using-youtube-download
This skill teaches you how to grab YouTube videos in top-tier quality as MP4 files or extract audio as MP3 using yt-dlp and ffmpeg. It covers single video downloads, playlists, and quality controls across Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Using YouTube Download lets you grab YouTube videos at maximum quality in MP4 or MP3 format.
AI-generated summary based on this skill's SKILL.md
Decision gist · record as of 2026-05-17
Using YouTube Download lets you grab YouTube videos at maximum quality in MP4 or MP3 format. This skill teaches you how to grab YouTube videos in top-tier quality as MP4 files or extract audio as MP3 using yt-dlp and ffmpeg. It covers single video downloads, playlists, and quality controls across Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Use it when
- Yes.
- using-youtube-download includes batch download techniques for entire YouTube playlists with yt-dlp.
Verify before relying
Read SKILL.md below before installing (1 file). Open directory: indexed for reading, not audited.
Install
besoeasy/open-skills/using-youtube-download
Open directory. Skills are indexed for reading, not audited. Review a skill's body before installing it.
Frequently asked questions
AI-generated answers based on this skill's SKILL.md and metadata
How to download YouTube videos as MP4 files with using-youtube-download?
using-youtube-download teaches you to download YouTube videos at highest quality as MP4 files using yt-dlp and ffmpeg. The skill covers command-line techniques for single videos across Linux, macOS, and Windows, letting you grab full-quality content locally with quality controls.
Can I extract audio from YouTube to MP3 using this skill?
Yes. using-youtube-download covers extracting and converting YouTube audio to MP3 format. You'll learn yt-dlp and ffmpeg command-line methods to pull audio-only streams and convert them to MP3, plus techniques for downloading YouTube audio only.
What's the best way to download entire YouTube playlists?
using-youtube-download includes batch download techniques for entire YouTube playlists with yt-dlp. The skill teaches you how to automate playlist downloads across all three major operating systems, handling multiple videos efficiently in one operation.
How do I get the highest quality YouTube video downloads?
using-youtube-download focuses on yt-dlp highest quality download methods and best video-audio merge practices. You'll learn quality selection flags, format codes, and how to combine the best video and audio streams for top-tier MP4 output.
Is using-youtube-download suitable for Linux command-line users?
Yes. using-youtube-download teaches yt-dlp and ffmpeg command-line usage on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It's designed for users comfortable with terminal tools who want to automate YouTube content downloads with scripts and batch operations.
What license does using-youtube-download use?
using-youtube-download is released under the MIT license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution for personal and commercial projects with minimal restrictions.
SKILL.md
Rendered from the published skill. Quoted content, verbatim.
YouTube Download Skill
Teach how to download YouTube videos as video files and MP3 audio, defaulting to highest quality.
Prerequisites
yt-dlp(recommended fork of youtube-dl): https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlpffmpeg(for merging/conversion)
Install (Linux/macOS):
python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp
# or
sudo curl -L https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -o /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp && sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/yt-dlp
# ffmpeg
sudo apt install ffmpeg # Debian/Ubuntu
brew install ffmpeg # macOS (Homebrew)
Windows: use the yt-dlp.exe release and install ffmpeg for Windows.
Download highest-quality video (merged MP4)
This downloads the best video and best audio and merges them into an MP4 (default highest quality).
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo+bestaudio/best" --merge-output-format mp4 -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" <VIDEO_URL>
Notes:
- -f "bestvideo+bestaudio/best" prefers separate best video and audio streams and falls back to the single best format.
- `--merge-output-format
(truncated - see the full file via the links below)
File tree — 1 file
skills/using-youtube-download/SKILL.md
Let your AI agent find skills like this
Example. Real query, live index.
You found this page by searching. An agent finds it by wishing: SkillFed indexes 56,283 agent skills by what they can do, searchable in plain language.
wish › “Download YouTube videos at highest quality as MP4 files”
Give your agent the search over MCP, or paste the wish link into any chat. No install? Search from any chat →
Related skills
Youtube Download uses yt-dlp to fetch and save videos from YouTube and other supported platforms in your preferred format and quality. Choose between full video, audio-only, subtitles, or combined downloads, with options for resolution, audio codec, and subtitle language. The skill handles authentication via Chrome cookies and manages the entire download workflow automatically.
Video Downloader helps you save videos from online sources for offline access with flexible quality and format controls. Choose from multiple resolutions, extract audio as MP3 or M4A, download playlists, and customize output locations using yt-dlp commands.
c-video equips Claude with command-line tools to fetch videos from YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms, then process them locally. Extract audio tracks, transcode between formats, or trim specific segments—all through yt-dlp and ffmpeg integration.
Fetch videos and audio directly from URLs using yt-dlp, supporting YouTube and over 1000 other platforms. Extract audio tracks, retrieve captions in multiple languages, or inspect metadata without storing files. Customize resolution, format, and output paths to fit your needs.
YouTube Downloader automates video and audio extraction from YouTube and HLS platforms like Mux and Vimeo. It handles quality selection, authentication for protected streams, and common download failures—all without requiring you to run commands yourself. The skill defaults to best-quality MP4 output and offers simple choices for audio-only, specific resolutions, and subtitle inclusion.
Media Downloader pulls video and audio from over 1500 websites using yt-dlp, letting you choose resolution (480p through 4K), grab subtitles in multiple languages, and download entire playlists. Customize output naming, handle authentication across platforms, and manage format selection with precise control.
More skills Yt Dlp Downloader Skill (unlicensed) · Video Action Recognition (MIT) · video-summarizer (MIT)