How is this different from online video downloaders?
Most online downloader websites are filled with intrusive ads, pop-ups, and harsh restrictions on file size or
resolution. yt-dlp app is a standalone program running directly on your computer's hardware. This
means no ads, no size limits, true 4K/8K resolution downloads, and significantly faster speeds utilizing your
full internet bandwidth.
Will I get banned or blocked for downloading videos?
When used responsibly, no. yt-dlp app simply reads the public data exactly as your web browser
does. However, aggressively downloading hundreds of videos simultaneously from the same website without a VPN
could trigger temporary IP ratelimits. We recommend leaving the default parallel download settings as-is for
the most reliable experience.
The app failed to download a video. What do I do?
Video platforms frequently update their websites, which can temporarily break downloaders. Simply click the
gear icon (Settings) in the top right of the app and select "Check for Engine Update". Our Dual-Layer
architecture will instantly download the latest core extraction scripts from the global open-source
community, usually fixing the issue within seconds.
How does the app download age-restricted or private videos?
If a video requires you to be logged in to view it in your browser, the app needs your permission to view it
as well. When enabled in the settings, yt-dlp app securely requests permission from your
operating system (like the macOS Keychain) to read your browser's local cookie file. This allows the app to
fetch the video seamlessly. This process happens entirely offline, and your cookies are never uploaded,
shared, or sent to our servers.
Is downloading videos legal?
yt-dlp app is a neutral utility tool, much like a web browser or a text editor. We strongly
believe in
Fair Use—the legal doctrine that allows you to download and archive public
materials for personal offline viewing, educational research, news reporting, and transformative works.
However, using this tool to bypass DRM (Digital Rights Management) for piracy, or illegally distributing
copyrighted material, is strictly prohibited by our
Terms of Service.
Where are my downloaded files saved?
By default, the app creates a "yt-dlp-app" folder inside your computer's standard Downloads directory. You can
easily change this destination path at any time in the app's Settings menu.