Yt-dlp Commands: The Complete Tutorial For Beginners (2025)

Have you ever wanted to save your favorite videos from the internet?
Whether it's a funny cat video or a tutorial you want to watch later, Yt-dlp is here
to help! In this comprehensive yt-dlp tutorial, we will explain what yt-dlp is, how
to install it on Linux, and the most commonly used yt-dlp commands to download
audio and video from YouTube and various other websites.

Table of Contents

1. WHAT IS YT-DLP? 3

2. KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YT-DLP AND YOUTUBE-DL/YOUTUBE-

DLC 3

3. INSTALL YT-DLP IN LINUX 4

3.1. The Officially Recommended Way to Install yt-dlp 4

3.2. Install yt-dlp using Pip 5

3.3. Install Yt-dlp via Official Linux Repositories 6

3.4. Install FFmpeg on Linux 7

3.5. Install yt-dlp on Android using Termux 7

3.6. Updating yt-dlp 8

4. YT-DLP TUTORIAL WITH EXAMPLES 9

4.1. Download a Video or Playlist 9

4.2. Download Multiple Videos in Parallel 10

4.3. Download Audio-only from a Video 10

4.4. Download a Video with Description, Metadata, Annotations, Subtitles, and Thumbnail 12

4.5. Display All Available Video or Playlist Formats 12

4.6. View the Size of YouTube Videos 14

4.7. Download Videos in Specific Quality and Format 15

4.8. Download Videos Interactively 17

4.9. Downloading Videos using Format IDs 18

4.10. Download Videos by File Extension 19

4.11. Set Size Limits for Video Downloads 19

4.12. Download Videos by Date 20

4.13. Download Specific Videos from a Playlist 21

4.14. Downloading Videos Based on Age Suitability 21

4.15. Setting Download Speed Limits 22

4.16. Resuming Downloads 22

4.17. Download YouTube Thumbnail Images 22

4.18. Stream Videos Directly to a Media Player 23

4.19. Access Youtube-dl Help 23

5. TROUBLESHOOTING YT-DLP 24

5.1. Fix "Unable to download video data: HTTP Error 403: Forbidden" Error 24

5.2. Error: Unable to Open for Writing: [Errno 36] File Name Too Long 24

6. YT-DLP CHEAT SHEET 25

Basic Download: 25
Format Selection: 25
Download Options: 25
Filtering: 26
Advanced: 26

7. YT-DLP COMMANDS CHEATSHEET IMAGE 27

8. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 28

CONCLUSION 29
1. What is yt-dlp?
yt-dlp is a free and open-source command-line tool that can be used to
download videos from YouTube and other video hosting websites.
yt-dlp is a fork of the now-discontinued youtube-dlc, with the goal of
adding new features and patches while also staying compatible with the original
project.
It supports a wide range of video and audio formats, and it can also be used
to download subtitles and metadata. yt-dlp is available for Windows, macOS, and
Linux.

2. Key Differences Between yt-dlp and

youtube-dl/youtube-dlc
Some of yt-dlp's default options differ from those of youtube-dl and youtube-dlc.
Here are some of the key differences:
 Unlike youtube-dl and youtube-dlc, yt-dlp exclusively supports Python 3.7
and above. In contrast, youtube-dl extends its compatibility to Python 2.6+
and 3.2+.
 While ffmpeg is the recommended option for handling media, avconv is not
endorsed as an alternative to ffmpeg within yt-dlp.
 yt-dlp deviates slightly from youtube-dl in the storage of configuration files.
 The format of -F output in yt-dlp has changed.
 The options --auto-number (-A), --title (-t), and --literal (-l) have been
deprecated and no longer function as expected.
 By default, yt-dlp activates --no-abort-on-error.
 The default output template in yt-dlp differs from that of youtube-dl. yt-dlp
uses %(title)s [%(id)s].%(ext)s by default, while youtube-dl uses %(title)s-%
(id)s.%(ext)s.
  yt-dlp's default format sorting prioritizes higher resolution and better codecs
over higher bitrates, unlike youtube-dl.
 The default format selector in yt-dlp is bv*+ba/b, meaning combined video
+ audio formats that surpass video-only formats are preferred.
 Unlike youtube-dlc, yt-dlp does not permit the merging of multiple
audio/video streams into one file by default (to avoid conflicts with -f
bv*+ba).
 Metadata files, such as thumbnails, descriptions, or infojson, are written for
playlists as well when using yt-dlp.
 yt-dlp lists unavailable videos for YouTube playlists.
 YouTube's upload dates extracted by yt-dlp are in UTC when available.
 yt-dlp excludes some internal metadata (e.g., filenames) from the infojson by
default.
 yt-dlp's sanitization of invalid characters in filenames differs and is
considered more intelligent compared to youtube-dl.
 yt-dlp attempts to parse external downloader outputs into standard
progress output when possible, currently implemented for aria2c. To
retain the downloader output as-is, use --compat-options no-external-
downloader-progress.

