> ## 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.

# Dependencies

> Required and optional dependencies for yt-dlp functionality

yt-dlp has minimal required dependencies, but several optional dependencies unlock additional features and capabilities.

## Python Requirements

<Info>
  **Python versions 3.10+** (CPython) and **3.11+** (PyPy) are supported. Other versions and implementations may or may not work correctly.
</Info>

If you're using the standalone binary releases, Python is already included and you don't need to install it separately.

## Strongly Recommended

While technically optional, these dependencies are highly recommended for full functionality:

### FFmpeg and FFprobe

[**ffmpeg**](https://www.ffmpeg.org) and **ffprobe** are essential for most common use cases.

**Required for:**

* Merging separate video and audio files
* Converting between formats
* Embedding thumbnails and metadata
* Post-processing tasks (cutting, trimming, etc.)
* Downloading HLS/DASH streams

**License:** [Depends on the build](https://www.ffmpeg.org/legal.html)

<Warning>
  There are bugs in ffmpeg that cause various issues when used with yt-dlp. We provide [custom builds with patches](https://github.com/yt-dlp/FFmpeg-Builds#ffmpeg-static-auto-builds) that fix these issues.

  **Download patched builds:** [yt-dlp/FFmpeg-Builds](https://github.com/yt-dlp/FFmpeg-Builds)
</Warning>

<Note>
  **Important:** You need the ffmpeg *binary*, **NOT** the [Python package of the same name](https://pypi.org/project/ffmpeg).
</Note>

#### Installing FFmpeg

```bash theme={null}
# Check if ffmpeg is installed
ffmpeg -version

# Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt install ffmpeg

# macOS (Homebrew)
brew install ffmpeg

# Windows
# Download from https://github.com/yt-dlp/FFmpeg-Builds/releases
```

### yt-dlp-ejs

[**yt-dlp-ejs**](https://github.com/yt-dlp/ejs) - Required for full YouTube support.

**License:** [Unlicense](https://github.com/yt-dlp/ejs/blob/main/LICENSE), bundles MIT and ISC components

**Requires a JavaScript runtime:**

* [**deno**](https://deno.land) (recommended)
* [**node.js**](https://nodejs.org)
* [**bun**](https://bun.sh)
* [**QuickJS**](https://bellard.org/quickjs/)

<Note>
  Standalone binaries typically include yt-dlp-ejs. For pip installations, see the [EJS wiki](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/EJS) for setup instructions.
</Note>

## Networking Dependencies

These enhance network functionality and protocol support:

### Core Networking

| Package                                                                                                          | Purpose                                                 | License                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**certifi**](https://github.com/certifi/python-certifi)\*                                                       | Mozilla's root certificate bundle                       | [MPLv2](https://github.com/certifi/python-certifi/blob/master/LICENSE)    |
| [**brotli**](https://github.com/google/brotli)\* or [**brotlicffi**](https://github.com/python-hyper/brotlicffi) | Brotli content encoding support                         | MIT                                                                       |
| [**websockets**](https://github.com/aaugustin/websockets)\*                                                      | Downloading over websocket                              | [BSD-3-Clause](https://github.com/aaugustin/websockets/blob/main/LICENSE) |
| [**requests**](https://github.com/psf/requests)\*                                                                | HTTP library for HTTPS proxy and persistent connections | [Apache-2.0](https://github.com/psf/requests/blob/main/LICENSE)           |

### Browser Impersonation

These enable impersonating browser requests to bypass TLS fingerprinting:

**curl\_cffi** (recommended)

[**curl\_cffi**](https://github.com/lexiforest/curl_cffi) - Python binding for curl-impersonate. Provides impersonation for Chrome, Edge, and Safari.

