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Yt Dlp

  • 1.2k installs
  • 4 repo stars
  • Updated January 22, 2026
  • lwmxiaobei/yt-dlp-skill

yt-dlp provides documented workflows for Download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. Use when user provides a video URL, asks to download a video, or when conversation contai

About

The yt-dlp skill download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. Use when user provides a video URL, asks to download a video, or when conversation contains video links from YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, etc. # yt-dlp Video Downloader Skill This skill provides tools for downloading videos and extracting audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. ## Features - Download videos from multiple platforms (YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) - Extract audio from videos - Auto-detect video URLs in conversations - Support for different quality settings and formats ## Usage Patterns ### 1. Command-based Download When user explicitly asks to download a video: ``` User: Download this video https://youtube.com/watch?v=... ``` **Action**: Extract URL and call download script ### 2. Auto-detection in Conversations When conversation contains video URLs: ``` User: Check out this video https://twitter.com/... and let me know what you think ``` **Action**: Detect video URL, ask user if they want to download it ### 3.

  • Download videos from multiple platforms (YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
  • Extract audio from videos
  • Auto-detect video URLs in conversations
  • Support for different quality settings and formats
  • YouTube (youtube.com, youtu.be)

Yt Dlp by the numbers

  • 1,195 all-time installs (skills.sh)
  • +38 installs in the week ending Aug 5, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
  • Ranked #259 of 2,715 Automation & Workflows skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
  • Security screen: MEDIUM risk (skills.sh audit)
  • Data as of Aug 5, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
At a glance

yt-dlp capabilities & compatibility

Capabilities
download videos from multiple platforms (youtube · extract audio from videos · auto detect video urls in conversations · support for different quality settings and forma · youtube (youtube.com, youtu.be)
Use cases
documentation
From the docs

What yt-dlp says it does

# yt-dlp Video Downloader Skill This skill provides tools for downloading videos and extracting audio from various platforms using yt-dlp.
SKILL.md
Command-based Download When user explicitly asks to download a video: ``` User: Download this video https://youtube.com/watch?v=...
SKILL.md
npx skills add https://github.com/lwmxiaobei/yt-dlp-skill --skill yt-dlp

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Listed on Skillselion
Installs1.2k
repo stars4
Security audit2 / 3 scanners passed
Last updatedJanuary 22, 2026
Repositorylwmxiaobei/yt-dlp-skill

How do I use yt-dlp for the task described in its SKILL.md triggers?

Download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. Use when user provides a video URL, asks to download a video, or when conversation contains video links from YouTube, Twitter/X,.

Who is it for?

Teams invoking yt-dlp when the user request matches documented triggers and prerequisites.

Skip if: Skip when cached docs are missing, the request is a negative trigger, or another sibling skill owns the workflow.

When should I use this skill?

Download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. Use when user provides a video URL, asks to download a video, or when conversation contains video links from YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Insta

What you get

Step-by-step guidance grounded in yt-dlp documentation and reference files.

  • Downloaded video files
  • Extracted audio tracks

Files

SKILL.mdMarkdownGitHub ↗

yt-dlp Video Downloader Skill

This skill provides tools for downloading videos and extracting audio from various platforms using yt-dlp.

Features

  • Download videos from multiple platforms (YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc.)
  • Extract audio from videos
  • Auto-detect video URLs in conversations
  • Support for different quality settings and formats

Usage Patterns

1. Command-based Download

When user explicitly asks to download a video:

User: Download this video https://youtube.com/watch?v=...

Action: Extract URL and call download script

2. Auto-detection in Conversations

When conversation contains video URLs:

User: Check out this video https://twitter.com/... and let me know what you think

Action: Detect video URL, ask user if they want to download it

3. Audio Extraction

When user wants to extract audio only:

User: Extract the audio from https://youtu.be/...

Action: Use audio extraction script

Available Scripts

Note: Scripts are located in the scripts/ directory

download_video.py

Main video downloader with quality and format options.