For more key differences, please visit the yt-dlp GitHub repository. The link is
provided at the end of this guide.

3. Install yt-dlp in Linux

yt-dlp can be installed in multiple ways.

3.1. The Officially Recommended Way to Install yt-dlp

If you're using a UNIX-like operating system such as Linux, MacOS, or BSD, you
can easily install yt-dlp by following one of these methods:
Method 1: Using Curl
sudo curl -L https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -o
/usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
Method 2: Using wget
sudo wget https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -O
/usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
Method 3: Using aria2c
sudo aria2c https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp --dir
/usr/local/bin -o yt-dlp
sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
To keep yt-dlp up to date, simply run the following command:
sudo yt-dlp -U

3.2. Install yt-dlp using Pip

To get yt-dlp up and running, you can use Python's package manager, Pip. Here are
various installation methods:
Method 1: Standard Installation
python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp
This command will install yt-dlp and ensure it's up to date.
Method 2: Minimal Installation
If you prefer a lean installation without optional dependencies:
python3 -m pip install --no-deps -U yt-dlp
This command installs yt-dlp without any optional components.

Method 3: Cutting Edge (Master Branch)

For those who want the latest features and updates from the master branch:
python3 -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel
python3 -m pip install --force-reinstall
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/archive/master.tar.gz
Please note that on some systems, you might need to use py or python instead
of python3.
Updating yt-dlp:
To keep yt-dlp current, run the following command:
python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

3.3. Install Yt-dlp via Official Linux Repositories

For your convenience, some Linux distributions offer Yt-dlp in their official
repositories, allowing you to install it using your default package manager. Below
are yt-dlp installation instructions for different Linux distributions:
Alpine Linux:

doas apk -U add yt-dlp

Arch Linux, EndeavourOS, Manjaro Linux:

sudo pacman -S yt-dlp

Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS: Install essential dependencies

including Python, libexpat, and OpenSSL.sudo apt install yt-dlp

Fedora:

sudo dnf install yt-dlp

openSUSE:

sudo zypper install yt-dlp

Please be aware that the version available in official repositories may sometimes be
slightly outdated. For access to the latest features and updates, it's often
recommended to use the officially recommend method involving curl or wget, as
shown above. These methods ensure you get the most up-to-date version of yt-dlp.

3.4. Install FFmpeg on Linux

For Yt-dlp to smoothly download 720p videos from YouTube and perform video
format conversions, it relies on FFmpeg. To set up FFmpeg on your Linux system,
please consult the following guide.
 How to install FFmpeg on Linux

3.5. Install yt-dlp on Android using Termux

We can install yt-dlp on an Android device via Termux.
First, install Termux on your Android phone.
Next, open Termux app and run the following command to grant permission for
Termux to access your phone's storage, allowing file downloads.

termux-setup-storage

Update all the packages in Termux to ensure you have the latest versions.

pkg update && pkg upgrade

Install essential dependencies including Python, libexpat, and OpenSSL.

pkg install libexpat openssl python

Install yt-dlp and ensure it's up to date. Pip is Python's package manager and will
handle the installation for you.

pip install -U yt-dlp

If you plan to work extensively with video operations, it's recommended to install
FFmpeg. This step is optional but useful for video-related tasks.

pkg install ffmpeg

To keep yt-dlp up-to-date, run the following command periodically:

pip install -U yt-dlp

This ensures that you're always using the latest version of yt-dlp on your Android
device through Termux. You can now enjoy downloading your favorite content on
your Android with ease!

