How to download from youtube via python

If you are interested, you can find the latest update in utdl repository

Here is a summary of the main functionality.

Description

Download from youtube via yt_dlp

MAC OS

Installation

1. check python

python3 –version

1. install yt_dlp 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

2. download ffmpeg binary file

note: no install needed. just it’s binary is enough. give the binary path in command

Example 1 (Dowload video/playlist with subtitle using cookies)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w8QYW5Wsh0"\
    --cookies-from-browser chrome\
    --no-check-certificates\
    --ffmpeg-location "/Users/meysam/Documents/Develop/utdl/ffmpeg"\
    --no-keep-fragments\
    --write-subs --embed-subs\
    -o "/Users/meysam/Downloads/%(title)s_%(ext)s.mp4"\
    -f 'bv*[ext=mp4][height>720]+ba' 

Example 2 (Dowload a section of video)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNw9x53Ybos"\
    --cookies-from-browser chrome\
    --no-check-certificates\
    --ffmpeg-location "/Users/meysam/Documents/binary"\
    --no-keep-fragments\
    --write-subs --embed-subs\
    -o "/Users/meysam/Downloads/youtube/%(title)s_%(ext)s.mp4"\
    --download-sections "*2:00-3:00" --force-keyframes-at-cuts\
    -f 'bv*[ext=mp4][height>480]+ba'

Example 3 (Dowload music)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2AnmLp3wvo"\
    --cookies-from-browser chrome\
    --no-keep-fragments\
    -o "/Users/meysam/Downloads/youtube/%(title)s_%(ext)s.mp3"\
    -f 'ba'

WINDOWS OS

Installation

1. check python

python3 –version

1. download and install yt-dlp.exe file

note: create a folder in drive C and add yt-dlp.exe to it. then add its path to env variable. now you can use yt-dlp command in cmd

1. download and install ffmpeg.exe file

note: create a folder in drive C and add ffmpeg.exe to it. then add its path to env variable. now you can use ffmpeg command in cmd

1. add get cookies plugin (chrome extension) and login to youtube and extract cookies. then give file path to the command

Example 1 (Dowload video/playlist with subtitle using cookies)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNw9x53Ybos" `
    --cookies \\Mac\Home\Downloads\www.youtube.com_cookies.txt `
    --no-check-certificates `
    --no-keep-fragments `
    --write-subs --embed-subs `
    -o "\\Mac\Home\Downloads\%(title)s_%(ext)s.mp4" `
    -f 'bv*[ext=mp4][height>480]+ba'

Example 2 (Dowload a section of video)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNw9x53Ybos" `
    --cookies \\Mac\Home\Downloads\www.youtube.com_cookies.txt `
    --no-check-certificates `
    --no-keep-fragments `
    --write-subs --embed-subs `
    -o "\\Mac\Home\Downloads\%(title)s_%(ext)s.mp4" `
    --download-sections "*2:00-3:00" `
	--force-keyframes-at-cuts `
    -f 'bv*[ext=mp4][height>480]+ba'

Example 3 (Dowload music)

yt-dlp "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-d9WbR0emI" `
    --cookies \\Mac\Home\Downloads\www.youtube.com_cookies.txt `
    --no-keep-fragments `
    -o "\\Mac\Home\Downloads\%(title)s_%(ext)s.mp3" `
    -f 'ba'

Note (always update yt_dlp before downloading)

1- install or update certifi on your os -> python3 -m pip install certifi
2- update yt-dlp to latest version -> yt-dlp -Uv