Command guide
yt-dlp format selection explained
The biggest format mistake is guessing. Good yt-dlp usage starts with looking at the actual formats available on the specific media you are downloading, then choosing the stream or combination that matches your goal.
Quick answer
Start with this before you touch -f.
yt-dlp -F "URL"That command lists the real formats available for that one video. If you skip this step, you are basically guessing.
Choose one exact format
yt-dlp -f 22 "URL"Use this when you want one specific format code from the list. This is common when you already know a format exists and want a predictable result.
Best video plus best audio
yt-dlp -f "bv*+ba/b" "URL"This is the most useful practical pattern for high quality downloads. It prefers the best separate video and audio streams, then falls back to a combined stream when needed.
What the format list is telling you
- • format code: the ID you can target with
-f - • resolution: video size like 720p or 1080p
- • extension/container: mp4, webm, m4a, and so on
- • note fields: often reveal whether a stream is video-only or audio-only
The important thing is not memorizing every field. It is understanding whether you are choosing a combined stream, video-only stream, or audio-only stream.
Common format mistakes
- • using an old format code from a random blog post
- • assuming every site exposes the same format layout
- • choosing video-only and forgetting audio
- • asking for a merge without ffmpeg installed
- • forcing a format that is not available on that exact media item
If you see "requested format is not available"
Stop reusing the failing command. Run yt-dlp -F "URL" again, inspect the current list, then choose a format that actually exists now. That error usually means your command is stale, not that yt-dlp is being weird.
Next step
Repeating this workflow often?
ytdlp.org is for getting yt-dlp working. When your process becomes repeatable, Importly is the better fit for turning scattered commands into something more organized and reusable.