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Using Release Binaries

Release binaries provide the easiest way to use yt-dlp without dealing with Python dependencies or package managers.

Download and Setup​

Windows​

  1. Download the Windows executable (yt-dlp.exe) from the GitHub releases page
  2. Place the executable in a directory that's in your system PATH
  3. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run yt-dlp --version to verify

macOS​

  1. Download the macOS binary from the GitHub releases page
  2. Make the file executable: chmod +x yt-dlp
  3. Move to a directory in your PATH: mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin/
  4. Run yt-dlp --version to verify

Linux​

  1. Download the Linux binary from the GitHub releases page
  2. Make the file executable: chmod +x yt-dlp
  3. Move to a directory in your PATH: mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin/
  4. Run yt-dlp --version to verify

Release Channels​

yt-dlp provides different release channels:

Stable Channel​

  • Thoroughly tested releases
  • Recommended for most users
  • Updated less frequently

Nightly Channel​

  • Latest features and bug fixes
  • Updated more frequently
  • May contain experimental features

Updating Binaries​

Using Built-in Update Feature​

yt-dlp --update

Update to Specific Channel​

yt-dlp --update-to master

Update to Specific Version​

yt-dlp --update-to stable@2023.07.06

Update to Different Repository​

yt-dlp --update-to example/yt-dlp@2023.09.24

Important: When using --update, a release binary will only update to its current channel. Use --update-to CHANNEL to switch channels when a newer version is available.

Advantages of Release Binaries​

  • No Dependencies: Self-contained executable
  • Easy Installation: Download and run
  • Consistent Environment: Same behavior across systems
  • Quick Updates: Built-in update mechanism

Important Notes​

  • Any user experiencing issues with the stable release should install or update to the nightly release before submitting a bug report
  • Always download binaries from the official GitHub releases page
  • Verify the authenticity of downloaded files when possible