How to use yt-dlp on a Mac (and without the Terminal)

By Suraj, Unloop Studio · Updated 26 September 2026

Short answer

Install yt-dlp and ffmpeg with Homebrew, then use yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 for audio or --merge-output-format mp4 for video. Keep it updated with brew upgrade yt-dlp. If you don’t want to remember commands, a small app like GrabKar puts the same options behind buttons.

Install

brew install yt-dlp ffmpeg

Common commands

# best video + audio, saved as MP4
yt-dlp -f "bv*+ba/b" --merge-output-format mp4 "URL"

# audio only as MP3
yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 "URL"

# save to the Desktop
yt-dlp -P ~/Desktop "URL"

# sites that need your login session
yt-dlp --cookies-from-browser chrome "URL"

Keep it updated

Sites change often, so an outdated yt-dlp is the most common reason downloads fail.

brew upgrade yt-dlp

Use it responsibly

Download content only when you have permission or the platform allows it.

FAQ

Why does yt-dlp suddenly stop working?

Usually because the site changed. Updating yt-dlp fixes most failures.

Does yt-dlp need ffmpeg?

For merging separate video and audio streams and converting to MP3, yes.