Ultimate Guide: Downloading & Using yt-dlp on Windows

yt-dlp is a robust command-line utility designed for downloading videos from a wide range of platforms, such as YouTube. As a fork of the well-known youtube-dl project, it introduces enhanced features and improvements. This comprehensive guide offers a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough for downloading, installing, and utilizing yt-dlp on Windows, complete with various command-line options and configurations to optimize your experience.

Downloading yt-dlp

To start using yt-dlp, you first need to download the executable file. The process is straightforward and can be accomplished in just a few steps.

Where to Download

The first step is to obtain the latest version of yt-dlp. You can do this by navigating to the official GitHub repository:

Open your web browser and go to the yt-dlp GitHub Releases page.
On this page, you will see a list of assets related to the latest release. Look for the file named yt-dlp.exe.
Click on the yt-dlp.exe link to download it. This file is the main executable that you will use to run yt-dlp.

Creating a Directory

After downloading the executable, you need to create a dedicated directory for it:

Open File Explorer and navigate to your C: drive.
Right-click in an empty area and select New > Folder.
Name this folder ytdl (C:\ytdl).
Move the downloaded yt-dlp.exe file into this folder. This organization helps keep your files tidy and makes it easier to locate them later.

Installing FFmpeg

FFmpeg is essential for yt-dlp as it handles video and audio processing tasks. Many features of yt-dlp rely on FFmpeg being installed on your system.

Downloading FFmpeg

Follow these steps to download FFmpeg:

Visit the FFmpeg Builds page.
Look for the win64-gpl variant zip file (this is the version compatible with Windows).
Click on the link to download the zip file.

Extracting FFmpeg

Once downloaded, you need to extract FFmpeg:

If you don’t have a program for extracting zip files, download 7-Zip from 7-Zip's official site. Choose the 64-bit Windows version.
Install 7-Zip by double-clicking the downloaded file and following the on-screen instructions.
After installation, navigate to where you downloaded the FFmpeg zip file.
Right-click on the zip file and select 7-Zip > Extract Here or simply click Extract if using another extraction tool.
Locate the ffmpeg.exe file inside the bin folder of the extracted files.
Move ffmpeg.exe into your C:\ytdl directory alongside yt-dlp.exe.

Setting Up Environment Variables

To make sure you can run yt-dlp and FFmpeg from any command prompt window, you'll need to add their directory to your system's PATH environment variable.

Click on the Start button, type envir, and select Edit the system environment variables.
In the System Properties window, click on Environment Variables.
In the Environment Variables window:
- Find and select the Path variable in the "System variables" section, then click Edit.
- Click New and add C:\ytdl.
- Click OK to close all windows.

Running yt-dlp

Now that everything is set up, you can start using yt-dlp.

Opening Command Prompt

To run commands:

Click on the Start button, type cmd, and select Command Prompt (do not run as Administrator).

Basic Commands

Here are some basic commands to get you started:

To check if yt-dlp is installed correctly:
```
  yt-dlp --version
```

To download a single video:

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

To list available formats for a video:

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

Advanced Usage

Once you're comfortable with basic commands, you can explore more advanced features of yt-dlp that allow for greater control over your downloads.

Downloading Specific Formats

You can specify formats when downloading videos:

yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]" "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

This command downloads the best video quality in MP4 format along with the best audio in M4A format.

You can also specify other formats by modifying the command accordingly:

For example, if you want only audio in MP3 format:

  yt-dlp -f "bestaudio[ext=mp3]" "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

Downloading Playlists

To download an entire playlist:

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID"

Ensure that the playlist is public or unlisted; private playlists require additional authentication steps.

If you want to download only specific videos from a playlist or reverse their order, you can use additional options:

To specify certain videos from a playlist:

  yt-dlp --playlist-items 1-5 "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID"

This command downloads only videos 1 through 5 from the specified playlist.

Extracting Audio

If you only want audio from a video:

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

This command extracts audio and converts it into MP3 format.

You can also extract audio in different formats such as M4A or AAC by changing --audio-format mp3 to your desired format.

Downloading Subtitles and Thumbnails

To download subtitles along with videos:

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

For thumbnails:

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

You can also specify language options for subtitles if available by using:

yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-lang en "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

This command will download English subtitles if they are available for that video.

