> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authentication Options

> Configure login credentials, passwords, and certificate-based authentication

## Basic Authentication

<ParamField path="-u, --username" type="string">
  Login with this account ID

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp -u myusername URL
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-p, --password" type="string">
  Account password

  If this option is left out, yt-dlp will ask interactively

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp -u myusername -p mypassword URL
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-2, --twofactor" type="string">
  Two-factor authentication code

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp -u myusername -p mypassword -2 123456 URL
  ```
</ParamField>

## Netrc Authentication

<ParamField path="-n, --netrc" type="flag">
  Use .netrc authentication data

  See "Authentication with netrc" for more details
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--netrc-location" type="string">
  Location of .netrc authentication data; either the path or its containing directory

  Defaults to `~/.netrc`

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp --netrc-location ~/.config/netrc URL
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--netrc-cmd" type="string">
  Command to execute to get the credentials for an extractor

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp --netrc-cmd 'gpg --decrypt ~/.authinfo.gpg' URL
  ```
</ParamField>

## Video-Specific Password

<ParamField path="--video-password" type="string">
  Video-specific password

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp --video-password secret123 URL
  ```
</ParamField>

## Adobe Pass Authentication

<ParamField path="--ap-mso" type="string">
  Adobe Pass multiple-system operator (TV provider) identifier

  Use `--ap-list-mso` for a list of available MSOs

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp --ap-mso Verizon URL
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--ap-username" type="string">
  Multiple-system operator account login
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--ap-password" type="string">
  Multiple-system operator account password

  If this option is left out, yt-dlp will ask interactively
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--ap-list-mso" type="flag">
  List all supported multiple-system operators
</ParamField>

## Client Certificate Authentication

<ParamField path="--client-certificate" type="string">
  Path to client certificate file in PEM format

  May include the private key

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp --client-certificate /path/to/cert.pem URL
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--client-certificate-key" type="string">
  Path to private key file for client certificate

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  yt-dlp --client-certificate cert.pem --client-certificate-key key.pem URL
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--client-certificate-password" type="string">
  Password for client certificate private key, if encrypted

  If not provided, and the key is encrypted, yt-dlp will ask interactively
</ParamField>