How to Use YT-DLP | Beginner Guide

YT-DLP is one of the leading options when it comes to downloading videos from YouTube. However, the great thing about this command line is that it can download videos from any website you throw at it. But the real question is: How to use YT-DLP without falling down a rabbit hole?

It's a command-line extension that adds options to CMD or terminal in Linux and macOS, allowing users to download videos from their favorite sites. But what exactly is YT-DLP? Is it against the rules to use it?

While it's not exactly against the rules, responsible use is still a priority. However, first, you must learn how to install it and use it on the supported platforms. That's what we're here for today, as we show you what it's about and how to use YT-DLP easily. So, let's begin.

What Is YT-DLP

How to Use YT-DLP on Windows

How to Use YT-DLP on Linux

How to Use YT-DLP on Mac

Common YT-DLP Commands

YT-DLP GUI

Best YT-DLP Alternative

Understanding YT-DLP

YT-DLP is an open-source command-line tool that allows users to download video and audio from websites. The “YT” in the tool's name stands for YouTube, but it supports many other websites besides the video giant.

There are also extensions of this tool, which ensure users can download files in various formats. The more famous extension of this tool is called FFMPEG, which can be added alongside YT-DLP right away. The purpose of YT-DLP is to:

• Download videos in various qualities and sizes.
• Separate audio from video and vice versa before downloading.
• Downloading the best quality video and audio—separately or simultaneously;
• Allowing users to download video or audio from various websites;
• And allowing users to download video/audio in bulk.

That makes it stand out, as it's quite capable and allows users to get their videos quickly. However, there is a learning curve, as it requires users to learn how to use command lines effectively. Besides, it also warrants users learning or remembering various command lines.

So, the process of using this tool includes:

1. 1. Learning how to download and integrate this command line with CMD:
2. 2. Learning how to use numerous commands for varying purposes;
3. 3. Using it to download videos or audio through separate commands;
4. 4. And memorizing or looking up specific commands for each operation.

That's why the learning curve of this program can be pretty steep, but not strictly impossible.

Download and Install YT-DLP on Windows

You must install it properly before downloading YouTube videos to file manager via YT-DLP. It's crucial that you get the latest version from the YT-DLP releases. This will ensure that you install YT-DLP with the essential extensions that allow you to download videos from the internet.

The critical extension that allows you to download YouTube videos on a laptop via YT-DLP is FFMPEG. It converts files and lets you watch them in a format supported by Windows or your current operating system.

Therefore, it's essential that you carefully follow each step that we're going to show you. This will allow you to download and install this extension of the command prompt thoroughly with the extensions. Here's how to download and install YT-DLP on Windows:

Step 1. Go to the official GitHub.com page to download the latest version of YT-DLP.

Step 2. Scroll down and check the YT-DLP releases and click on the "Download" button next to the latest one.

Step 3. Download the YT-DLP Files according to your operating system. We're using Windows, so we'll click on the file name with "Windows" next to it or find the 'exe' files.

Step 4. Now, you will copy and paste the downloaded YT-DLP exe file into the C drive (C:\ytdl). We won't run the executable file as it's not an installable program.

Step 5. Now, we'll install FFMPEG (required for merging video/audio & conversions)  to download files via YT-DLP in the proper format. So, go to Ffmpeg.com and download FFMPEG's exe files.

Step 6. Create a new folder in the C Drive and call it "PATH_Programs-YTDLP." Copy and paste the FFMPEG files and extract them into this folder. Move the ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg.exe into C:\ytdl. (Only ffmpeg.exe is needed.)

Step 7. Now we have to add this path to the environment variables, so we'll go to Windows search and type "Path" to pop up the option.

Step 8. Head into "Environment Variables," then click on "Path" and tap the "Edit…" option. Lastly, click on "New" to add a new path, and type the new entry C:\ytdl.

This will finish up the installation of the YT-DLP and FFMPEG on your PC. It's vital that you follow each step correctly and install FFMPEG; otherwise, you won't be able to download media files via YT-DLP. Adding FFMPEG and its extensions allows you to download files from YouTube via YT-DLP.

It also helps you convert YouTube to MP3 longer than 2 hours when you download files via this command line. Besides, it is essential that you download YT-DLP and other files according to your operating system and install them according to their tutorials. So, make sure you look up specific steps for Linux and macOS as well.

Step 9. Create a default download location. Open Command Prompt (Start → type cmd → hit Enter). Paste this and press Enter:

echo.-P "C:\ytdl">"C:\ytdl\yt-dlp.conf"

This creates a config file that makes yt-dlp always save downloads to C:\ytdl.

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Use YT-DLP on Windows

Once you go through the aforementioned steps, it's pretty easy to use the default YT-DLP commands. You will get downloaded videos with a few simple command lines. However, it's crucial to understand how to prompt YT-DLP in the first place.

YT-DLP supports many websites, so it's also essential to find commands and lists that allow you to do these operations, such as helping you download a YouTube playlist. Here's how to use it on Windows and check all of the commands that you can use:

Step 1. Open the Windows search bar and type CMD (do not run as Administrator!) to begin.

Step 2. Now, type the path directory where you have stored YT-DLP, and type "yt-dlp" to prompt it.

cd \ytdl

Step 3. When you type this, it'll be followed by "You must provide at least one URL." That's because it's a URL command. Now, type "yt-dlp -help" to view more commands:

This will show you all the critical command lines to use with YT-DLP. It's important to understand that not many of these DLP command lines are helpful to a typical user. Therefore, it's vital that you look up only the commands that you need to use.