Using Configuration Files

For frequent users, creating a configuration file can save time by storing commonly used options.

Create a text file named yt-dlp.conf in your C:\ytdl directory.

Add your preferred options line by line, such as:

 --output "%(title)s [%(id)s].%(ext)s"
 --format "bestvideo+bestaudio"

Use this configuration file by running:

 yt-dlp --config-location "C:\ytdl\yt-dlp.conf" "URL"

This way, every time you run yt-dlp with this configuration file, it will apply all specified settings automatically.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues while using yt-dlp, consider these troubleshooting tips:

Ensure that both yt-dlp.exe and ffmpeg.exe are in your PATH.
Check your internet connection if downloads fail.
For specific error messages, consult the help command:
```
  yt-dlp --help
```

Common issues include problems with outdated versions of yt-dlp or FFmpeg; make sure both are updated regularly.

To update yt-dlp easily without redownloading it manually, use:

yt-dlp -U

This command checks for updates and installs them if available.

Additional Features of yt-dlp

Apart from downloading videos and audio, yt-dlp comes packed with several additional features that enhance its functionality:

Downloading Live Streams

If you're interested in downloading live streams or events happening in real-time, yt-dlp supports this feature as well:

yt-dlp "LIVE_STREAM_URL"

This allows you to capture live broadcasts directly as they happen.

Archiving Downloads

If you're downloading content over time and want to keep track of what you've already downloaded without repeating downloads, consider using an archive file:

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

This command saves all downloaded video IDs into an archive file named archive.txt, preventing future downloads of those videos again unless they change significantly (like being re-uploaded).

Using Cookies for Authentication

For accessing private content or content restricted based on geographical location, you may need cookies from your web browser:

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

This command allows yt-dlp to access content that would otherwise be blocked due to restrictions by leveraging cookies stored in your browser.

FAQ Section for yt-dlp

1. What is yt-dlp? yt-dlp is a command-line tool used for downloading videos from various online platforms. It is a fork of the youtube-dl project, offering additional features and improvements.

2. How do I install yt-dlp on Windows? To install yt-dlp on Windows, download the yt-dlp.exe file from the official GitHub releases page and place it in a dedicated directory. Ensure that the directory is added to your system's PATH environment variable for easy access.

3. Do I need FFmpeg to use yt-dlp? Yes, FFmpeg is required for yt-dlp to handle video and audio processing tasks. You need to download and extract FFmpeg, then place the ffmpeg.exe file in the same directory as yt-dlp.exe.

4. How can I update yt-dlp? You can update yt-dlp by running the command yt-dlp -U in the command prompt. This command checks for updates and installs them if available.

5. Can yt-dlp download playlists? Yes, yt-dlp can download entire playlists. You need to provide the playlist URL, and yt-dlp will download all the videos in the playlist.

6. How do I download only audio from a video? To download only audio, use the command with the -x option and specify the audio format using --audio-format, such as mp3 or m4a.

7. Is it possible to download subtitles with yt-dlp? Yes, yt-dlp can download subtitles if they are available for the video. Use the --write-subs option to download subtitles, and specify the language with --sub-lang if needed.

8. How do I specify the video quality for downloads? You can specify the video quality by using the -f option followed by the desired format code. Use yt-dlp -F <video_url> to list all available formats for a video.

9. Can yt-dlp handle live streams? Yes, yt-dlp supports downloading live streams. You can use it to capture live broadcasts directly as they happen.

10. Is yt-dlp legal to use? yt-dlp itself is a legal tool, but it's important to use it responsibly and comply with copyright laws when downloading content from online platforms. Always ensure you have the right to download the content.

Conclusion

With this comprehensive guide, you should be well-equipped to download, install, and use yt-dlp effectively on Windows systems. Whether you're looking to download videos for offline viewing or extract audio from your favorite tracks, yt-dlp provides a robust solution with extensive features tailored to meet various needs.

As always, remember to use yt-dlp responsibly and respect copyright laws when downloading content from online platforms. Enjoy your video downloading experience!

Comprehensive Guide: How to Download, Install, and Use yt-dlp on Windows for Optimal Video Downloading