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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This comprehensive FAQ addresses the most commonly asked questions about yt-dlp, covering everything from basic usage to advanced features. Find quick answers to help you get the most out of yt-dlp.

General Questions​

Q1: What is yt-dlp and how is it different from youtube-dl?​

A: yt-dlp is a feature-rich fork of youtube-dl with significant improvements:

  • Faster downloads and better performance
  • More frequent updates (weekly/bi-weekly vs irregular)
  • Advanced format selection with sorting capabilities
  • SponsorBlock integration for automatic ad-skipping
  • Better platform support with 1,000+ supported sites
  • Enhanced browser integration for cookie extraction
  • Plugin system for extensibility
  • Live stream support and improved error handling

A: yt-dlp itself is legal software. However, how you use it depends on:

  • Copyright laws in your jurisdiction
  • Terms of service of websites you download from
  • Fair use provisions for personal/educational use
  • Content licensing and distribution rights

Best practices:

  • Only download content you have rights to
  • Respect creators' intellectual property
  • Use for personal, educational, or research purposes
  • Check local laws and platform terms of service

Q3: What platforms and operating systems does yt-dlp support?​

A: yt-dlp is cross-platform and supports:

Operating Systems:

  • Windows 7+ (x86, x64, ARM64)
  • macOS 10.15+ (Intel and Apple Silicon)
  • Linux (all major distributions)
  • Android (via Termux)
  • iOS (via iSH)

Supported Sites: 1,000+ including:

  • Video platforms: YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Twitch
  • Social media: TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
  • News sites: BBC, CNN, Reuters, many regional outlets
  • Educational: Khan Academy, Coursera, edX
  • Live streaming: Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Live

Q4: What are the system requirements?​

A: Minimum requirements:

  • Python: 3.9+ (CPython) or 3.10+ (PyPy)
  • Memory: 512MB RAM (more for large playlists)
  • Storage: 50MB for installation + download space
  • Network: Internet connection
  • Optional: FFmpeg for advanced post-processing

Installation and Updates​

Q5: What are the different ways to install yt-dlp?​

A: yt-dlp offers multiple installation methods:

1. Standalone Binaries (Easiest)

Download from GitHub releases - no Python required

# Windows: yt-dlp.exe
# macOS/Linux: yt-dlp

2. Python pip (Recommended for Python users)

pip install yt-dlp

Install for user-only

pip install --user yt-dlp

3. Package Managers

macOS

brew install yt-dlp

Windows

choco install yt-dlp
winget install yt-dlp

Linux (varies by distribution)

sudo apt install yt-dlp
sudo dnf install yt-dlp
sudo pacman -S yt-dlp

Q6: How do I update yt-dlp?​

A: Update methods depend on installation:

Self-updater (for binaries)

yt-dlp -U

pip installation

pip install -U yt-dlp

Package managers

brew upgrade yt-dlp
choco upgrade yt-dlp
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade yt-dlp

Q7: Why am I getting "command not found" or "yt-dlp not recognized" errors?​

A: Common solutions:

1. PATH Issues

  • Ensure installation directory is in your system PATH
  • For pip user installs, add ~/.local/bin to PATH (Linux/macOS)
  • On Windows, add Python Scripts directory to PATH

2. Installation Verification

Check if installed

which yt-dlp
where yt-dlp

Check version

yt-dlp --version

3. Alternative Execution

If installed via pip but not in PATH

python -m yt_dlp "URL"

Direct execution (if binary downloaded)

./yt-dlp "URL"
yt-dlp.exe "URL"

Basic Usage​

Q8: How do I download a video?​

A: Basic download syntax:

Simple download (best quality)

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

Multiple videos

yt-dlp "URL1" "URL2" "URL3"

From file containing URLs

yt-dlp -a urls.txt

Q9: How do I download only audio?​

A: Audio extraction options:

Extract audio (default format)

yt-dlp -x "URL"

Specific audio format and quality

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 192K "URL"

Best audio quality

yt-dlp -x --audio-quality best "URL"

Keep video file after extraction

yt-dlp -x --keep-video "URL"

Q10: How do I select video quality?​

A: Quality selection options:

List available formats first

yt-dlp -F "URL"

Specific quality

yt-dlp -f "best[height<=1080]" "URL"
yt-dlp -f "worst[height>=720]" "URL"
yt-dlp -f "best[height=720]" "URL"

