How to Master yt-dlp in 2025: Complete Guide with Commands

Ever wanted to keep a copy of a viral video, a favorite song, or even an entire playlist before it disappears? That’s exactly what yt-dlp can help you do. Think of it as your personal “save” button for the internet—fast, free, and surprisingly simple once you know how.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use it in different ways: without extra tools, with FFmpeg for more options, and even how to grab many files in one go. And if you’d rather skip the tech stuff, we’ll also show you the easiest one-click solution with UniConverter. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to download what you love and keep it forever.

Part 1: What is Yt-dlp and Its Use Cases

What is yt-dlp?

Yt-dlp is a free, open-source program that lets you download videos, music, or full playlists from the internet. It works through simple commands, making it a favorite for people who want control over what they download and how it’s saved. You can run it on Windows, macOS, or Linux, and it doesn’t require heavy system resources. Because it’s regularly updated by active developers, it stays compatible with new site changes and formats.

Origin and relation to youtube-dl

It was built as an improved version of the older tool youtube-dl, which had fewer updates in recent years. Developers took youtube-dl’s base code and added more features, faster updates, and better compatibility, keeping it relevant in 2025.

Why it’s popular for downloading videos and audio from thousands of websites

It has become a favorite tool for content downloads because it supports a massive range of websites beyond just YouTube. Users can download videos, audio, playlists, and channels from platforms like Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, and more—all from a single tool.

Wide website support

Yt-dlp works with thousands of websites, giving users access to diverse content without needing multiple downloaders. This saves time and simplifies media management across platforms.

High-quality downloads

The tool allows downloads in various resolutions, including 4K and 8K, and high-bitrate audio. Users can choose formats like MP4, MKV, MP3, or M4A to match their needs.

Playlist and batch downloads

It can download entire playlists or multiple videos at once. This is ideal for archiving channels or managing large collections efficiently.

Subtitles and metadata extraction

The software can extract subtitles in multiple languages and pull metadata like titles, upload dates, and descriptions. This makes organizing and searching your downloads much easier.

Automation and scripting

The tool can be integrated with scripts or scheduled tasks for automatic downloads. This feature is especially useful for power users who want to capture new content as soon as it is uploaded.

Use cases of yt-dlp

Downloading individual videos in various quality formats

Yt-dlp lets you grab single videos in the exact quality you want, from low-resolution for quick saves to full 4K or even 8K for maximum clarity. You can choose formats like MP4, MKV, or WebM depending on your needs. The tool even allows you to merge separate audio and video streams for the best quality output. This ensures you always get the right balance between file size and visual quality.

Downloading audio-only files for podcasts/music

If you only need the sound, yt-dlp can extract audio directly from videos and save it as MP3, M4A, or other formats. This is perfect for building offline music collections or keeping your favorite podcasts handy. You can also specify bitrates for better audio quality or smaller file sizes. Plus, it supports tagging and metadata so your audio files stay well-organized.

Downloading full playlists and channels

Instead of saving videos one by one, yt-dlp can download entire playlists or all uploads from a channel in one go—saving time and keeping content organized. You can even choose which videos to skip or include based on publish date, length, or keywords. This feature is especially useful for keeping up with channels that upload frequently.

Extracting subtitles and metadataThe tool can pull subtitles in multiple languages, as well as metadata like video titles, upload dates, and descriptions. This is useful for archiving or making content easier to search later. You can save subtitles as separate files or embed them directly into the video. Additionally, metadata extraction helps maintain proper labeling for large media libraries.

Automation in scripts and batch processing

It works well with custom scripts, making it ideal for batch downloads or automated workflows. You can schedule it to grab new content as soon as it’s posted. It supports integration with task schedulers and cron jobs for hands-free operation. This makes it perfect for researchers, archivists, or anyone managing large-scale content downloads.

