yt-dlp

Q: How to fix 'nsig extraction failed' and 'Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot' errors in yt-dlp?

1. Update yt-dlp to the latest nightly version: `yt-dlp -U` or `pip install -U yt-dlp`. 2. If you still get the 'Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot' error, pass browser cookies to bypass YouTube’s bot detection. Use `--cookies-from-browser BROWSER` (e.g., `--cookies-from-browser chrome`) or export cookies file with `--cookies COOKIES_FILE`. For detailed steps, see: https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/Extractors#exporting-youtube-cookies 3. The 'nsig extraction failed' warning often disappears after updating; if not, it’s a known temporary issue – follow the linked GitHub issues for updates.

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162.0k stars·Video & Audio Download·SHA-256 checksum verified

A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader supporting thousands of sites. Fast, reliable, and actively maintained fork of youtube-dl.

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Download Download Version

v2026.03.17 · 21.5 MB

The ultimate command-line media downloader for thousands of sites, faster and more reliable than youtube-dl.

Core Features

Supports YouTube, Bilibili, Twitter, Instagram, and 1000+ sites
Download video, audio, subtitles, thumbnails; choose format & quality
Batch download entire playlists, channels, or user uploads
Integrated SponsorBlock to skip sponsored segments automatically
Customizable output filenames with templates (date, title, etc.)

What It Can't Do

•DRM-protected content (e.g., Netflix, HBO) cannot be downloaded; 2. Command-line tool requires basic terminal familiarity; 3. Frequent downloads may trigger rate limits – use reasonable intervals; 4. Update often to maintain site compatibility.

Use Cases

Download YouTube music/playlists for offline listening
Archive videos from Bilibili, Twitter, Instagram for editing or backup
Back up entire channels or playlists in one go
Integrate with shell scripts for scheduled or automated downloads

Detailed Introduction

yt-dlp is a powerful command-line tool for downloading audio and video from YouTube and over a thousand other websites. As an active fork of the popular youtube-dl, it adds many new features, bug fixes, and faster updates. It supports format selection, subtitles, playlists, metadata embedding, SponsorBlock integration, and extensive customization via configuration files and plugins. Available as standalone binaries for Windows, macOS, Linux, and via pip. Ideal for automation, content archiving, and offline viewing.

Troubleshooting & FAQ (2)

Troubleshooting

How to fix 'nsig extraction failed' and 'Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot' errors in yt-dlp?

1. Update yt-dlp to the latest nightly version: yt-dlp -U or pip install -U yt-dlp.
2. If you still get the 'Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot' error, pass browser cookies to bypass YouTube’s bot detection. Use --cookies-from-browser BROWSER (e.g., --cookies-from-browser chrome) or export cookies file with --cookies COOKIES_FILE. For detailed steps, see: https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/Extractors#exporting-youtube-cookies
3. The 'nsig extraction failed' warning often disappears after updating; if not, it’s a known temporary issue – follow the linked GitHub issues for updates.

GitHub Issue #16833

Troubleshooting

Why is yt-dlp not showing premium YouTube video formats (like enhanced bitrate, format IDs 356 or 721)?

You must pass the cookies of a YouTube Premium account to yt-dlp. Use --cookies-from-browser BROWSER (e.g., chrome) or --cookies cookies.txt. If formats still don't appear, update yt-dlp to the latest nightly version (yt-dlp --update-to nightly) because YouTube frequently changes format logic. Some premium formats also require a po_token, which you can extract from your browser's YouTube page and pass as --extractor-args youtube:po_token=TOKEN. Finally, verify that the video actually offers those formats in your region; premium formats may be region-restricted.

GitHub Issue #16851

Getting Started

Download installer

Click the button above to download the installer for your system

Windows· 21.5 MB Linux· 36.3 MB macOS· 61.4 MB

Install the software

Double-click the downloaded installer and follow the prompts

Download the appropriate binary from GitHub Releases (e.g., yt-dlp.exe for Windows)

Open terminal/command prompt and run: yt-dlp "video URL"

Wait for completion; the file will be saved in the current directory

Install Guide

Download the appropriate binary from GitHub Releases (e.g., yt-dlp.exe for Windows)
Open terminal/command prompt and run: yt-dlp "video URL"
Wait for completion; the file will be saved in the current directory

File Integrity

SHA-256 checksum verified

Checksum extracted from GitHub official Release page

SHA256 Checksum

6cfba1af5147da0196d8c015961b1422bdd47fc2f9bb6df8cb4d1dc029939c51

This checksum is extracted from the GitHub Release page. Verify file integrity after download.

All SHA-256 checksums on this platform are extracted from the project's official GitHub Release page, without any modification. You can independently verify them on the GitHub Releases page.

Open Source Transparency

View GitHub Source

Environment Guide

Uninstall Info

Simply delete the downloaded binary. If installed via pip, run: pip uninstall yt-dlp.

No Extra Dependencies

Ready to use after download. No additional runtime required.

Project Info

LicenseUnlicense

Last Updated2026-06-26 21:35:51

GitHub Repository

Having issues? Check the FAQ below

2 FAQs

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