yt-dlp 2026.08.19 for Windows

yt-dlp 2026.08.19 is a command-line program for Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD that downloads video and audio from YouTube and other video sites. You can download yt-dlp for Windows free of charge from its official GitHub releases page; it is public-domain software released under the Unlicense.

Specifications

What yt-dlp is and why people use it

yt-dlp grew out of youtube-dl, via the youtube-dlc fork, and is now an independent project with frequent releases: in 2026 alone, new versions came out in March, June, July and August. That pace matters, because video sites change their pages all the time and a downloader that is not updated soon stops working. Unlike programs with a window and buttons, yt-dlp is controlled by typing commands. This makes the first steps harder, but gives precise control: you can choose the format and quality, save only the audio track or run downloads from a script. Once you know a few commands, repeating a download takes seconds.

Installation on Windows

1. Open the official releases page and download the Windows executable from the latest release.
2. Put it in a folder of your choice, for example C:\Tools, and add that folder to PATH if you want to call it from any location.
3. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and type yt-dlp followed by a video link.
4. Check the releases page regularly and replace the file with each new version.

The project page documents all options and optional dependencies.

Legal and safety notes

Download only content you have the right to save: your own videos, material under a free licence or videos the author allows to download. Respect the terms of the sites you use. Take yt-dlp only from the official GitHub repository; other repositories and sites with similar names may offer modified builds with malware.

First steps with the command line

If you have never used a terminal, start small. Create a folder for downloads, open PowerShell in that folder and run the program with one link to see what happens. Read the help output to learn the options you actually need, and write down the commands that work for you in a text file. When something breaks after a site update, a newer release usually fixes it, so check the releases page before searching for complex workarounds.

Pros and cons

• Pro: free and public domain.
• Pro: frequent updates.
• Pro: precise control and scripting.
• Con: no graphical interface.
• Con: needs regular updates to keep working.

Alternatives

If you prefer a window with buttons, our listings include Stacher, 4K Video Downloader Plus, ClipGrab and Freemake Video Downloader.