Part 2: Pros and Cons of Yt-dlp

Before deciding whether yt-dlp is right for you, it’s important to weigh its strengths and limitations. While it offers unmatched control and flexibility for downloading online content, it also comes with a few challenges for less tech-savvy users. Let’s explore them:

Pros & Cons

Easy to Use Batch Video Downloader

Easily Batch Download Videos from Mainstream Social Media at Lossless Quality With A Single Clik

Try It Free Try It Free

Part 3: Step by Step Guide: How to Use Yt-dlp Without FFmpeg

You don’t need extra software to start downloading with yt-dlp. Even without FFmpeg, you can save videos or audio in just a few simple commands. This section walks you through the process from installation to basic use:

Installing yt-dlp

Here we will guide you how to download and install it on windows:

Step 1: Download yt-dlp

First, open your browser and go to the official yt-dlp GitHub page: https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp. Scroll down, click on downloads.

Next, click on yt-dlp.exe to download it. Save the file in a folder you can easily access, such as C:\yt-dlp\.

Step 2: Add yt-dlp to your system PATH (optional but recommended)

To run it from any command prompt, it’s helpful to add it to your system PATH. Press Windows + S, type “Environment Variables,” and select “Edit the system environment variables.” In the System Properties window, click “Environment Variables…” Under System variables, locate “Path” and click “Edit.” Click “New” and add the folder path where you saved yt-dlp.exe (for example, C:\yt-dlp\). Click “OK” on all windows to save the changes.

Step 3: Test and use yt-dlp

Open Command Prompt by pressing Windows + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter.

Simple command to download video only

Type winget search yt-dlp to check that the installation is successful; the version number should appear like the image given below.

Note: The yt-dlp.exe file is not an installer—it’s the program itself. On Windows, an executable file (with a .exe extension) can run immediately when clicked or executed from the command line. Simply place yt-dlp.exe in a folder of your choice (for example, C:\ytdlp) and run it directly from that location.

Updating yt-dlp to the latest version

Regular updates keep it compatible with new sites and include bug fixes and improvements.

For the release binary:

Step 1: Run the command: yt-dlp -U

Step 2: Press enter. This ensures your binary is the newest stable version.

Simple command to download video only

To save a video, open the command prompt or terminal. Type: yt-dlp [video link]Press Enter, and yt-dlp will download the video in the default format and quality. This works for most sites without any extra settings.

Step 1: Type: yt-dlp

Step 2: Paste video link

Step 3: Press enter and video will be downloaded

Check out the saved video

Simple command to download audio only

If you only need the sound, use the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Open the command center and type yt-dlp -x The -x tells yt-dlp to extract audio only, usually in the best available quality. This is perfect for music, lectures, or podcasts.

Step 2: Paste URL

Step 3: Press enter

Check out the saved audio

Limitations without FFmpeg explained

yt-dlp can download videos and audio without FFmpeg, but several advanced features are not available. Users without FFmpeg may face restrictions in quality, format, and post-processing options:

Cannot merge separate streams

High-resolution videos often have separate video and audio files. Without FFmpeg, it cannot combine them, so you may end up with separate files instead of a single playable video.

Limited format conversion

Without FFmpeg, converting downloaded videos into different formats like MKV, or MP3 is not possible. This can be inconvenient if you need compatibility with specific devices or editing software.

No advanced editing or trimming

Tasks like cutting, cropping, or compressing videos directly after download are unavailable. Users must rely on separate software for these tasks, which adds extra steps and time.

Reduced automation capabilities

Certain automated workflows, such as merging or re-encoding during batch downloads, are not possible without FFmpeg. This limits efficiency for users managing large playlists or multiple channels.

Part 4: How to Use Yt-dlp With FFmpeg

When paired with FFmpeg, the downloader unlocks its full potential. You can merge high-quality video and audio, convert formats, and perform advanced downloads without restrictions. This section explains how to set it up and use its most powerful features.

Installing FFmpeg and integrating with yt-dlp

Check that your machine has all the latest updates installed before installing FFmpeg.

Installing FFmpeg on Windows

Visit https://ffmpeg.org/ and download the Windows package (.EXE file). Stable release builds are recommended, as they are more reliable than the frequently updated Git Master builds. Select your preferred release, download the .7z or .zip file, and extract it to a folder of your choice.