3.6. Updating yt-dlp

If you've manually installed yt-dlp using curl or wget or aria2c, you can update it
by executing the following command:

sudo yt-dlp -U

For those who installed yt-dlp using pip, use the following command to update:

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

If you installed yt-dlp using your distribution's package manager, update yt-dlp
according to your system's package manager. For example, on Arch Linux, update
yt-dlp with:

sudo pacman -Syu

On Debian and Ubuntu systems, you can update yt-dlp using:

sudo apt update

Keeping yt-dlp up to date ensures you have access to the latest features and bug
fixes.

4. yt-dlp Tutorial with Examples

yt-dlp usage is almost identical to youtube-dl's, with only a few minor
differences. In this guide, we will learn some of the most commonly used yt-dlp
commands to download videos and playlists from YouTube and other websites.
4.1. Download a Video or Playlist
To download a single video or an entire playlist from YouTube, simply enter the
URL in the following format:

yt-dlp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

To download a video or playlist with a custom name, use the -o flag followed by
the desired name. For example:

yt-dlp -o 'Abdul Kalam Wings of Fire Autobiography'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

To download a video or playlist to a specific location, use the -o flag followed by

the target directory. For example:

yt-dlp -o '~/Downloads/Abdul Kalam Biography'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

To include additional details in the filename, such as the title, uploader name,
upload date, and playlist name, use the following format:

yt-dlp -o '%(title)s by %(uploader)s on %(upload_date)s in %

(playlist)s.%(ext)s' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Here is a breakdown of the different options used in the above commands:

 yt-dlp: The name of the command-line tool used to download videos and
playlists.
 -o: The flag used to specify the output filename or directory.
 %(title)s: The title of the video or playlist.
 %(uploader)s: The name of the video or playlist uploader.
 %(upload_date)s: The date on which the video or playlist was uploaded.
 %(playlist)s: The name of the playlist, if the video is part of a playlist.
 %(ext)s: The file extension of the downloaded video or audio file.
4.2. Download Multiple Videos in Parallel
There may be instances where you need to download multiple videos from a
website or any other source. In such cases, you have a couple of convenient
options:
Option 1: Download by Mentioning URLs
You can download multiple videos by specifying their URLs in the command,
separated by spaces like so:

yt-dlp <url1> <url2>

This method allows you to fetch several videos in one go, simply by listing their
URLs.
Option 2: Use a Text File
Alternatively, you can create a text file containing all the video URLs you want to
download and then pass this file as an argument to Youtube-dl:

yt-dlp -a url.txt

By using this command, yt-dlp will automatically download all the videos listed in
the url.txt file. This approach is particularly handy when dealing with numerous
videos, as it streamlines the process for you.

4.3. Download Audio-only from a Video

To download a video as Audio i.e. extract audio from a video, use -x flag like
below.

yt-dlp -x https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

You can also specify the output audio format using the -x --audio-format flag.

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=t5b20oLaIaw

This command extracts and downloads only the audio from the given video.
[youtube] Extracting URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=t5b20oLaIaw

[youtube] t5b20oLaIaw: Downloading webpage

[youtube] t5b20oLaIaw: Downloading ios player API JSON

[youtube] t5b20oLaIaw: Downloading android player API JSON

[youtube] t5b20oLaIaw: Downloading m3u8 information

[info] t5b20oLaIaw: Downloading 1 format(s): 251

[download] Destination: Dr. Apj Abdul Kalam ｜ Wings of Fire ｜

Autobiography ｜ English ｜ Inspiring Audio Story [t5b20oLaIaw].webm

[download] 100% of 71.04MiB in 00:00:21 at 3.32MiB/s

[ExtractAudio] Destination: Dr. Apj Abdul Kalam ｜ Wings of Fire ｜

Autobiography ｜ English ｜ Inspiring Audio Story [t5b20oLaIaw].mp3
Deleting original file Dr. Apj Abdul Kalam ｜ Wings of Fire ｜
Autobiography ｜ English ｜ Inspiring Audio Story [t5b20oLaIaw].webm
(pass -k to keep)
 Download Audio-only from a Video

4.4. Download a Video with Description, Metadata,

Annotations, Subtitles, and Thumbnail
To download a video along with its accompanying details, including description,
metadata, annotations, subtitles, and thumbnail, use the following command:

yt-dlp --write-description --write-info-json --write-annotations

--write-sub --write-thumbnail <URL>

With this command, you can capture not only the video itself but also all the
associated elements that enhance your viewing experience.

