Skip to main content

Methods of Installation

yt-dlp can be installed on various platforms using different methods. Choose the one that best suits your system and preferences.

1. Using Release Binaries​

The simplest method for most users is to download pre-compiled binaries.

Windows​

  1. Download the latest yt-dlp.exe from the releases page.
  2. Place it in a directory within your PATH.

macOS​

  1. Download yt-dlp_macos from the releases page.

  2. Rename it to yt-dlp and make it executable:

    chmod a+rx yt-dlp

  3. Move it to a directory in your PATH, e.g.:

    mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin

Linux​

  1. Download yt-dlp from the releases page.

  2. Make it executable:

    chmod a+rx yt-dlp

  3. Move it to a directory in your PATH, e.g.:

    sudo mv yt-dlp /usr/local/bin

2. Using pip (Python Package Manager)​

For Python users, installing via pip is recommended:

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

To install the latest development version:

python3 -m pip install -U --pre yt-dlp

3. Third-party Package Managers​

Homebrew (macOS and Linux)​

brew install yt-dlp

Chocolatey (Windows)​

choco install yt-dlp

Scoop (Windows)​

scoop install yt-dlp

apt (Debian-based Linux)​

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/yt-dlp
sudo apt update
sudo apt install yt-dlp

4. Building from Source​

For advanced users who want the latest features:

  1. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp.git

  2. Navigate to the directory:

    cd yt-dlp

  3. Install dependencies:

    python3 -m pip install -U -r requirements.txt

  4. Run:

    python3 setup.py install

Updating yt-dlp​

For Binary Installations​

yt-dlp -U

For pip Installations​

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

For Package Managers​

Use the manager's update command.

Verifying Installation​

After installation, verify it's working:

yt-dlp --version

This should display the version number of yt-dlp.

Remember to keep yt-dlp updated regularly to ensure you have the latest features and bug fixes.