How do I download a YouTube playlist with youtube-dl?

Simply provide the playlist URL to youtube-dl; it will download all videos by default. Use options like --playlist-items to select specific videos or --playlist-reverse for custom order, as explained in the video selection section.

youtube-dl or yt-dlp: which should I use?

yt-dlp is a fork with faster updates and extra features like sponsor-block integration, while youtube-dl is more stable and widely packaged. Choose youtube-dl for reliability in scripts, or yt-dlp for cutting-edge site support.

How to extract audio from a video to MP3 using youtube-dl?

Use the -x option to extract audio and --audio-format mp3 to specify MP3 format. Ensure ffmpeg is installed for conversion, as noted in the post-processing dependencies.

Why does youtube-dl give an HTTP 429 error?

This indicates rate limiting by the site, often due to excessive downloads. Solve CAPTCHAs in a browser, then pass cookies to youtube-dl with --cookies, as suggested in the FAQ for accessing restricted content.

How to update youtube-dl on Linux?

If installed manually, run sudo youtube-dl -U. For pip installations, use sudo pip install -U youtube-dl. The FAQ warns that distribution packages may be outdated and provides alternative methods.

Can youtube-dl download videos in 4K quality?

Yes, if the site offers 4K formats. Use -F to list formats and -f to select a high-resolution code, but note that some formats may require merging with audio via ffmpeg for complete files.

Open-Awesome

youtube-dl

UnlicensePython2021.12.17

A command-line program to download videos from YouTube and over a thousand other sites.

Visit Website GitHub

141.4k stars10.7k forks0 contributors

What is youtube-dl?

youtube-dl is a command-line program written in Python that downloads videos from YouTube and a wide variety of other video hosting websites. It solves the problem of accessing and archiving online video content by providing a robust, scriptable interface that works across many platforms.

Target Audience

Developers, system administrators, and power users who need to automate video downloads, archive content, or integrate video downloading into scripts and workflows.

Value Proposition

Developers choose youtube-dl for its unparalleled site support, extensive customization options, and reliability. Its open-source nature and active community ensure it stays updated with site changes, making it the most comprehensive tool of its kind.

Overview

Command-line program to download videos from YouTube.com and other video sites

Use Cases

Best For

Downloading YouTube videos or playlists for offline viewing
Archiving video content from a wide range of websites
Extracting audio from videos to create MP3 or other audio files
Batch downloading videos using scripts or automation
Downloading videos with specific quality or format requirements
Grabbing subtitles and metadata along with video files

Not Ideal For

End-users who want a simple, graphical interface for one-click video downloads without using the command line.
Applications requiring real-time video streaming or playback without downloading files to local storage.
Environments with strict software restrictions that prevent installing Python, ffmpeg, or other dependencies.
Mobile app development where a command-line tool cannot be integrated directly due to platform limitations.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Vast Site Compatibility

Supports downloads from YouTube and over 1000 other video platforms, with extractor descriptions available via --list-extractors, ensuring wide coverage.

Granular Format Control

Allows precise selection of video and audio formats using codes and filters, and can merge bestvideo+bestaudio with ffmpeg for optimal quality, as detailed in the format selection section.

Powerful Automation Features

Enables batch downloads from playlists, channels, or files with options like --batch-file and configurable output templates, making it scriptable for workflows.

Extensive Post-processing

Integrates with ffmpeg to extract audio, embed subtitles, add metadata, and convert formats, providing a complete media handling suite as per the post-processing options.

Cons

Dependency-Heavy Setup

Requires external tools like ffmpeg for full post-processing capabilities and rtmpdump for RTMP streams, adding installation complexity and potential points of failure.

Command-Line Barrier

Lacks a graphical user interface, making it inaccessible for non-technical users who are unfamiliar with terminal commands and extensive option syntax.

Frequent Update Needs

Must be updated regularly to avoid breakage due to site changes, as highlighted in the FAQ where outdated versions cause errors like 'Unable to extract OpenGraph title'.

Frequently Asked Questions

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