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Platform-Specific Instructions for yt-dlp

Each operating system has unique considerations for installing and running yt-dlp effectively.

Windows​

Installation Methods​

  • Release Binary: Download yt-dlp.exe and add to PATH
  • pip: python -m pip install -U yt-dlp
  • Chocolatey: choco install yt-dlp
  • Scoop: scoop install yt-dlp
  • winget: winget install yt-dlp

Windows-Specific Considerations​

  • Ensure Python 3.8+ is installed if using pip
  • Add installation directory to system PATH
  • Use Command Prompt or PowerShell for execution
  • Consider Windows Defender exclusions if needed

macOS​

Installation Methods​

  • Release Binary: Download and place in /usr/local/bin/
  • Homebrew: brew install yt-dlp
  • MacPorts: sudo port install yt-dlp
  • pip: python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

macOS-Specific Considerations​

  • Make binary executable: chmod +x yt-dlp
  • Gatekeeper may require approval for downloaded binaries
  • Use Terminal.app or iTerm2 for command-line access
  • Ensure Xcode Command Line Tools are installed

Linux​

Installation Methods​

  • Release Binary: Download and place in /usr/local/bin/
  • Distribution Packages: Use your distribution's package manager
  • pip: python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

Distribution-Specific Examples​

Ubuntu/Debian​

# Using pip
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-pip
python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

Arch Linux​

# Using pacman
sudo pacman -S yt-dlp

Fedora​

# Using pip
sudo dnf install python3-pip
python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

Linux-Specific Considerations​

  • Ensure Python 3.8+ is available
  • Make binaries executable with chmod +x
  • Consider user vs system-wide installation
  • Check distribution repositories for official packages

Common Platform Issues​

PATH Configuration​

Ensure yt-dlp is accessible from any directory by adding its location to your system PATH.

Python Requirements​

All platforms require Python 3.8 or later when installing via pip.

Permissions​

Some installations may require administrator/root privileges depending on the chosen installation method and location.

FFmpeg Dependency​

While not required for basic functionality, FFmpeg is recommended for post-processing features across all platforms.