YT-DLP Windows Installation Guide

A step-by-step guide to install and set up YT-DLP on Windows. Follow these instructions to get started with downloading videos.

Installation Methods

There are several ways to install YT-DLP on Windows. Choose the method that works best for you.

Method 1: Direct Download (Recommended)

Download the executable file directly

Download the YT-DLP executable file
Place it in a folder of your choice
Run it from the command prompt

Method 2: Package Managers

Install using a Windows package manager

Using Scoop

scoop install yt-dlp

Using Chocolatey

choco install yt-dlp

Using winget

winget install yt-dlp

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Download the Executable

Download the YT-DLP executable file from the official GitHub repository.

Step 2: Create a Folder

Create a folder where you want to store YT-DLP. For example, you can create a folder named "yt-dlp" in your C: drive.

mkdir C:\yt-dlp

Step 3: Move the Executable

Move the downloaded yt-dlp.exe file to the folder you created.

Tip

You can also add this folder to your system PATH to run YT-DLP from any location.

Step 4: Test the Installation

Open Command Prompt and navigate to the folder where you placed yt-dlp.exe.

cd C:\yt-dlp yt-dlp --version

This should display the version of YT-DLP, confirming that it's installed correctly.

Installing Dependencies (Recommended)

Important

While YT-DLP works on its own, installing FFmpeg is highly recommended for full functionality.

Installing FFmpeg

FFmpeg is required for merging separate video and audio files, post-processing, and many advanced features.

Method 1: Direct Download

Download FFmpeg from the official website or a trusted source
Extract the files to a folder (e.g., C:\ffmpeg)
Add the bin folder to your system PATH

Method 2: Using Package Managers

#1 Using Scoop

 scoop install ffmpeg

#2 Using Chocolatey

 choco install ffmpeg

#3 Using winget

 winget install ffmpeg

Testing FFmpeg Installation

To verify that FFmpeg is installed correctly, open Command Prompt and run:

ffmpeg -version

Adding to System PATH (Optional)

Adding YT-DLP to your system PATH allows you to run it from any location in Command Prompt.

Steps to Add to PATH

Right-click on "This PC" or "My Computer" and select "Properties"
Click on "Advanced system settings"
Click on "Environment Variables"
Under "System variables", find and select the "Path" variable, then click "Edit"
Click "New" and add the path to the folder containing yt-dlp.exe (e.g., C:\yt-dlp)
Click "OK" to close all dialogs
Restart Command Prompt for the changes to take effect

Verification

After adding to PATH, you should be able to run YT-DLP from any directory by simply typing yt-dlp in Command Prompt.

Basic Usage Examples

Download a Video

yt-dlp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

List Available Formats

yt-dlp -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

'yt-dlp' is not recognized as an internal or external command

This error occurs when Windows cannot find the yt-dlp.exe file. Make sure you're in the correct directory or that YT-DLP is added to your PATH.

FFmpeg not found

If you see errors about FFmpeg, make sure FFmpeg is installed and added to your PATH.

Permission Denied

Try running Command Prompt as Administrator if you encounter permission issues.

For more help, check the official documentation or GitHub issues: