development version

python3 -m pip install -U --pre yt-dlp[default]

Package Manager Installations

Follow your package manager's update process

macOS Homebrew

brew upgrade yt-dlp

Windows Chocolatey

choco upgrade yt-dlp

Debian/Ubuntu

sudo apt upgrade yt-dlp

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -Syu yt-dlp

Troubleshooting Installation Issues

Common Problems

1. Permission denied: Use --user flag with pip or virtual environments
2. Command not found: Check PATH environment variable
3. SSL errors: Update certificates or use --trusted-host with pip
4. Dependency conflicts: Use virtual environments or minimal installation

Getting Help

• Official documentation: GitHub repository
• Issue tracker: Report bugs and get support
• Community forums: Reddit, Discord, and other community platforms

Choose the installation method that best fits your technical comfort level, system requirements, and intended use case. Each method has its advantages, and you can always switch between methods if your needs change.