Save the downloaded FFmpeg package anywhere on your computer. For this guide, we made a folder called “ffmpeg” to hold the unzipped files. Navigate to ffmpeg-(filename) > bin to locate ffmpeg and move all it into the newly created folder.

Take note of the folder path (e.g., C:\PATH_Programs-ytdlp) and open Edit the system environment variables. This Windows utility lets you manage environment variables used by the system and applications. The PATH variable we’ll set next tells Windows which directories to search for executable files. To access it, type “path” in the Windows search bar.

In System Properties, go to the Advanced tab and click on Environment Variables.

In Environment Variables, locate User variables for Administrators, select Path, and then click Edit.

When the Edit Environment Variable dialog opens, press New (1), add the full folder path of your FFmpeg installation (2), and hit OK (3) to confirm.

After setting the PATH, you can run FFmpeg from any folder on your computer. To verify, open the command prompt from the window, type ffmpeg and press enter. Your command screen should look like the image given below:

Now let’s learn how to download video with ffmpeg integrated with yt-dlp. Follow the below mentioned steps:

Step 1: Type yt-dlp -f bestvideo+bestaudio –merge-output-format mp4

Step 2: Paste the URL

Step 3: Press enter

Check out your saved video

Commands to download and merge video and audio

To get the best quality, download separate video and audio streams and merge them automatically: yt-dlp -f bestvideo+bestaudio [video link] FFmpeg will combine the streams into one file, preserving maximum resolution and sound quality.

Commands to convert downloaded files into specific formats

You can use FFmpeg with yt-dlp to save files in your preferred format, such as MKV, MKV, or MP3: yt-dlp -f bestvideo+bestaudio --merge-output-format mp4 [video link] This ensures compatibility with your devices and editing software.

For High Quality MP3 Conversion:

For MKV Container with Best Quality:

Necessity of FFmpeg for advanced tasks

FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that enhances yt-dlp’s functionality for professional and high-quality downloads. Without it, you are limited to basic video and audio downloads, missing out on features like merging separate streams or converting formats:

Merge video and audio streams

Many high-resolution videos have separate video and audio files. FFmpeg allows yt-dlp to combine these into a single file, ensuring the best possible quality without extra steps. This guarantees that the final output plays seamlessly on any device.

Convert downloaded files

With FFmpeg, you can easily convert downloaded videos into different formats such as MP4, MKV, or MP3. This is essential for compatibility with devices, editing software, or specific project requirements. It also helps maintain consistency when managing large media libraries.

Advanced editing and trimming

FFmpeg enables tasks like trimming, cropping, or compressing files directly after download. This makes it ideal for content creators who need to prepare videos quickly without using multiple tools. You can also automate these edits for batch processing of multiple videos.

Maintain quality and control

Using FFmpeg ensures that your downloads retain the original quality while giving you complete control over codecs, bitrates, and file size. This is crucial for professional or large-scale media workflows. It also allows for fine-tuning output settings to meet specific project standards.

Comparison table: yt-dlp with FFmpeg vs without FFmpeg

Easy to Use Batch Video Downloader

Easily Batch Download Videos from Mainstream Social Media at Lossless Quality With A Single Clik

Try It Free Try It Free

Part 5: How to Batch Download Videos or Audios with Yt-dlp

The downloader can handle multiple downloads at once, saving you time when working with playlists, channels, or large collections. This section shows you how to batch download easily, whether through playlists or a custom list of links.

Using playlist URLs for batch downloading

Step 1: Copy the playlist URLs

Go to the video platform and copy the links of the playlist you want to download. Make sure it includes all the videos you need.

Step 2: Open terminal or command prompt

Open your system’s terminal (Linux/macOS) or command prompt (Windows). Now follow the below mentioned steps:

Type yt-dlp -f bestvideo+bestaudio --merge-output-format mp4

Locate the downloaded videos

Using input file with multiple URLs

Step 1: Create a text file with links

Open a plain text editor and paste one video or audio link per line. Save the file with a name like links.txt in an easily accessible folder.

Step 2: Open terminal or command prompt

Open your system’s terminal (Linux/macOS) or command prompt (Windows). Type the command yt-dlp -a links.txt

Step 3: Press Enter.

