WRITELOOP

YOUTUBE-DL CHEATSHEET

2017 July 26

To list the available formats type:

youtube-dl -F url

Download from a format on the list:

youtube-dl -f 11 url

E.g.:

youtube-dl -F http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ_D3ELwOQ

sample output:

[youtube] Setting language
[youtube] 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: Downloading webpage
[youtube] 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: Downloading video info webpage
[youtube] 3JZ_D3ELwOQ: Extracting video information
[info] Available formats for 3JZ_D3ELwOQ:
format code extension resolution  note
171         webm      audio only  DASH webm audio , audio@ 48k (worst)
140         m4a       audio only  DASH audio , audio@128k
160         mp4       192p        DASH video
133         mp4       240p        DASH video
134         mp4       360p        DASH video
135         mp4       480p        DASH video
136         mp4       720p        DASH video
137         mp4       1080p       DASH video
17          3gp       176x144
36          3gp       320x240
5           flv       400x240
43          webm      640x360
18          mp4       640x360
22          mp4       1280x720    (best)

You can choose “best” and type:

youtube-dl -f 22 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ_D3ELwOQ

To get the best video quality (1080p DASH - format “137”) and best audio quality (DASH audio - format “140”), you must use the following command:

youtube-dl -f 137+140 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ_D3ELwOQ

(reference: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/272868/download-only-format-mp4-on-youtube-dl/272934)

TAGS

YOUTUBE-DL VIDEO AUDIO