How to get started with youtube-dl from the command prompt

[Baldrick]

Using youtube-dl can you easily download videos from many sites. It has no GUI but it's not that complicated to use from the command prompt.


Software:
youtube-dl
ffmpeg may be required, download the [Win]-version and extract ffmpeg.exe to same folder as youtube-dl.exe.



Guide:
Download youtube-dl and put it in for example C:\videos\youtube-dl.exe .
Open up the Command Prompt from the Windows Start and search for Command Prompt.


Now type (you can copy and paste into the command prompt also):

c:\videos\youtube-dl.exe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8UZQkN52o4

Replace the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8UZQkN52o4 with the video url you want to download.




The downloaded file will appear in same folder as the Command prompt (C:\Users\Username as default in Windows 7)



Done.

[sneaker]

For some operations youtube-dl needs ffmpeg. For example to mux video and audio into a single file if they are separate streams (as is often the case with youtube). Download ffmpeg and copy the ffmpeg.exe (it's in the "bin" sub-folder) into the same directory as youtube-dl.exe.

[sophisticles]

For some operations youtube-dl needs ffmpeg. For example to mux video and audio into a single file if they are separate streams (as is often the case with youtube). Download ffmpeg and copy the ffmpeg.exe (it's in the "bin" sub-folder) into the same directory as youtube-dl.exe.

This may be true on Windows but on Linux all you do is youtube-dl url-to-video and done, the -k switch will allow you to keep the separate video and audio files if you so desire.

[video.baba]

youtube-dl is so cool, allowed me to download stuff from sites many others did not, mainly non-Western site. I have a front-end for it, I made it because I download stuff for my daughter. Is it popular enough (youtube-dl) to warrant a front-end (GUI)?

[ron spencer]

youtube-dl is so cool, allowed me to download stuff from sites many others did not, mainly non-Western site. I have a front-end for it, I made it because I download stuff for my daughter. Is it popular enough (youtube-dl) to warrant a front-end (GUI)?

There is a gui I use, but it needs python installed, which is no big deal. Here is the GUI:

https://github.com/MrS0m30n3/youtube-dl-gui

Post your GUI if you like!

[Marsia Mariner]

Download ffmpeg and copy the ffmpeg.exe (it's in the "bin" sub-folder) into the same directory as youtube-dl.exe.

That's unnecessary. ffmpeg.exe can be placed "anywhere", as long as its directory is listed in the PATH environment-variable.

[Ego_Shredder]

I'm trying to input YouTube video URLs into MPC-HC media player. It works with SVPtube but that program rarely works for me, so I am wanting something more reliable as a method. I've also been looking at SMTube which has a settings page with the option to launch external players like MPC-HC, and it has one text entry box for inputting parameters. This program also supports youtube-dl but I am not sure how to get it working with MPC-HC. It works fine with the other players in its list, but I need MPC-HC because that supports my Broadcom BCM970015 video decoder card. So does anyone here have any ideas or instructions they can offer please?

[peacefulname]

Following the directions on suggested video (on this site), I downloaded youtube-dl and installed Python 2.7.13

I created a file folder on my desktop called youtube-dl and put the youtube-dl.exe in the folder.

After opening the command prompt in the youtube-dl folder, I try to download a youtube video as test, using this syntax:



I keep getting this error. Is there something I am missing?

TIA

[sneaker]

It seems there is no youtube-dl.exe in the folder. Did you download the actual Windows binary from the youtube-dl website or something else? Some are for non-Windows platforms.

Enter the command "dir" to show all files in the folder.

[dannyboy48888]

I usually do youtube-dl.exe -f (youtube url) to list the streams. then I do youtube-dl.exe -F (stream#) (youtube url). if you pick the MP4 stream will have to run again to grab the stand alone audio. a drop into mkvtoolnix makes it complete.

[sneaker]

-F is for the list, -f is to download
Together with ffmpeg youtube-dl can mux automatically. You can also set preferred stream resolutions and codecs. (See the doc)

[dannyboy48888]

My bad, I usually mix them up at first then realize the capitalization afterwards lol

[peacefulname]

It is an application. Isn't this the correct file? I used the download link from videohelp.com tools.

[Baldrick]

Rename it to youtube-dl.exe then.

[peacefulname]

I tried renaming it to youtube-dl.exe. Same error message.

[Baldrick]

Rename it to youtube-dl then. Because you are hiding the .exe extension so it was probably named youtube-dl.exe.exe.