Usage:

# Download video
scripts/download_video.py <url> -o <output_dir>

# Download with specific quality
scripts/download_video.py <url> --quality 720p
scripts/download_video.py <url> --quality audio  # For audio only

# Custom format selector
scripts/download_video.py <url> --format "bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio/best"

# Extract info only
scripts/download_video.py <url> --info-only

Quality options: best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, audio

extract_audio.py

Extract audio from videos in various formats.

Usage:

# Extract as MP3 (default)
/scripts/extract_audio.py <url> -o <output_dir>

# Extract as M4A
/scripts/extract_audio.py <url> --format m4a

# Custom quality
/scripts/extract_audio.py <url> --quality 320

Formats: mp3, m4a, opus, flac, wav

extract_urls.py

Extract video URLs from text or files.

Usage:

# Extract from text argument
/scripts/extract_urls.py "Check https://youtube.com/watch?v=..."

# Extract from file
/scripts/extract_urls.py <file_path>

# Read from stdin
cat file.txt | /scripts/extract_urls.py

Video Platform Support

The skill recognizes URLs from:

  • YouTube (youtube.com, youtu.be)
  • Twitter/X (twitter.com, x.com)
  • Vimeo (vimeo.com)
  • TikTok (tiktok.com)
  • Instagram (instagram.com)
  • Facebook (facebook.com, fb.watch)
  • Twitch (twitch.tv, clips.twitch.tv)
  • Dailymotion (dailymotion.com)
  • Reddit (reddit.com)
  • Streamable (streamable.com)
  • And many more supported by yt-dlp

Workflow

When User Provides Video URL

1. Extract URL from user's input using extract_urls.py 2. Confirm with user what action to take:

  • Download video
  • Extract audio
  • Show video info

3. Execute appropriate script based on user's choice 4. Notify user of success/failure and file location

When Auto-detecting URLs

1. Scan conversation text with extract_urls.py (can process stdin) 2. If video URLs found, ask user: "I found video URLs in this conversation. Would you like me to download them?" 3. If yes, proceed with download workflow 4. If no, continue with conversation

Handling Multiple URLs

  • For single URL: Direct download
  • For multiple URLs: Ask user if they want to download all or select specific ones
  • Provide option to download as playlist if URLs are from the same source

Quality and Format Selection

When user doesn't specify preferences:

  • Default to best available quality
  • For audio: Default to MP3 at 192kbps

When options needed:

# Ask user for quality preference if not specified
# Options: best (default), 1080p, 720p, 480p, audio

# Ask for format if extracting audio
# Options: mp3 (default), m4a, opus, flac, wav

Error Handling

Common issues and solutions:

1. yt-dlp not installed:

  • Check with yt-dlp --version
  • Install with pip install yt-dlp or brew install yt-dlp

2. ffmpeg not installed (required for format conversion):

  • Install with brew install ffmpeg (macOS)
  • Or apt install ffmpeg (Linux)

3. Video not available:

  • Check if URL is accessible
  • Some videos may require authentication
  • Age-restricted content may need cookies

4. Network errors:

  • Retry download
  • Check internet connection

Dependencies

  • yt-dlp: Main video downloader
  • ffmpeg: Audio/video processing (required for format conversion)
  • python3 with standard library

All scripts are self-contained and use only built-in Python modules.

Related skills

How it compares

Use for CLI media fetch inside agent sessions; use official platform APIs when you need licensed streaming playback rather than local file download.

FAQ

What does yt-dlp do?

Download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. Use when user provides a video URL, asks to download a video, or when conversation contains video links from YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Insta

When should I use yt-dlp?

Download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp. Use when user provides a video URL, asks to download a video, or when conversation contains video links from YouTube, Twitter/X, Vimeo, TikTok, Insta

What are common prerequisites?

--- name: yt-dlp description: Download videos and extract audio from various platforms using yt-dlp.

Is Yt Dlp safe to install?

skills.sh reports 2 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.

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