4.5. Display All Available Video or Playlist Formats

To view a comprehensive list of all the available formats for a video or playlist,
utilize the following command:

yt-dlp --list-formats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Alternatively, you can achieve the same result with -F flag:

yt-dlp -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

These commands provide you with an overview of the various formats in which
the content is accessible, assisting you in making an informed selection.

Display All Available Formats of a Video

As you see from the output, yt-dlp presents a comprehensive display of all the
accessible video formats in an organized tabular column. Moving from left to right,
this display includes essential details such as
 ID,
 Extension (EXT),
 Resolution,
 Frames Per Second (FPS),
 Channel (CH),
 Filesize,
 Total Bitrate (TBR),
  Protocol (PROTO),
 Video Codec (VCODEC),
 Video Bitrate (VBR),
 Audio Codec (ACODEC),
 Audio Bitrate (ABR),
 Audio Sampling Rate (ASR),
 and additional information.
This format proves especially useful when you need to download a video in a
specific quality or format. It allows for quick and informed decisions when
selecting the most suitable format for your needs.

4.6. View the Size of YouTube Videos

To obtain the file size of a video even before downloading it, use the -F flag as
follows:

yt-dlp -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

View the Size of YouTube Videos

In the output, the file size is displayed in the 6th column, allowing you to easily
identify the video's storage requirements.

4.7. Download Videos in Specific Quality and Format

By default, yt-dlp will download videos in the best available quality if you don't
pass any options. However, you have the flexibility to download a video or playlist
in a specific quality or format as per your preferences.
YouTube offers the following quality options for video downloads:
 best: This selects the highest quality format available, including both video
and audio.
 worst: It picks the lowest quality format for both video and audio.
 bestvideo: This option selects the best quality video-only format (e.g.,
DASH video).
 worstvideo: Similar to bestvideo but chooses the lowest quality video-only
format.
 bestaudio: This selects the best quality audio-only format.
 worstaudio: Similar to bestaudio but chooses the lowest quality audio-only
format.
For example, if you want to download the video in the best available quality for
both audio and video, use this command:

yt-dlp -f best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Similarly, to download audio-only with the best quality:

yt-dlp -f bestaudio <URL>

To download the lowest quality video-only format, use this command:

yt-dlp -f worstvideo <URL>

You can also combine different format options, like this:

yt-dlp -f bestvideo+bestaudio <URL>

This command downloads the best quality video-only and audio-only formats and
merges them using ffmpeg or avconv. Ensure you have one of these tools installed
on your system.
If you prefer not to merge the audio and video, replace the plus (+) operator with a
comma (,) like this:

yt-dlp -f 'bestvideo,bestaudio' https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=t5b20oLaIaw -o '%(title)s.f%(format_id)s.%(ext)s'

This command downloads the best quality video and audio separately, resulting in
two files. In this case, it's recommended to use an output template (-o option)
because bestvideo and bestaudio may have the same file name.
You can even download a video or playlist in a specific quality with a defined
resolution. For example, to download the best quality video with a resolution of
480 pixels or lower (less than or equal to 480p), use this command:

yt-dlp -f "best[height<=480]" <URL>

As mentioned earlier, you can combine format selectors to target a specific video
quality. The following command downloads the best available format (both audio
and video) but no better than 480p:

yt-dlp -f 'bestvideo[height<=480]+bestaudio/best[height<=480]'
<URL>

You can confirm whether yt-dlp has downloaded the video in the desired quality by
examining the media file information with tools like mediainfo.
You also have the flexibility to use abbreviated flag names. For instance, instead
of typing out "bestvideo," you can use "bv." Similarly, you can use "w" for "worst"
and "wv" for "worstvideo."
Examples:
To download the best video-only format and best audio-only format or the best
combined format if video-only is unavailable, run:
yt-dlp -f "bv+ba/b" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Download the worst video quality available:

yt-dlp -f "wv*+wa/w" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

For more abbreviated flags examples, look at the Format Selection page.
This shorthand notation simplifies your commands for more efficient usage.

4.8. Download Videos Interactively

You can use the -f - flag to interactively select the format for each video. This will
prompt you with a list of available formats, along with their ID, extension,
resolution, file size, and audio/video codec.
To download a specific format, type the ID of the file and press Enter.

