Download YouTube Videos as MP4 with yt-dlp: The Ultimate Command-Line for YT Free Tool

Let’s face it: sometimes, streaming isn’t convenient. Maybe you’re traveling, have a spotty internet connection, or just want to archive your favorite videos. This is where the power of yt-dlp comes in.

Forget shady websites; yt-dlp is a fast, open-source, and reliable command-line tool for downloading YouTube videos (and even entire playlists) as MP4 files.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to install yt-dlp on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and how to use it to download videos and playlists like a pro.

28 Free YouTube Clients, Frontends and Video Downloader Programs for Windows, Linux and macOS

In today’s digital age, YouTube has become an indispensable resource for entertainment, education, and information. However, the official YouTube app and website can sometimes be limiting due to ads, lack of certain features, and privacy concerns. This is where alternative YouTube clients, frontends, and video downloader programs come into

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Let’s dive in!

What is yt-dlp?

yt-dlp is a fork of the now-unmaintained youtube-dl. It’s more actively maintained, faster, and packed with additional features. It supports downloading videos from YouTube, as well as other platforms like Vimeo, Dailymotion, and more.

Key features of yt-dlp include:

• MP4 Downloads: Save videos in MP4 format.
• Playlist Support: Download entire playlists with a single command.
• Fast Downloads: Optimized for speed.
• Open-Source: No hidden surprises.

Now, let’s get it installed!

How to Download YouTube Videos and Playlists with youtube-dl on Windows, Linux, and macOS (Tutorial)

Want to download YouTube videos for offline use or save an entire playlist for a long flight? youtube-dl is your go-to open-source tool for this. It’s simple, efficient, and works across multiple platforms. In this guide, we’ll show you how to install youtube-dl on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and demonstrate

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Installing yt-dlp

On Windows

1. Manual Installation:
   • Download the latest yt-dlp.exe from the official GitHub page.
   • Place it in a directory like C:\Tools.
   • Add this directory to your PATH environment variable so you can run yt-dlp from anywhere.

Install FFmpeg (Optional but Recommended):FFmpeg helps with video processing tasks. Install it via Scoop:

scoop install ffmpeg

Install yt-dlp via Scoop (recommended):First, install Scoop (a package manager for Windows) if you don’t have it already:

iwr -useb get.scoop.sh | iex

Then install yt-dlp:

scoop install yt-dlp

On Linux

Verify the Installation:

yt-dlp --version

Install via pip:

pip install -U yt-dlp

Install via Package Manager (Debian/Ubuntu):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install yt-dlp ffmpeg

On macOS

Verify the Installation:

yt-dlp --version

Install via Homebrew:

brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg

How to Download YouTube Videos with yt-dlp

1. Download a Single Video as MP4

To download a video in MP4 format, use:

yt-dlp -f mp4 "<video-url>"

Example:

yt-dlp -f mp4 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"

This command downloads the best-quality MP4 version available.

2. Download an Entire Playlist

Yes, yt-dlp supports playlist downloads! To download all videos in a playlist:

yt-dlp -f mp4 "<playlist-url>"

Example:

yt-dlp -f mp4 "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL12345ABCDE"

yt-dlp will automatically download each video in the playlist.

3. Download Videos with Custom Titles

You can specify how the downloaded file should be named:

yt-dlp -f mp4 -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" "<video-url>"

This will save the file with the video’s title.

4. Download Videos with Subtitles

To download a video with subtitles:

yt-dlp --write-sub --write-auto-sub "<video-url>"

5. Download Audio Only

Want just the audio? Use:

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 "<video-url>"

Tips and Tricks for Using yt-dlp

Download Specific Format: Choose a format code to download:

yt-dlp -f 136+140 "<video-url>"

List Available Formats: See all available formats for a video:

yt-dlp -F "<video-url>"

Update Regularly: Keep yt-dlp up-to-date to avoid errors with:

yt-dlp -U

Final Thoughts

Downloading YouTube videos doesn’t have to be a headache. With yt-dlp, you have a powerful, flexible, and open-source tool that handles everything from single video downloads to entire playlists. Whether you’re on Windows, Linux, or macOS, setting it up is a breeze.

Now you can enjoy your favorite content offline whenever you want!

Happy downloading!

GitHub - yt-dlp/yt-dlp: A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader

A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader - yt-dlp/yt-dlp

GitHubyt-dlp