Format preferences

yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]/best" "URL"

Avoid certain formats

yt-dlp -f "best[ext!=flv]" "URL"

Q11: Can I download entire playlists or channels?​

A: Yes, with various options:

Entire playlist

yt-dlp "PLAYLIST_URL"

Specific items from playlist

yt-dlp --playlist-items 1,3,5-10 "PLAYLIST_URL"

Reverse order

yt-dlp --playlist-reverse "PLAYLIST_URL"

YouTube channel (all uploads)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/@channel_name"

Channel playlists, shorts, live streams

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/@channel_name/playlists"
yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/@channel_name/shorts"
yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/@channel_name/streams"

Advanced Features​

Q12: How do I customize output filenames and locations?​

A: Use output templates:

Custom filename template

yt-dlp -o "%(title)s-%(id)s.%(ext)s" "URL"

Organize by uploader

yt-dlp -o "%(uploader)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s" "URL"

Date-based organization

yt-dlp -o "%(upload_date)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s" "URL"

Separate paths for different content types

yt-dlp -P "video:/Videos" -P "audio:/Music" "URL"

Windows-safe filenames

yt-dlp --windows-filenames -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" "URL"

Q13: How do I handle subtitles and captions?​

A: Subtitle options:

List available subtitles

yt-dlp --list-subs "URL"

Download specific language subtitles

yt-dlp --sub-langs en --write-subs "URL"

Download all available subtitles

yt-dlp --sub-langs all --write-subs "URL"

Auto-generated subtitles

yt-dlp --write-auto-subs --sub-langs en "URL"

Embed subtitles in video

yt-dlp --embed-subs --sub-langs en "URL"

Convert subtitle format

yt-dlp --convert-subs srt --write-subs "URL"

Q14: Can I use yt-dlp in my Python scripts?​

A: Yes, yt-dlp provides a Python API:

import yt_dlp

# Basic usage
ydl_opts = {}
with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
    ydl.download(['https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID'])

# With options
ydl_opts = {
    'format': 'bestaudio/best',
    'outtmpl': '%(title)s.%(ext)s',
}
with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
    ydl.download(['URL'])

Q15: How do I download live streams?​

A: Live stream options:

Download live stream (will stop when stream ends)

yt-dlp "LIVE_STREAM_URL"

Download from start (experimental)

yt-dlp --live-from-start "LIVE_STREAM_URL"

Wait for live stream to start

yt-dlp --wait-for-video 60 "LIVE_STREAM_URL"

Record for specific duration

yt-dlp --download-sections "*0-3600" "LIVE_STREAM_URL"

Troubleshooting​

Q16: Why are my downloads slow?​

A: Speed optimization strategies:

Use external downloader (fastest)

yt-dlp --external-downloader aria2c --external-downloader-args "-x 16 -s 16" "URL"

Limit rate to avoid throttling

yt-dlp --limit-rate 2M "URL"

Concurrent fragment downloads

yt-dlp --concurrent-fragments 4 "URL"

Different user agent

yt-dlp --user-agent "Mozilla/5.0..." "URL"

Q17: How do I bypass geo-restrictions?​

A: Geo-restriction bypass methods:

Built-in geo-bypass

yt-dlp --geo-bypass "URL"
yt-dlp --geo-bypass-country US "URL"

Use proxy

yt-dlp --proxy socks5://127.0.0.1:9150 "URL"
yt-dlp --proxy http://proxy.example.com:8080 "URL"

VPN (external solution)

# Connect to VPN first, then run yt-dlp normally

Q18: How do I download age-restricted or private content?​

A: Authentication methods:

Use browser cookies (recommended)

yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser firefox "URL"
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "URL"

Specific browser profile

yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser "firefox:Profile Name" "URL"

Manual login (less secure)

yt-dlp --username YOUR_USERNAME --password YOUR_PASSWORD "URL"

Cookies file

yt-dlp --cookies cookies.txt "URL"

Q19: What do I do when yt-dlp says "video unavailable"?​

A: Troubleshooting steps:

  1. Update yt-dlp: yt-dlp -U
  2. Check with verbose output: yt-dlp -v "URL"
  3. Try geo-bypass: yt-dlp --geo-bypass "URL"
  4. Use browser cookies: yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "URL"
  5. Check if video actually exists (visit URL in browser)
  6. Try different user agent: yt-dlp --user-agent "Mozilla/5.0..." "URL"