Interactive Format Selection

To download the default selection, press Enter without typing anything. To exit
the interactive format selection prompt, press Ctrl+C.
4.9. Downloading Videos using Format IDs
If you wish to download multiple formats of the same video, you can use a comma
as a separator. For example, using -f 22,17,18 will download all three of these
formats, provided they are available.
The numbers 22, 17, and 18 correspond to the IDs of the respective video formats.
These IDs are referred to as "Format codes" in youtube-dl's output.
You can discover these IDs by listing the available formats using either of the
following commands:

yt-dlp --list-formats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Or

yt-dlp -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

The IDs for the available formats are listed in the first column. The best quality
format is typically found towards the end, often with an ID like 247. Therefore, to
download the best quality format, you can use the following command:

yt-dlp -f 247 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

If you intend to download multiple videos, and they do not share the same
available formats, you can specify the order of preference using slashes. It's
important to note that formats on the left-hand side are prioritized.
For instance, using -f 22/17/18 means it will attempt to download format 22 if
available, then format 17 if format 22 is not available, and so on. If none of the
specified formats are available, it will notify you that no suitable formats for
download are found.
Please remember that the slash is left-associative, which means formats on the left-
hand side are given preference during the selection process.
4.10. Download Videos by File Extension
To download video(s) in your preferred format, such as MP4, simply execute the
following command:

yt-dlp --format mp4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Or, you can use the shorthand version:

yt-dlp -f mp4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

As mentioned in the previous section, it's essential to note that not all videos may
be available in your desired formats. In such cases, yt-dlp will automatically
download the best available format.
For instance, the following command will download the best quality MP4 format
file. If the MP4 format is unavailable for the given video, it will download the best
alternative format:

yt-dlp -f
'bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]/best'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

If you prefer to save these files with custom filenames, you can do so using the
following command:

yt-dlp -f mp4 -o '%(title)s.f%(format_id)s.%(ext)s'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

4.11. Set Size Limits for Video Downloads

When downloading multiple videos from a playlist, you may have a preference for
videos within a specific size range.
For instance, to ensure that no videos smaller than a specified size, say 100MB, are
downloaded, use the following command:

yt-dlp --min-filesize 100M <playlist_url>

Conversely, if you wish to avoid downloading videos larger than a given size, you
can use:
yt-dlp --max-filesize 100M <playlist_url>

You also have the option to combine format selection operators to download videos
of a particular size. The subsequent command, for instance, will download the best
video-only format, as long as it doesn't exceed 100MB:

yt-dlp -f 'best[filesize<100M]' https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=t5b20oLaIaw

4.12. Download Videos by Date

yt-dlp provides the capability to filter and download videos or playlists based on
their upload date, which proves incredibly useful when dealing with extensive
playlists containing hundreds of videos.
For example, to download videos uploaded on an exact date, say September 30,
2023, you can use the following command:

yt-dlp --date 20230930 <URL>

To download videos uploaded on or before a specific date:

yt-dlp --datebefore 20230930 <URL>

If you want to fetch videos uploaded on or after a particular date:

yt-dlp --dateafter 20230930 <URL>

For downloading only the videos uploaded in the last 6 months:

$ yt-dlp --dateafter now-6months <URL>

To download videos within a specified date range, such as from September 30,
2022, to September 30, 2023, use the following command:

yt-dlp --dateafter 20220930 --datebefore 20230930 <URL>

4.13. Download Specific Videos from a Playlist
This is another valuable feature offered by yt-dlp, allowing you to download
specific songs or videos from a playlist that might contain hundreds of entries.
For instance, to download the 20th video from a playlist, execute the following
command:

yt-dlp --playlist-items 20 <playlist_url>

You can also simultaneously download and convert the video to another format. In
the following example, the command will download the first video from the
playlist and convert it to .mp3 format:

yt-dlp --playlist-items 1 -x --audio-format mp3 <playlist_url>

Likewise, to download multiple random videos, simply specify the indices of the
videos in the playlist separated by commas, as shown below:

yt-dlp --playlist-items 2,3,7,10 <playlist_url>

You can also define a range of videos to download. To download a video playlist
starting from a specific video, say the 10th one, and continuing until the end:

yt-dlp --playlist-start 10 <playlist_url>

To download only the videos ranging from the 2nd to the 5th position in a playlist,
use:

yt-dlp --playlist-start 2 --playlist-end 5 <playlist_url>

4.14. Downloading Videos Based on Age Suitability

yt-dlp offers another valuable feature that allows you to download videos suitable
for a specific age group.
For example, if you want to download all "Let's Play" videos that are not marked
as "NSFW" or age-restricted for 7-year-olds from a playlist, you can use the
following command:
yt-dlp --match-title "let's play" --age-limit 7 --reject-title
"nsfw" <playlist_url>

This command ensures that only videos appropriate for a 7-year-old audience will
be downloaded, filtering out any "NSFW" or age-restricted content.

