How to Use the Command `yt-dlp` (with Examples)

yt-dlp is a command-line tool that allows you to download videos and audio from various online platforms, most notably YouTube. It’s a powerful fork of the original youtube-dl, with additional features and numerous fixes. This utility is invaluable for anyone looking to archive content or access video and audio files offline. This guide provides a comprehensive look at its different use cases, each illustrated through examples.

Download a Video or Playlist (with the Default Options)

Code:

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0"

Motivation:

Downloading videos or playlists for offline accessibility makes it easier to watch them without needing an internet connection. This is particularly useful for areas with unreliable connectivity or when you’re traveling. Using yt-dlp, you can download content with a simple command using default settings.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Invokes the program.
• "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0": The URL of the video or playlist to download. By default, it downloads the highest quality available video and audio.

Example Output:

A video file will be saved to your current directory with a name derived from the video’s title.

List the Available Downloadable Formats for a Video

Code:

yt-dlp --list-formats "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0"

Motivation:

Understanding all available formats helps users choose the best option to meet their quality or file size needs. It’s crucial when the default settings do not cater to specific requirements.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Initiates the command-line tool.
• --list-formats: Instructs yt-dlp to display all available formats of the chosen video.
• "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0": The video URL whose formats you want to list.

Example Output:

This will display a list of video and audio formats, including resolution, file extension, and estimated size.

Download a Video Using the Best MP4 Video Format Available

Code:

yt-dlp --format "bv*[ext=mp4]+ba[ext=m4a]/b[ext=mp4]" "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0"

Motivation:

Downloading in a specific format ensures compatibility with various devices and software players. MP4 is widely supported and provides a good balance between quality and file size.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Runs the downloader.
• --format "bv*[ext=mp4]+ba[ext=m4a]/b[ext=mp4]": Specifies to download the best video and audio separately and combines them into an MP4, with M4A audio.
• "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0": The URL of the video to download.

Example Output:

The command saves the file in the specified format, offering optimal quality.

Extract Audio from a Video

Code:

yt-dlp --extract-audio "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0"

Motivation:

Extracting audio is helpful for users interested primarily in music or speeches, letting them save space by keeping just the audio content.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: The main command.
• --extract-audio: Enables extraction of just the audio track from the video.
• "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0": URL of the video to extract audio from.

Example Output:

An audio file (usually in M4A format) will be saved, omitting the video track.

Specify Audio Format and Quality of Extracted Audio

Code:

yt-dlp --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 --audio-quality 0 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0"

Motivation:

Selecting the audio format and quality is essential when specific audio file requirements exist, such as for different playback devices or storage considerations.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Initiates the process.
• --extract-audio: Specifies audio extraction.
• --audio-format mp3: Determines the output format as MP3.
• --audio-quality 0: Ensures the best audio quality.
• "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0": The target video URL.

Example Output:

An MP3 file of the audio track will be saved at the highest quality.

Download Specific Items from a Playlist

Code:

yt-dlp --playlist-items 2,4:6,-1 "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbzoR-pLrL6pTJfLQ3UwtB-3V4fimdqnA"

Motivation:

When entire playlists are too large or unnecessary to download, picking certain items can save time and space while focusing on relevant content.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Starter command.
• --playlist-items 2,4:6,-1: Specifies particular items (second, fourth to sixth, and last) within the playlist for download.
• "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbzoR-pLrL6pTJfLQ3UwtB-3V4fimdqnA": The playlist URL.

Example Output:

Chosen videos within the playlist are saved, ignoring unselected entries.

Download all Playlists of a YouTube Channel/User

Code:

yt-dlp -o "%(uploader)s/%(playlist)s/%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" "https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLinuxFoundation/playlists"

Motivation:

When preserving the entirety of a creator’s work, organizing downloads into playlists and their respective directories ensures logical structuring and ease of access.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Begins the operation.
• -o "%(uploader)s/%(playlist)s/%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s": Sets the output directory structure using the uploader’s name, playlist name, and video titles.
• "https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLinuxFoundation/playlists": The specific channel’s playlist URL.

Example Output:

Videos will be downloaded organized by uploader’s name and individual playlist folders.

Download a Udemy Course with Chapter Separation

Code:

yt-dlp -u user -p password -P "path/to/directory" -o "%(playlist)s/%(chapter_number)s - %(chapter)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s" "https://www.udemy.com/java-tutorial"

Motivation:

For educational purposes, organizing courses with separated chapters enhances the study process, making it easier to revisit specific sections later.

Explanation:

• yt-dlp: Activates the tool.
• -u user: The username credential for Udemy login.
• -p password: The associated password.
• -P "path/to/directory": Path location where data is saved.
• -o "%(playlist)s/%(chapter_number)s - %(chapter)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s": Specifies directory and file naming structure.
• "https://www.udemy.com/java-tutorial": The URL of the course to download.

Example Output:

Course content is saved with each chapter in a distinct directory, facilitating study organization.

Conclusion

yt-dlp is an incredibly versatile tool. By supporting numerous customization options, it caters to a variety of needs—be it offline entertainment, audio archiving, or educational resource compilation. Through these use cases, users can better understand how to leverage its capabilities to enhance their media consumption and organization experience.