YouTube-DL to Download Audio Only, Video and Playlists

Last updated at: September 17, 2024
Written by: Abdul

YouTube-DL is a powerful tool that helps you download content from YouTube. Whether you're looking to download YouTube audio only, entire playlists, or 1080p videos, this guide will show you how. From installation to running specific commands, we’ll cover everything you need to know.

What Is YouTube-DL?

YouTube-DL is an open-source command-line tool that lets users download audio, videos, and playlists from YouTube and other video-sharing platforms. The tool can be used to download videos in various formats and qualities, including 1080p. It also supports extracting YouTube audio only, which is great if you're looking to save podcasts or music.

1. How to Install YouTube-DL

Before you can download YouTube audio or 1080p videos, you’ll need to install YouTube-DL. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

For Windows:

  1. Visit the official YouTube-DL website https://youtube-dl.org.

  2. Download the YouTube-DL executable file (.exe).
  3. Place the file in a folder that is easy to access from your command prompt.
  4. To use YouTube-DL globally, add the folder path to your system’s PATH environment variables.

For macOS/Linux:

  1. Open your terminal.
  2. Run the following command to install YouTube-DL:
sudo curl -L https://yt-dl.org/downloads/latest/youtube-dl -o /usr/local/bin/youtube-dl
sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/youtube-dl

After installation, you’ll be able to run commands to download YouTube audio only, YouTube playlists, and 1080p videos.

2. How to Download YouTube Audio Only

Want to download YouTube audio only? Here’s how you can extract just the audio from any YouTube video using YouTube-DL:

Steps:

  1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
  2. Run the following command
youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3

This command will:

This is especially useful if you're trying to download audio from music videos, podcasts, or lectures where the video isn’t necessary.

3. How to Download a YouTube Playlist using youtube-dl

If you want to download an entire YouTube playlist, YouTube-DL can handle that with ease. Whether it’s a music playlist or a series of educational videos, YouTube-DL lets you download them all at once.

Steps:

  1. Copy the YouTube playlist URL.
  2. In your terminal or command prompt, use the following command:
youtube-dl <playlist-url>

To download audio only for every video in the playlist:

youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3 <playlist-url>

This will download the entire playlist in the format you specify, which is great if you’re looking to store large amounts of YouTube content offline.

4. How to Download YouTube Videos in 1080p

To download high-quality YouTube videos in 1080p, YouTube-DL offers easy-to-use commands. Whether it’s tutorials, movies, or entertainment, downloading YouTube 1080p videos can be done in just a few steps.

Steps:

  1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
  2. Use this command:
youtube-dl -f 'bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio/best[height<=1080]' <video-url>

This command will download the video at the best available quality up to 1080p, along with the best audio, and merge them into a single file.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Outdated Version:

If YouTube-DL fails to download a video, you might be using an outdated version. YouTube regularly updates its platform, and sometimes YouTube-DL needs to be updated too. Run this command to update:

youtube-dl -U

Missing FFmpeg:

If you want to download higher resolution videos or certain audio formats, you’ll need FFmpeg installed. For macOS and Linux users, run:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

Conclusion

YouTube-DL is the ideal tool for downloading YouTube content, whether you need YouTube audio only, entire YouTube playlists, or 1080p video downloads. By following this guide, you’ll be able to install YouTube-DL, extract YouTube audio only, download full playlists, or save high-definition videos in 1080p. Remember to update YouTube-DL regularly to avoid compatibility issues.

With YouTube-DL, downloading your favorite content has never been easier!