This includes commands that can download, convert, and get you audio or video files from platforms that you wish to download from. So, make sure you explore the help command's given list of prompts.

Basic Usage Examples

Use YT-DLP on Linux

Show readers how to use it to download video and audio on Linux with screenshots.

Step 1. After you install YT-DLP on Linux, you can run the "YT-DLP" command, and you'll get the same error as you did on Windows:

Step 2. Now, for testing, you can download a YT video by putting the following command:

“YT-DLP -F ‘BV*+BA' URL" (replace 'URL' with YouTube video link)

Step 3. Now, this will download the file in MPEG format (default). You can check other available formats and qualities by typing:

“YT-DLP -F --list-formats URL" (replace 'URL' with YouTube video link)

Step 4. You can then download the files in specific qualities. So, if we want to download the file in 1080p, we'll type:

“YT-DLP -F 'BV*[height=1080]+BA' URL

Step 5. Press the enter key to commence the download.

This will download the file in your required quality, but you can explore other packages YT-DLP offers. You can explore other command lines, too, by typing the same command that we showed you in Windows, aka "YT-DLP -Help," to view potential commands.

Use YT-DLP on Mac

Step 1. If you don't already have Homebrew, install it first:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2. Install yt-dlp and FFmpeg in one go:

brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg

Step 3. Open Terminal (in Applications → Utilities). 

Step 4. Navigate to the folder where you want your downloads.

cd ~/Downloads

Step 5. Download a video:

yt-dlp "PASTE_URL_HERE"

Download entire playlist (video & audio):

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

Skip downloading already saved videos:

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

Common YT-DLP Commands

You can view common YT-DLP commands by typing "YT-DLP -Help" in any version of the command line. However, this will open a long list of 200+ commands that this external downloader supports. So, we'll tell you some of the best commands you can use, such as:

Once again, you can use the help command to view more, but these are some of the most valuable commands in YT-DLP.

YT-DLP GUI

If the command-line interface of yt-dlp feels overwhelming, Stacher is an excellent alternative—a user-friendly graphical frontend that simplifies everything yt-dlp can do. It takes care of installing yt-dlp the first time you run it and offers nearly all major functions through clearly labeled buttons and menus—no need to memorize commands.

Stacher offers a sleek dark-mode interface with download progress indicators, preview thumbnails, and clipboard monitoring (just copy a video link and press Ctrl+Enter to begin). It also supports automatic downloads from subscribed playlists or channels, light editing like trimming, subtitle management, and even post-processing tasks.

Other helpful features include a built-in media player and the ability to import cookies from your browser, so you can access members-only or login-restricted content.

The app works across Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is often recommended in communities like Reddit and Hacker News as the go-to tool for users who want the full power of yt-dlp but prefer a GUI over terminal commands. While it's not open source and doesn't come bundled with FFmpeg, guides and documentation make integration easy.

✅ Ideal for:

• Users who want to download videos or audio with control over format, resolution, and subtitles.
• Anyone uncomfortable with using command-line tools.
• People who prefer visual interfaces and simple workflows.

🧠 Consider sticking to yt-dlp CLI if:

• You need complex or advanced automation features.
• You're scripting regular downloads or need maximum customization.
• You're trying to debug specific errors and need full command-line output.

Best YT-DLP Alternative: EaseUS Video Downloader

YT-DLP is excellent, but it can be a hassle for everyday users. If you're looking for a more accessible alternative, then there is no better choice than EaseUS Video Downloader. It's one of the go-to programs for many users around the globe who want a simple yet effective tool to download videos from YouTube.

Besides, it's not only compatible with YouTube, but you can also use it to download videos from other platforms. So, let's list some features to show you why it's the best:

• It can download videos from YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, etc.
• It has the ability to download streaming videos from said platforms.
• It can download entire channels and playlists in a few simple clicks.
• It can save videos in 4K and 8K without losing quality.
• It can convert video to audio in any format you like while downloading.

You can also set it up to auto-download new YouTube videos from the channel. And it's way easier to use than YT-DLP or any other alternatives. So, download it now and use it to download videos efficiently.

The Bottom Line

We hope you understand how to use YT-DLP after reading this article. It can be a bothersome process and requires a ton of effort in each step. However, once you know how to use it and put in the correct commands, it's worth it.

But as always, if you want a simple alternative, then there's nothing better than EaseUS Video Downloader out there. It's simple, effective, and allows you to do the same thing with much less effort. This includes downloading videos in any format or quality that you like.

FAQs on How to Use YT-DLP

Here are some additional queries people ask regarding how to use YT-DLP:

1. Is YT-DLP legal?

Yes, it is legal to use, but it depends on the intent. If you intend to download other people's videos and use them as your own, then it's illegal to do so. However, it's perfectly fine to use for downloading music, videos, etc., for personal use.

2. Can YT-DLP download videos from other sites?

Yes, YT-DLP can download files from other websites. The website/GitHub page for this tool suggests that it can download videos from 1700+ websites. However, some Reddit users claim it supports even more websites than that.

3. Does YT-DLP only work on YouTube?

No, it supports other websites as well. The official documentation on this tool suggests that it can be downloaded from 1700+ websites. That's why it's considered to be one of the most versatile downloaders, albeit being a bit difficult to use.