---
title: yt-dlp Commands Cheat Sheet (The Ones You'll Actually Use)
description: A practical yt-dlp commands cheat sheet — download, pick quality, extract audio, playlists, subtitles, sections, cookies, and output templates. Copy-paste ready.
url: https://vidkraken.com/blog/yt-dlp-commands
author: Vid Kraken
published: '2026-07-17'
updated: '2026-07-17'
---

# yt-dlp Commands Cheat Sheet (The Ones You'll Actually Use)

> A practical yt-dlp commands cheat sheet — download, pick quality, extract audio, playlists, subtitles, sections, cookies, and output templates. Copy-paste ready.

Vid Kraken · Published 2026-07-17

Source: https://vidkraken.com/blog/yt-dlp-commands

The handful of yt-dlp commands you'll reach for again and again, in one place. New to yt-dlp? Start with the [how-to-use guide](https://vidkraken.com/blog/how-to-use-yt-dlp); this page is the quick reference.

## The essentials

| Goal                    | Command                                         |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Download best quality   | `yt-dlp "URL"`                                  |
| List available formats  | `yt-dlp -F "URL"`                               |
| Cap resolution (≤1080p) | `yt-dlp -S "res:1080" "URL"`                    |
| Best MP4                | `yt-dlp -f "bv*[ext=mp4]+ba[ext=m4a]/b" "URL"`  |
| Audio only → MP3        | `yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 "URL"`            |
| Download a playlist     | `yt-dlp "PLAYLIST_URL"`                         |
| Just one section        | `yt-dlp --download-sections "*1:30-2:45" "URL"` |
| Subtitles               | `yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-lang en "URL"`       |
| Name output file        | `yt-dlp -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s" "URL"`           |
| Pass browser cookies    | `yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "URL"`    |
| Update yt-dlp           | `yt-dlp -U`                                     |

## Format selection

```bash
# See every stream, then pick by ID
yt-dlp -F "URL"
yt-dlp -f "137+140" "URL"     # video id 137 + audio id 140

# Or sort by preference and let yt-dlp choose
yt-dlp -S "res:1080,fps,vcodec:av01" "URL"
```

## Output templates

```bash
# Organize downloads into folders
yt-dlp -o "%(uploader)s/%(title)s [%(id)s].%(ext)s" "URL"

# Playlist with index numbers
yt-dlp -o "%(playlist_index)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s" "PLAYLIST_URL"
```

## Rate limiting (avoid bot flags)

```bash
yt-dlp --sleep-requests 2 --sleep-interval 5 --max-sleep-interval 15 --limit-rate 2M "URL"
```

> **When commands aren't the problem**
>
> If a command that used to work suddenly errors with
> [403 Forbidden](https://vidkraken.com/blog/yt-dlp-403-forbidden) or
> [a bot check](https://vidkraken.com/blog/yt-dlp-sign-in-to-confirm-not-a-bot), it's usually a stale
> version or a flagged IP — not your flags.

> **Prefer one endpoint over a page of flags?**
>
> Send a URL to our API with a format and get a direct download link — no flag
> juggling, no updates.
>
> [Start free](https://vidkraken.com/login)

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I download a specific quality with yt-dlp?**

Use -S to sort by preference, e.g. -S "res:1080" for up to 1080p, or list formats with -F and pick exact IDs with -f "137+140".

**How do I download only part of a video?**

Use --download-sections with a timestamp range, e.g. --download-sections "\*1:30-2:45". It downloads just that segment instead of the whole video.