4.15. Setting Download Speed Limits

To control the download speed, you can utilize the -r option. For instance, the
command below will restrict the speed to 50 kilobytes per second:

yt-dlp -r 50K <URL>

Keep in mind that the speed is specified in bytes per second.

4.16. Resuming Downloads

Yt-dlp typically automatically resumes downloads from where they were
previously interrupted. However, if for any reason it doesn't resume a download,
you can forcefully continue downloading partially completed files using the -c or --
continue flag:

yt-dlp -c <URL>

This flag ensures that the download picks up from where it left off, even if it was
interrupted earlier.

4.17. Download YouTube Thumbnail Images

To download thumbnail image of a given Youtube video, run:

yt-dlp --ignore-errors --write-thumbnail --skip-download $1 $2 $3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw

Here's what each part of the command does:

1. yt-dlp: This invokes the yt-dlp program.
2. --ignore-errors: This option tells yt-dlp to continue downloading even if
some errors occur.
3. --write-thumbnail: This option instructs yt-dlp to download the thumbnail
image for the video and save it to a file.
4. --skip-download: This option tells yt-dlp to skip downloading the actual
video file.
 5. $1 $2 $3: These are positional parameters that can be used to pass
additional options or arguments to yt-dlp. However, in this command, they
are not being used.
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw: This is the URL of the
YouTube video for which you want to download the thumbnail.

So, when you run this command, yt-dlp will attempt to download the thumbnail
image for the specified YouTube video and save it to a file in the current directory.
It will skip downloading the actual video file, and it will continue even if some
errors occur during the process.
This command can be useful if you only need the thumbnail image of a YouTube
video and don't want to download the entire video file, which can save time and
disk space.

4.18. Stream Videos Directly to a Media Player

To stream media directly to your media player, you need to instruct yt-dlp to
stream to stdout using the '-o -' option. Additionally, your media player should be
capable of reading from stdin.
You can achieve this by piping the output of yt-dlp to your media player. For
example, to stream to VLC, you can use the following command:

yt-dlp -o - "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5b20oLaIaw" | vlc -

If you have ffmpeg installed, you can use the '-o - --downloader ffmpeg -f
"bv*+ba/b"' options when streaming to stdout to get the best available quality."

4.19. Access Youtube-dl Help

While these examples should suffice for using yt-dlp to download online videos,
it's worth noting that yt-dlp offers a wide array of additional options. For in-depth
information, you can consult the yt-dlp help section by executing:

yt-dlp --help

5. Troubleshooting yt-dlp
Below, you'll find a list of common errors that you may encounter occasionally.
The majority of these issues can be resolved by updating yt-dlp to the latest
version.
However, there are a few errors, like the ones listed below, that may persist
even when using an updated version of Youtube-dl.

5.1. Fix "Unable to download video data: HTTP Error 403:

Forbidden" Error
When downloading videos from YouTube, sometimes you will get an error like
below.

ERROR: unable to download video data: HTTP Error 403: Forbidden

To fix this error, simply clear the yt-dlp cache using the following command:
$ yt-dlp --rm-cache-dir
Removing cache dir /home/ostechnix/.cache/yt-dlp …

5.2. Error: Unable to Open for Writing: [Errno 36] File

Name Too Long
If you encounter this error while attempting to download a YouTube video with a
lengthy name, follow these steps to resolve it:
You will likely see an error message similar to this one:

[youtube] _XEgknKEBws: Downloading webpage

ERROR: unable to open for writing: [Errno 36] File name too
long: '\xe0\xae\xa8\xe0\xaf\x8b

[...]

\xe0\xaf\x8d\xe0\xae\x95\xe0\xae\xae\xe0\xaf\x8d-
_XEgknKEBws.f136.mp4.part

To resolve this error, simply download the video with a shorter name of your
choice using the "-o" flag. For example:

yt-dlp -f 'bestvideo[ext=mp4]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]' -o video.mp4

<URL>
In this command, the "-o" flag allows you to specify a custom name for the
downloaded video, ensuring it has a shorter filename.