A: FFmpeg troubleshooting:

Check if FFmpeg is available

yt-dlp --check-formats "URL"

Specify FFmpeg location

yt-dlp --ffmpeg-location /path/to/ffmpeg "URL"

Skip post-processing if FFmpeg issues

yt-dlp --no-post-overwrites "URL"

Install FFmpeg

# Windows: Download from ffmpeg.org
# macOS: brew install ffmpeg
# Linux: sudo apt install ffmpeg

Configuration and Automation​

Q21: How do I create configuration files?​

A: Configuration file locations and syntax:

Linux/macOS:

  • ~/.config/yt-dlp/config
  • ~/.yt-dlp.conf

Windows:

  • %APPDATA%\yt-dlp\config.txt
  • %APPDATA%\yt-dlp.conf

Example config file:

# Default format selection
-f bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio/best

# Output template
-o %(uploader)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s

# Always extract metadata
--embed-metadata
--embed-thumbnail

# Subtitle preferences
--sub-langs en,es
--write-subs

Q22: How do I avoid re-downloading videos?​

A: Use download archives:

Create and use download archive

yt-dlp --download-archive archive.txt "PLAYLIST_URL"

Archive will track downloaded videos

# Subsequent runs will skip already downloaded content

Q23: How do I handle large playlists efficiently?​

A: Large playlist strategies:

Limit concurrent downloads

yt-dlp --max-downloads 50 "PLAYLIST_URL"

Add delays between downloads

yt-dlp --sleep-interval 5 --max-sleep-interval 15 "PLAYLIST_URL"

Continue on errors

yt-dlp --ignore-errors "PLAYLIST_URL"

Download specific date ranges

yt-dlp --dateafter 20230101 --datebefore 20231231 "PLAYLIST_URL"

Privacy and Security​

Q24: Is yt-dlp safe to use? Does it collect data?​

A: yt-dlp privacy and security:

Safety:

  • Open source - code is publicly auditable
  • No data collection - yt-dlp doesn't collect personal information
  • Local operation - runs entirely on your machine
  • No telemetry - doesn't send usage data anywhere

Security best practices:

  • Download from official sources only
  • Keep yt-dlp updated
  • Be cautious with cookies and credentials
  • Use secure networks for downloads
  • Verify downloaded content

Q25: Is it safe to use cookies and login credentials?​

A: Cookie and credential safety:

Browser cookie extraction (safest):

  • Cookies extracted locally from your browser
  • No credentials transmitted over network
  • Automatically includes 2FA tokens

Manual credentials (less secure):

  • Only use on trusted networks
  • Avoid storing passwords in scripts
  • Use app-specific passwords when available
  • Consider using netrc files for credential storage

Cookie file security:

  • Don't share cookie files
  • Store in secure locations
  • Delete old/expired cookie files
  • Use browser extraction instead when possible

Platform-Specific Questions​

Q26: Are there any YouTube-specific features?​

A: YouTube-specific capabilities:

YouTube search

yt-dlp "ytsearch10:cats"

YouTube Music

yt-dlp "https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

YouTube Shorts

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SHORT_ID"

YouTube Stories (if available)

yt-dlp "ytstories:CHANNEL_ID"

Skip sponsored segments (SponsorBlock)

yt-dlp --sponsorblock-mark all "URL"
yt-dlp --sponsorblock-remove sponsor "URL"

Different player clients (if needed)

yt-dlp --extractor-args "youtube:player_client=web" "URL"

Q27: How do I download from social media platforms?​

A: Social media specific tips:

Instagram:

Requires authentication for most content

yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "INSTAGRAM_URL"

TikTok:

Avoid watermarks

yt-dlp --extractor-args "tiktok:api_hostname=api16-normal-c-useast1a.tiktokv.com" "URL"

Twitter:

May require authentication

yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser firefox "TWITTER_URL"

Development and Contributing​

Q28: How can I contribute to yt-dlp?​

A: Ways to contribute:

Bug Reports:

  • Use GitHub issues with detailed information
  • Include yt-dlp version, command used, error message
  • Test with latest version first

Feature Requests:

  • Check existing issues first
  • Provide clear use cases and examples
  • Be patient - development is volunteer-driven

Code Contributions:

  • Fork the repository on GitHub
  • Follow coding standards and guidelines
  • Submit pull requests with clear descriptions
  • Add tests for new features

