Frequently asked questions
Everything you might want to know about yt-dlp online, the cloud downloader, and downloading video and audio safely.
Getting started
What is yt-dlp online?+
It's a desktop download tool built around yt-dlp and FFmpeg. It installs the required engine pieces for you and gives you a clean interface so you never need the command line.
Is it free?+
Yes — the desktop app is completely free under the MIT license, with no premium tier, no watermarks, no in-app ads and no download limits.
Is it safe?+
Yes. The source code is fully open on GitHub, there's no telemetry or tracking, and the app only does what you tell it to. Always download the app from the official site or GitHub releases.
Do I need to install Python or FFmpeg myself?+
No. The app downloads and configures yt-dlp and FFmpeg automatically on first launch.
Downloading
How many sites are supported?+
More than 1,727 — including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Vimeo, Twitch, SoundCloud, Reddit and thousands of others.
Can I download 4K, 8K and HDR?+
Yes, whenever the source provides them. yt-dlp reads the full format list and merges the best video and audio with FFmpeg automatically.
How do I download just the audio / MP3?+
Choose an audio-only format, or use the app's audio extraction option to save MP3, M4A, Opus or FLAC at the best available bitrate.
Can I download whole playlists or channels?+
Yes. Paste a playlist or channel URL, preview every item, and selectively queue what you want — hundreds at a time.
Can I download members-only or age-restricted content?+
If you have legitimate access, yes. Import cookies from your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave or Safari) and yt-dlp will authenticate as you.
The web downloader
How does the on-page downloader work?+
Each page has a downloader box that creates a secure cloud download job. The site polls that job and renders signed download links when the shared downloader service returns them.
Do you store my files or links?+
The website does not host media files or tie jobs to an account identity. Standard logs and provider audit records may exist for security, rate limiting, and operations.
Why use the desktop app if the web tool works?+
The web tool is great for quick, one-off downloads. The desktop app adds batch playlists, automatic merging of 8K + audio, cookie auth, proxies, post-processing and a download queue that resumes.
Legal & technical
What's the difference between yt-dlp and youtube-dl?+
yt-dlp is an actively maintained fork of youtube-dl with far more supported sites, many bug fixes, faster downloads, and features youtube-dl lacks. yt-dlp online is a GUI on top of yt-dlp.
Is downloading videos legal?+
It depends on the content and your jurisdiction. Downloading your own content, public-domain works, or media the rights holder permits is generally fine. Always respect each site's terms of service and copyright law, and only download what you have the right to save.
Is this affiliated with YouTube or any platform?+
No. dlp.yt is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by YouTube, Google, or any other platform.
Get the full power of yt-dlp — without the command line
Download the free desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. It installs everything for you and keeps its engine up to date automatically.