**License:** [MIT](https://github.com/lexiforest/curl_cffi/blob/main/LICENSE)

```bash theme={null}
# Install with curl-cffi extra
pip install "yt-dlp[default,curl-cffi]"
```

<Info>
  curl\_cffi is included in most official builds except:

  * `yt-dlp` (Unix zipimport binary)
  * `yt-dlp_x86` (Windows 32-bit)
  * `yt-dlp_musllinux_aarch64`
</Info>

## Metadata Dependencies

For embedding thumbnails and writing metadata:

| Package                                                   | Purpose                                                    | License                                                                 |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**mutagen**](https://github.com/quodlibet/mutagen)\*     | Embedding thumbnails in various formats                    | [GPLv2+](https://github.com/quodlibet/mutagen/blob/master/COPYING)      |
| [**AtomicParsley**](https://github.com/wez/atomicparsley) | Embedding thumbnails in MP4/M4A when mutagen/ffmpeg cannot | [GPLv2+](https://github.com/wez/atomicparsley/blob/master/COPYING)      |
| [**xattr**](https://github.com/xattr/xattr)               | Writing xattr metadata on **Mac**                          | [MIT](https://github.com/xattr/xattr/blob/master/LICENSE.txt)           |
| [**pyxattr**](https://github.com/iustin/pyxattr)          | Writing xattr metadata on **BSD**                          | [LGPL2.1](https://github.com/iustin/pyxattr/blob/master/COPYING)        |
| [**setfattr**](http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/attr)  | Writing xattr metadata (system tool)                       | [GPLv2+](http://git.savannah.nongnu.org/cgit/attr.git/tree/doc/COPYING) |

### Example: Embedding Thumbnails

```bash theme={null}
yt-dlp --embed-thumbnail URL

# For MP4 files without mutagen, AtomicParsley is used
# Install on Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt install atomicparsley
```

## Miscellaneous Dependencies

| Package                                                          | Purpose                                              | License                                                                           |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**pycryptodomex**](https://github.com/Legrandin/pycryptodome)\* | Decrypting AES-128 HLS streams                       | [BSD-2-Clause](https://github.com/Legrandin/pycryptodome/blob/master/LICENSE.rst) |
| [**secretstorage**](https://github.com/mitya57/secretstorage)\*  | Accessing Gnome keyring for browser cookies on Linux | [BSD-3-Clause](https://github.com/mitya57/secretstorage/blob/master/LICENSE)      |
| Any external downloader                                          | For use with `--downloader`                          | Varies                                                                            |

## Deprecated Dependencies

These are no longer recommended but still supported:

<Warning>
  **These dependencies are deprecated.** ffmpeg can be used instead for most use cases.
</Warning>

| Package                                                                           | Purpose                              | Alternative                       |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------- |
| [**rtmpdump**](http://rtmpdump.mplayerhq.hu)                                      | Downloading RTMP streams             | Use ffmpeg: `--downloader ffmpeg` |
| [**mplayer**](http://mplayerhq.hu/design7/info.html) or [**mpv**](https://mpv.io) | Downloading RSTP/MMS streams         | Use ffmpeg: `--downloader ffmpeg` |
| [**phantomjs**](https://github.com/ariya/phantomjs)                               | Running JavaScript (some extractors) | No longer needed for YouTube      |

## Checking Available Dependencies

To see which dependencies are currently available:

```bash theme={null}
yt-dlp --verbose URL
```

The verbose output displays all detected dependencies at the top.

<Info>
  If you attempt a task requiring a missing dependency, yt-dlp will warn you with a specific message about what's needed.
</Info>

## Installing Dependencies

### Via pip (Python installation)

```bash theme={null}
# Install with recommended dependencies
pip install "yt-dlp[default]"

# Install with all extras
pip install "yt-dlp[default,curl-cffi]"
```

### Standalone Binaries

**Packages marked with \*** are included in the standalone release binaries.

If you're using a standalone binary, you already have:

* Python interpreter
* certifi
* brotli/brotlicffi
* websockets
* requests
* mutagen
* pycryptodomex
* secretstorage (Linux builds)
* curl\_cffi (most builds)

You only need to install external tools like:

* ffmpeg/ffprobe
* AtomicParsley
* External downloaders (aria2c, wget, etc.)

## Licensing Considerations

To use or redistribute yt-dlp with dependencies, you must agree to their respective licensing terms.

<Note>
  The standalone PyInstaller-bundled executables include GPLv3+ licensed code (from dependencies like mutagen), so the combined work is licensed under [GPLv3+](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html).

  The source code, source tarball, and PyPI packages contain only [Unlicense](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/blob/master/LICENSE) code.
</Note>

For complete licensing details, see [THIRD\_PARTY\_LICENSES.txt](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/blob/master/THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.txt) in the repository.