Documentation:

  • Improve existing documentation
  • Add examples and use cases
  • Translate to other languages

Q29: How do I report bugs effectively?​

A: Effective bug reporting:

Include this information:

yt-dlp version

yt-dlp --version

Full command used

yt-dlp -v "URL"

Operating system and Python version

python --version

Steps for good bug reports:

  1. Search existing issues first
  2. Test with latest version: yt-dlp -U
  3. Use verbose output: Add -v flag
  4. Provide minimal example that reproduces the issue
  5. Include complete error message
  6. Mention if URL is private (don't share private URLs)

Getting Help​

Q30: Where can I get additional help and support?​

A: Support resources:

Official Channels:

  • GitHub Issues: yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues
  • GitHub Discussions: For questions and community support
  • Documentation: Comprehensive guides and examples

Community Resources:

  • Reddit: r/youtubedl community
  • Discord: yt-dlp community servers
  • Stack Overflow: Programming-related questions

Professional Support:

  • Custom extractor development
  • Enterprise integration consulting
  • Compliance and legal guidance
  • Performance optimization services

Self-Help Resources:

Built-in help

yt-dlp --help

Verbose output for debugging

yt-dlp -v

Check supported sites

yt-dlp --list-extractors

Format information

yt-dlp -F "URL"

Remember: This FAQ covers common questions, but yt-dlp is a powerful tool with many advanced features. For detailed information on specific topics, refer to the comprehensive documentation sections covering installation, basic usage, advanced features, and platform-specific guides.​

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions​

What is yt-dlp and how is it different from youtube-dl?​

yt-dlp is a fork of youtube-dl with additional features and improvements:

  • More frequent updates and bug fixes
  • Better performance and reliability
  • Support for more websites and platforms
  • Enhanced post-processing capabilities
  • Additional authentication methods
  • Improved format selection

yt-dlp itself is legal software. However, you are responsible for using it in accordance with:

  • The terms of service of the websites you download from
  • Copyright laws in your jurisdiction
  • Fair use policies
  • Local regulations

Always respect content creators' rights and platform policies.

Which platforms does yt-dlp support?​

yt-dlp supports over 1,700 websites including:

  • YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion
  • Social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok)
  • News websites (BBC, CNN, etc.)
  • Educational platforms (Coursera, edX)
  • Streaming services (where publicly accessible)

Use yt-dlp --list-extractors to see all supported platforms.

Installation and Setup​

How do I install yt-dlp?​

Using pip (recommended):

pip install yt-dlp

Using package managers:

# macOS with Homebrew
brew install yt-dlp

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install yt-dlp

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S yt-dlp

Pre-built binaries: Download from GitHub releases

How do I update yt-dlp?​

# If installed via pip
pip install -U yt-dlp

# If using the binary
yt-dlp -U

# If using package manager
brew upgrade yt-dlp  # macOS
sudo apt upgrade yt-dlp  # Ubuntu/Debian

Do I need FFmpeg?​

FFmpeg is optional but recommended for:

  • Merging separate video and audio streams
  • Converting between formats
  • Post-processing operations
  • Better quality downloads

Install FFmpeg from ffmpeg.org

Usage Questions​

How do I download the best quality video?​

# Best overall quality (default)
yt-dlp URL

# Best video + best audio
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo+bestaudio" URL

# Specific quality preference
yt-dlp -f "best[height<=1080]" URL

How do I download only audio?​

# Extract audio in best quality
yt-dlp -x URL

# Extract as MP3
yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 URL

# Specific audio quality
yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 320K URL

How do I download playlists?​

# Download entire playlist
yt-dlp PLAYLIST_URL

# Download specific range
yt-dlp --playlist-start 5 --playlist-end 10 PLAYLIST_URL

# Download in reverse order
yt-dlp --playlist-reverse PLAYLIST_URL

How do I handle private or login-required content?​

# Use browser cookies
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome URL

# Use username/password
yt-dlp -u username -p password URL

# Use netrc file
yt-dlp --netrc URL

How do I choose the output filename?​

# Custom template
yt-dlp -o "%(uploader)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" URL

# Organize by uploader
yt-dlp -o "%(uploader)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s" URL

# Include date
yt-dlp -o "%(upload_date)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" URL

Troubleshooting​

Why is my download slow?​

Possible solutions:

