yt-dlp for PC — Free Download & Install on Windows 10/11

You found a video you want to watch offline, but the site offers no download button and your internet is unreliable. This yt-dlp download for pc guide shows you how to get a free video downloader on Windows, how to install it on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and how to download your first video. yt-dlp supports over a thousand websites, picks the best quality automatically, and saves videos for offline viewing in seconds.

What Is yt-dlp?

yt-dlp is a free and open-source command-line tool for downloading videos and audio from YouTube and over a thousand other websites. It is the actively maintained successor to youtube-dl, with faster downloads, better format support, and regular updates. You give it a video link, and it saves the video to your computer in the quality you choose.

yt-dlp can download a single video, a whole playlist, or a full channel. It can save subtitles, download only the audio as an MP3, and pick the best available quality by default. It also works with age-restricted videos when you pass your browser cookies, and it can merge separate video and audio streams into one file with the help of FFmpeg. Because it is a command-line tool, it is fast, light, and easy to automate.

Key Features

Over 1,000 supported sites: YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Twitch, and many more.
Best quality by default: picks the highest quality video and audio automatically.
Playlist and channel downloads: save a whole playlist or channel with one command.
Audio-only mode: download just the sound as MP3, Opus, or another format.
Subtitles and thumbnails: save captions and cover images along with the video.
Format selection: choose a resolution, such as 1080p or 720p, with a simple option.
Regular updates: new versions arrive often to keep up with site changes.

System Requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor: any dual-core CPU or better
RAM: 2 GB or more
Storage: 50 MB free for yt-dlp, plus space for your downloaded videos
Display: any screen resolution
Internet: needed to download yt-dlp and to download videos

yt-dlp Download for PC: Official Method

Always get yt-dlp from the official source so you receive the genuine, untouched program. Follow these steps:

Open your browser and go to the Download yt-dlp from the official website.
On the releases page, find the latest release at the top of the list.
Download the yt-dlp.exe file (the standalone Windows executable).
Save the file to a folder you will remember, such as C:\yt-dlp, and wait for it to finish.

Avoid third-party download sites that bundle extra software. The official website above is the only source you need.

The whole yt-dlp download for pc process usually takes only a few minutes on a normal broadband connection. The file is small, and once it is saved on your computer you can install it whenever you are ready.

yt-dlp Download for PC: Step-by-Step Installation

Create a folder for yt-dlp, for example C:\yt-dlp, and move yt-dlp.exe into it.
To use yt-dlp from any folder, add that folder to your system PATH. Open Start, search for “Edit the system environment variables”, and open it.
Click Environment Variables, then under System variables select Path and click Edit.
Click New, paste the folder path (for example C:\yt-dlp), and click OK on every window.
Open a new Command Prompt and type yt-dlp –version, then press Enter.
If yt-dlp prints its version number, the installation is complete.
For best results, also install FFmpeg and add it to PATH, so yt-dlp can merge video and audio streams into one file.
To update yt-dlp later, run yt-dlp -U in Command Prompt.

How to Download a Video with yt-dlp

Downloading a video takes one command: type yt-dlp, a space, and the video link. yt-dlp picks the best quality, downloads it, and saves it in your current folder. You can add options to change the quality or save only the audio.

Open Command Prompt and move to the folder where you want the video saved, using the cd command.
Copy the link of the video you want to download.
Type yt-dlp “VIDEO-LINK” and press Enter (paste your own link inside the quotes).
Wait while yt-dlp downloads the video. It shows progress and speed in the window.
When it finishes, check the folder for your new video file.
To download only the audio as MP3, type yt-dlp -x –audio-format mp3 “VIDEO-LINK” and press Enter.
To download a whole playlist, paste the playlist link instead of a single video link.

If you have just completed the yt-dlp download for pc and installation above, try a short public video first. A short clip downloads in seconds, and it is the best way to learn the basic command. Always respect copyright: download only videos you have the right to save, such as your own uploads or public-domain and Creative Commons content.

yt-dlp Download for PC: Is It Free?

Yes. yt-dlp is completely free and open source, released under the Unlicense, which puts it in the public domain. There is no paid version, no subscription, and no feature locked behind payment. It is built and maintained by a community of volunteers, and it is free for personal use. There is no trial clock on this yt-dlp download for pc, and no feature that stops working after a month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is yt-dlp safe to install?

Yes, when you download it from the official releases page. It is open source, widely used, and the official .exe contains no bundled software.

Does yt-dlp work on Windows 11?

Yes. The current Windows build runs on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Do I need FFmpeg for yt-dlp?

Not for basic downloads, but FFmpeg is needed to merge separate video and audio streams and to convert audio to MP3. Install it for the best quality downloads.

Can yt-dlp download playlists?

Yes. Paste a playlist link instead of a single video link, and yt-dlp downloads every video in the playlist.

Is it legal to download videos with yt-dlp?

It depends on the video. Downloading your own videos, public-domain videos, and Creative Commons content is fine. Downloading copyrighted videos without permission may break the law or the site’s terms, so check first.

Conclusion: Start Your yt-dlp Download for PC Today

yt-dlp is the fastest free way to save videos for offline viewing on Windows, and it costs nothing. One short command downloads a video, a playlist, or just the audio, in the best quality available. Download it only from the official releases page linked in this guide, follow the installation steps above, and download your first video today. For a safe yt-dlp download for pc, stick to the official link in this guide and ignore mirror sites that bundle extras. It takes only a few minutes from download to first use.

yt-dlp for PC: How to Download & Install on Windows