Say you want a lecture saved from YouTube as an audio file, or a batch of clips queued while you do something else. YTDownloader is a Windows app from developer Andrew that handles both jobs. Version 4.0.1 is 126.7 MB and was released on August 26, 2026.
Free, open source and no price tag
YTDownloader is free and released under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code sits on GitHub at aandrew-me/ytDownloader, open for anyone to read.
The package ID is aandrew-me.ytDownloader. Tags such as Electron, JavaScript, AppImage and Flatpak point to a cross-platform project, and version 4.0.1 adds a Windows build fix for auto update.
Video, audio and batch downloads from hundreds of sites
The app saves video and extracts audio in different formats. Listed sources include YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitch, Twitter and Instagram, and the developer says the list goes beyond those.
Version 4.0.0 added batch downloads, auto download of media, a pause option and an output format setting for video. You can also view the yt-dlp command, and the format list now shows video bitrate. A playlist page has a Selective mode for picking items.
Preferences cover UI zoom, global hotkeys, pasting cookies for individual sites, and using your own system yt-dlp, ffmpeg and ffprobe.
The 4.0 redesign and the Windows updater fix
Version 4.0.0 reworked the app into a single page application with a sidebar, so several tasks can run side by side. It also added a Windows Arm build and a choice of update channels. Version 4.0.1 then fixed auto update on Windows.
What's new in 4.0.1
Version 4.0.1 fixes auto update on Windows. It follows 4.0.0, which added a sidebar layout, batch downloads and a Windows Arm build.
YTDownloader pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with GPL-3.0 licensing
- Source code is public on GitHub
- Batch downloads and a pause option since 4.0.0
- Lets you view the yt-dlp command and use your own yt-dlp, ffmpeg and ffprobe
- Windows Arm build available
Cons
- Install size is 126.7 MB
- Version 4.0 is a major redesign, so expect some change from earlier releases
- Version 4.0 is a major redesign, and only one follow-up fix has been released so far
Is YTDownloader safe?
YTDownloader is written by Andrew and released under GPL-3.0, with its source published on GitHub, so anyone can read the code behind it. Scan the downloaded file with your own security tool before running it.
How to install YTDownloader
- 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 YTDownloader from the Start menu.
