yt-dlp is a free command-line downloader for audio and video that handles thousands of sites. It started as a fork of youtube-dl, built on the now inactive youtube-dlc. The Windows build, version 2026.10.26, is about 22.5 MB and is released by the yt-dlp project under the Unlicense.
First steps with the Windows executable
yt-dlp has no graphical window, so you run it from a terminal. The official Windows binaries now require Windows 10 or later, which matters if you still use an older system.
The release notes point to a README that describes the different files, and a documentation link sits at the top of the release page. Start there to choose the right file for your setup.
Support for thousands of sites, and a youtube-dl lineage
The project describes itself as a feature-rich downloader with support for thousands of sites. It handles both audio and video, which fits its tags for media, audio and video downloading.
It began as a fork of youtube-dl, built on the now inactive youtube-dlc. The latest release also fixed Boosty direct link extraction in the Odnoklassniki extractor, a small example of the site-by-site upkeep the project does.
When an alternative fits better
If typing commands is a barrier, several alternatives exist: Open Video Downloader, YTDownloader, Stacher, 4K Video Downloader, Nickvision Parabolic and MediaHuman YouTube Downloader. Compare them on their own pages.
The Python requirement also matters for anyone running yt-dlp from source rather than the executable. It is now Python 3.11 or newer.
What's new in 2026.10.26
Version 2026.10.26 raises the minimum Python version to 3.11 and drops Python 3.10 support. The Windows binaries now bundle brotli 1.2.1 and curl-cffi 0.17.0, which address recent security vulnerabilities.
yt-dlp pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use under the Unlicense
- Supports thousands of sites for audio and video
- Windows binary is about 22.5 MB
- Latest release updates bundled brotli and curl-cffi for security issues
- Source code is public on GitHub
Cons
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface
- Official Windows binaries now require Windows 10 or later
- No interface to preview before you install
Is yt-dlp safe?
The source code is public under the Unlicense, so anyone can read what the tool does. The PyInstaller-bundled executables also carry other licenses, all compiled in THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.txt. The latest release upgrades the bundled brotli to version 1.2.1 and curl-cffi to version 0.17.0, which address recent security vulnerabilities. Official Windows binaries now require Windows 10 or later.
How to install yt-dlp
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start yt-dlp from the Start menu.