Or try a youtube-dl frontend instead like dlnow video downloader, youtube-dl-gui, stream gulper, etc.

[peacefulname]

I had double named it youtube.exe.exe. Taking out the extra exe it finally worked. Thanks!

[Baldrick]

I have named the youtube-dl direct download from www.videohelp.com/software/youtube-dl to just "youtube-dl.exe" now. Old versions are named youtube-dl-date.exe.

[awgie]

I have named the youtube-dl direct download from www.videohelp.com/software/youtube-dl to just "youtube-dl.exe" now. Old versions are named youtube-dl-date.exe.

I've been renaming the old ones as "youtube-dl.exe.old1" (old2, old3, etc), but I suppose the date would make more sense if I ever wanted to revert to a specific old version.

[MaverickTse]

One can use chocolately to simplify(?) installation and upgrade.
https://chocolatey.org/

I'd like to add that youtube-dl accepts passing in user ID and password from the command line. This is optional for youtube, but essential for downloading from sites like NicoNico. This feature is missing from most if not all the youtube-dl frontend GUI

[jimdagys]

Can you give the exact youtube-dl code example that shows how to download a sample from NicoNico? If there is user id and password, just put x's in place of the user id and y's in place of the password.

[MaverickTse]

from the help

Authentication Options:
-u, --username USERNAME Login with this account ID
-p, --password PASSWORD Account password. If this option is left out, youtube-dl will ask interactively.
-2, --twofactor TWOFACTOR Two-factor authentication code
-n, --netrc Use .netrc authentication data
--video-password PASSWORD Video password (vimeo, smotri, youku)

Example:

youtube-dl -u your_id -p your_pwd video_URL

[raffriff42]

Hey yall, long time no post, but I thought I would toss out my handy batch files for youtube-dl.
They fill in some command line options to add d/l progress and make a useful video title.

Here is a list of all files:

// try to download a specific (max.) size
youtube-dl-480.bat
youtube-dl-720.bat
youtube-dl-1080.bat

// download best available
youtube-dl-best.bat

// download audio only
youtube-dl-audio.bat

// open video thumbnails in browser
// NOTE: you must set the browser path (should work with any browser)
youtube-dl-imgs.bat

Available on my DropBox folder (click 'Download' to get all as 5KB ZIP file)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5dby6zhfmgy0d1q/AABljLDl3PXaSe6lkfr3_WeOa?dl=0

Here's one as an example:

@echo off

:: ===================================
:: THIS FILE 
:: downloads a video @ 720p resolution (or lower)
:: accepts full URLs 
::    (including non-YouTube URLs e.e. Twitch, Twitter)
:: or YouTube identifier only

:: BATCH FILE USAGE: 
:: * add youtube-dl install folder to Windows PATH
:: * add these batch files to install folder
:: * open a command prompt in your download folder
::    (protip: and keep it open)
:: * type a batch file name + file ID or URL, e.g.
::     youtube-dl-720 dQw4w9WgXcQ
::   or 
::     youtube-dl-720 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
:: ===================================

:: full URL, no quotes (auto split on '=')
if not (%2)==() SHIFT

@echo on
youtube-dl.exe --no-mtime --console-title ^
-o "%%(title)s (%%(uploader)s) -%%(height)s v=%%(id)s.%%(ext)s" ^
-f "best[height<=?720]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]/best" ^
-- %1
@echo off
:: pause
goto :EOF

[fredhoward]

Which Youtube- dl download asks for a "coffee" as payment ? I've used it successfully with the .bbc4 files and it saved the files as mp4s ! I had the error 403 warning at first, but if I left it running, it came up with that same warning four times and then downloaded the video. I've lost the file and can't find that version that asks for a coffee ! I'd like to buy him a couple !

[ConverterCrazy]

Withdrawn

[shans]

Hey yall, long time no post, but I thought I would toss out my handy batch files for youtube-dl.
They fill in some command line options to add d/l progress and make a useful video title.

Here is a list of all files:

// download audio only
youtube-dl-audio.bat

Available on my DropBox folder (click 'Download' to get all as 5KB ZIP file)
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5dby6zhfmgy0d1q/AABljLDl3PXaSe6lkfr3_WeOa?dl=0

I get the audio file in .m4a format. I want to download only the audio which was re-mastered and uploaded to you tube in " opus " 32 bit format. I don't need the video portion.
Could you please help me to create a batch file to serve my purpose. I want the audio in same opus 32 bit without any modification / alteration.
Thanks.