6. yt-dlp Cheat Sheet

This cheatsheet provides you with some essential yt-dlp commands to get you
started on downloading videos and playlists efficiently.
Basic Download:
Download a Video:

yt-dlp <video_url>

Download a Playlist:

yt-dlp <playlist_url>

Format Selection:
Select Best Quality:

yt-dlp -f best <video_url>

Select Specific Format:

yt-dlp -f <format_id> <video_url>

Audio-Only Format:

yt-dlp -f bestaudio <video_url>

Download Options:
Limit Download Speed:

yt-dlp -r 50K <video_url>

Resume Download:

yt-dlp -c <video_url>

Filtering:
Filter by Date:
yt-dlp --date 20230101 <video_url>

Filter by Age Limit:

yt-dlp --age-limit 18 <video_url>

Filter by Title:

yt-dlp --match-title "keyword" <playlist_url>

Advanced:
Download by Format Codes:

yt-dlp -f 22,17,18 <video_url>

Download by File Extension:

yt-dlp --format mp4 <video_url>

Set Size Limit:

yt-dlp --min-filesize 100M <playlist_url>

Download Specific Videos from Playlist:

yt-dlp --playlist-items 1,3,5 <playlist_url>

Download Thumbnails:

yt-dlp --ignore-errors --write-thumbnail --skip-download $1 $2 $3

<video_url>

Remember to replace <video_url> and <playlist_url> with the actual URLs you
want to download from.

7. Yt-dlp Commands Cheatsheet Image

If you often use yt-dlp to download media, you can use this cheatsheet for a quick
reference.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
The following are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for yt-dlp.
Q: What is yt-dlp?
A: yt-dlp is a command-line program used to download videos and playlists from
various websites, including YouTube. It is a fork of youtube-dl with additional
features and improvements.
Q: How do I install yt-dlp on my system?
A: You can install yt-dlp on Linux, macOS, and Windows using wget or curl or pip.
On Linux, you can also use package managers like apt or dnf on Debian/Ubuntu
or Fedora, respectively. For detailed installation instructions, refer to the Install
yt-dlp section above.

Q: Can I use yt-dlp on Android?

A: Yes, you can use yt-dlp on Android by installing it through the Termux app.
Refer to the documentation for specific instructions on setting up yt-dlp on
Android.

Q: How do I update yt-dlp to the latest version?

A: You can update yt-dlp by running this command: yt-dlp -U

This will fetch and install the latest version of yt-dlp.

Q: How can I download videos in a specific quality or format?

A: yt-dlp offers a range of options to specify the format or quality of downloaded
videos. You can use the -f or --format flag followed by format codes to select a
specific format or quality.

Q: Can I download only the audio of a video?

A: Yes, you can download only the audio of a video using yt-dlp. Use the -x flag
to extract audio, and specify the desired audio format with --audio-format. For
example:

yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3

Q: How do I set a download speed limit?

A: To limit the download speed, use the -r flag followed by the desired speed in
bytes per second. For example, to limit the speed to 50KB/s:
yt-dlp -r 50K <video_url>
Q: How can I filter videos by upload date?
A: yt-dlp allows you to filter videos by their upload date. Use --date, --
datebefore, or --dateafter flags followed by the date in the format YYYYMMDD to
specify your filter criteria.

Q: Is yt-dlp compatible with scripts and automation?

A: Yes, yt-dlp can be integrated into scripts and automated workflows. You can
use it with various scripting languages to perform batch downloads, schedule
downloads, and more.
Q: Can I download videos from websites other than YouTube?
A: Yes, yt-dlp supports a wide range of websites, not just YouTube. You can use
it to download videos and playlists from various online platforms.

Q: Is yt-dlp legal to use?

A: yt-dlp itself is a legal tool for downloading publicly available videos. However,
it's important to respect copyright and intellectual property rights when using
yt-dlp, and avoid downloading content without proper authorization.

Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have learned some of the most commonly used yt-dlp
commands to download videos and audio from YouTube and various other
websites.
yt-dlp is one of my favorite downloader program for Linux. It offers a versatile
and comprehensive set of features for downloading videos and playlists from
hundreds of websites.
If you're looking for a best audio/video downloader for Linux, yt-dlp is worth
trying!
Resource:
 yt-dlp GitHub Repository
Suggested read:
 20+ FFmpeg Commands For Beginners