The downloader will process each URL in the file and download the corresponding videos or audios automatically. You can also add options like -f best for quality or --extract-audio for audio-only downloads.

Locate your downloaded videos

Options to limit download speed and number of retries

If you have a slow internet connection or want to avoid overloading your network, use:

yt-dlp --limit-rate 500K [link]

This limits the download speed to 500 KB/s. You can also set retry attempts with:

yt-dlp --retries 10 [link]

This ensures it keeps trying if the download fails temporarily.

Part 6. Comparison: Easier Tool to Download Videos

Although the downloader is a open source tool for video downloading, commanding knowlege is necessary for users who want to download videos, or else you will need to spend days of time figuring out how to spell commands or prompts to make its function properly. However, Uniconverter can serve as a saver for non-technical users who perfer smoother user experience. Here comes a compariosn table for you to make a quick decision of which to choose as a more handy tool for video downloading.

Part 7. Easiest Way : Batch Download Videos Without Code

If you want a quick, no-command solution, UniConverter makes downloading videos simple and straightforward. It offers many mainstream video platfroms video downlaoding like instagram, tiktok, and many video streaming platfroms like vimeo, etc. It also combines downloading, conversion, and editing tools in one easy-to-use interface, perfect for anyone who prefers a click-and-go approach.

Step-by-step guide to batch download from urls

Step 1: Open UniConverter and go to Downloader

Launch Wondershare UniConverter. On the main screen, click Downloader. In your web browser, open the playlist you wish to save and copy its URL.

Step 2: Paste the link and configure settings

Paste the playlist URL into the Downloader interface. A pop-up will appear—choose Download playlist. The software will analyze the link and display all items. By default, all files are selected. You can de-select unwanted ones, select video, audio, or thumbnail format, pick the desired quality, and hit Download.

Step 3: Track progress

The download begins, showing a progress bar with details like time remaining. The Pause button lets you stop temporarily, and Resume restarts the process whenever you want.

Benefits of built-in conversion and editing tools

Having conversion and editing features directly inside UniConverter saves time and simplifies your workflow. You don’t need to open multiple programs or worry about compatibility between files. This all-in-one approach makes managing videos and audio straightforward, even for beginners.

Convert videos and audio easily

You can switch between over 1,000 formats, making videos or audio compatible with any device. This ensures you can watch or listen on computers, phones, or other media players without extra steps. It also allows you to prepare files for editing or sharing instantly.

Trim, crop, and merge clips

Edit downloaded videos immediately. Cut out unwanted parts, crop the frame, or merge multiple clips into one seamless file—all without leaving the app. These features help create polished content without needing professional software.

Compress files for easy sharing

Large files can be compressed without losing much quality. This makes it easier to share videos via email, messaging apps, or cloud storage. Compression also helps save storage space on your devices.

Maintain quality and speed

Even with conversion or edits, UniConverter preserves original quality while performing tasks quickly. This is especially helpful when handling large downloads or multiple files. You can complete multiple tasks in one session without slowing down your workflow.

All-in-one workflow

By combining download, conversion, and editing, UniConverter eliminates the need for multiple tools. It’s a complete solution for users who want convenience and efficiency in one place. This integration ensures a smooth, hassle-free experience from start to finish.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we’ve shown how yt-dlp makes video and audio downloads powerful and flexible, from single clips to full playlists. You learned its pros, cons, and step-by-step methods—with or without FFmpeg—and how to handle batch downloads efficiently. For those who prefer a simpler, click-and-go approach, Wondershare UniConverter provides an all-in-one solution for downloading, converting, and editing media without any technical hurdles.

With Wondershare UniConverter, managing videos and audio becomes effortless, whether you’re trimming, converting to different formats, or compressing files for sharing. It’s fast, reliable, and perfect for anyone who wants professional results without the command-line complexity.

Easy to Use Batch Video Downloader

Download, convert, and edit videos effortlessly with Wondershare UniConverter- fast, simple, and all-in-one!

Try It Free Try It Free

FAQs