# Use concurrent fragments
yt-dlp --concurrent-fragments 4 URL

# Try external downloader
yt-dlp --external-downloader aria2c URL

# Use different format
yt-dlp -f "best[protocol=https]" URL

Why do I get "Video unavailable" errors?​

Common causes and solutions:

  • Geo-restriction: Use --geo-bypass or VPN
  • Private video: Use --cookies-from-browser
  • Deleted video: Video may no longer exist
  • Rate limiting: Use --sleep-interval

Why is there no audio in my downloaded video?​

You likely downloaded a video-only format. Use:

# Ensure audio is included
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo+bestaudio/best" URL

# Or use the default behavior
yt-dlp URL

How do I fix "FFmpeg not found" errors?​

  1. Install FFmpeg from ffmpeg.org
  2. Ensure it's in your system PATH
  3. Test with: ffmpeg -version

Why do I get certificate errors?​

# Bypass certificate verification (use cautiously)
yt-dlp --no-check-certificate URL

# Update certificates
pip install --upgrade certifi

# Use specific CA bundle
yt-dlp --ca-certificate /path/to/certificate URL

Format and Quality​

What's the difference between format codes?​

Format codes identify specific streams:

  • Video-only streams (no audio)
  • Audio-only streams (no video)
  • Combined streams (video + audio)

Use yt-dlp -F URL to see available formats.

How do I get the highest quality audio?​

# Best available audio format
yt-dlp -f "bestaudio" URL

# Prefer lossless formats
yt-dlp -S "acodec:flac,wav" URL

# Extract audio without re-encoding
yt-dlp -f "bestaudio" --audio-format best URL

How do I avoid re-encoding?​

# Download native formats
yt-dlp -f "best" URL

# Skip post-processing
yt-dlp --no-post-overwrites URL

# Keep original formats
yt-dlp -k URL

Configuration​

How do I create a configuration file?​

Create ~/.config/yt-dlp/config (Linux/macOS) or %APPDATA%\yt-dlp\config.txt (Windows):

# Default options
--format bestvideo+bestaudio/best
--output ~/Downloads/%(uploader)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s
--embed-thumbnail
--write-sub

Can I use multiple configuration files?​

# Use specific config file
yt-dlp --config-location /path/to/config URL

# Ignore all config files
yt-dlp --ignore-config URL

How do I set up cookies permanently?​

  1. Export cookies from browser to file
  2. Set in config file: --cookies /path/to/cookies.txt
  3. Or use: --cookies-from-browser chrome

Advanced Usage​

How do I use yt-dlp in scripts?​

#!/bin/bash
# Download with error handling
if yt-dlp -f "best[height<=720]" "$1"; then
    echo "Download successful"
else
    echo "Download failed"
    exit 1
fi

Can I use yt-dlp as a Python library?​

import yt_dlp

ydl_opts = {
    'format': 'best[height<=720]',
    'outtmpl': '%(title)s.%(ext)s',
}

with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
    ydl.download(['URL'])

How do I monitor download progress?​

# Show progress
yt-dlp --progress URL

# No progress bar
yt-dlp --no-progress URL

# Custom progress template
yt-dlp --progress-template "%(percent)s complete" URL

Platform-Specific Questions​

YouTube-specific issues?​

# Use mobile client to avoid restrictions
yt-dlp --extractor-args "youtube:player_client=android" URL

# Handle age restrictions
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome URL

# Bypass throttling
yt-dlp --extractor-args "youtube:player_skip=js" URL

Instagram private accounts?​

# Login with cookies
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser firefox URL

# Or use credentials
yt-dlp -u username -p password URL

TikTok downloads?​

# Best quality
yt-dlp -f "best" TIKTOK_URL

# Audio only
yt-dlp -x TIKTOK_URL

Getting More Help​

Where can I find more information?​

  • Official documentation: Comprehensive guides and references
  • GitHub repository: https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp
  • Issue tracker: Report bugs and request features
  • Discord/IRC: Community support channels

How do I report bugs?​

  1. Update to the latest version
  2. Search existing issues
  3. Provide complete information:
    • Command used
    • Full error output with -vv
    • System information
    • URL (if not private)

How do I request new features?​

  1. Check if already requested
  2. Explain the use case
  3. Provide examples
  4. Consider contributing code

Remember: yt-dlp is community-driven software. Contributions and detailed bug reports help improve it for everyone!