Skip to main content

Authentication and Cookies in yt-dlp

yt-dlp supports various methods of authentication, allowing you to access content that requires login. This guide covers different authentication methods and the use of cookies.

Basic Authentication​

Username and Password​

For sites that require a simple login:

yt-dlp -u USERNAME -p PASSWORD URL

If you omit the password, yt-dlp will prompt you to enter it securely:

yt-dlp -u USERNAME URL

Two-Factor Authentication​

For accounts with 2FA enabled:

yt-dlp -u USERNAME -p PASSWORD -2 TWOFACTOR URL

Netrc File​

You can store login info in a .netrc file:

  1. Create a file named .netrc in your home directory.
  2. Add entries in the format:
machine HOSTNAME login USERNAME password PASSWORD
  1. Use the --netrc option:
yt-dlp --netrc URL

Using Cookies​

Passing Cookies Directly​

Use the --cookies option to pass a cookies file:

yt-dlp --cookies /path/to/cookies.txt URL

Extracting Cookies from Browsers​

yt-dlp can extract cookies directly from your browser:

yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser BROWSER[:PROFILE_PATH] URL

Replace BROWSER with chrome, firefox, opera, safari, etc.

Example:

yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser firefox URL

Site-Specific Authentication​

YouTube​

For YouTube, you can use OAuth:

  1. Run:
yt-dlp --auth-oauth CREDENTIALS_FILE
  1. Follow the prompts to authenticate.
  2. yt-dlp will save the token for future use.

Other Platforms​

Some platforms may require specific authentication methods. Check the yt-dlp documentation for platform-specific instructions.

Handling Private Content​

To access private videos or playlists:

  1. Log in to your account in a web browser.
  2. Export the cookies (use a browser extension or --cookies-from-browser).
  3. Use the cookies file with yt-dlp:
yt-dlp --cookies cookies.txt PRIVATE_VIDEO_URL

Tips for Authentication​

  • Use --verbose to see detailed information about the authentication process.
  • For security, avoid passing passwords directly in the command line; use netrc or prompt instead.
  • Regularly update your cookies file if you're accessing frequently changing private content.
  • Be cautious when sharing scripts or commands that include authentication information.

Troubleshooting Authentication Issues​

  • Ensure your login credentials are correct.
  • Check if the site requires a specific User-Agent:
yt-dlp --user-agent "Mozilla/5.0 ..." --cookies cookies.txt URL
  • Some sites may block yt-dlp; try using --add-header to mimic a browser request.
  • If using cookies, ensure they're fresh and not expired.

Important Notes​

  • Keep your authentication information secure.
  • Be aware of the terms of service for the sites you're accessing.
  • Some sites may have anti-bot measures that could be triggered by frequent requests.

Authentication in yt-dlp allows you to access a wide range of content that requires login. By understanding these methods, you can effectively use yt-dlp for both public and private media while maintaining security and respecting site policies.