---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, common]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# youtube-dl

> Download videos from YouTube and other websites.
> See also: `yt-dlp`, `ytfzf`, `you-get`.
> More information: <https://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/>.

- Download a video or playlist:

`youtube-dl '{{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0}}'`

- List all formats that a video or playlist is available in:

`youtube-dl --list-formats '{{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwa0_nE9H7A}}'`

- Download a video or playlist at a specific quality:

`youtube-dl --format "{{best[height<=480]}}" '{{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0}}'`

- Download the audio from a video and convert it to an MP3:

`youtube-dl -x --audio-format {{mp3}} '{{url}}'`

- Download the best quality audio and video and merge them:

`youtube-dl -f bestvideo+bestaudio '{{url}}'`

- Download video(s) as MP4 files with custom filenames:

`youtube-dl --format {{mp4}} -o "{{%(playlist_index)s-%(title)s by %(uploader)s on %(upload_date)s in %(playlist)s.%(ext)s}}" '{{url}}'`

- Download a particular language's subtitles along with the video:

`youtube-dl --sub-lang {{en}} --write-sub '{{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwa0_nE9H7A}}'`

- Download a playlist and extract MP3s from it:

`youtube-dl -f "bestaudio" --continue --no-overwrites --ignore-errors --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" '{{url_to_playlist}}'`
