If you’re a tinkerer or archivist, this script is a powerful tool. But if you just want a one-click solution for your personal playlist, stick with a GUI app. Python scripting is like owning a race car – thrilling when it works, frustrating when it’s in the shop.
except VideoUnavailable: print(f" ✗ Video unavailable. Skipping.") fail_count += 1 except PytubeError as e: print(f" ✗ Pytube error: e") fail_count += 1 except Exception as e: print(f" ✗ Unexpected error: e") fail_count += 1
Create a new text file and name it playlist_downloader.py . Copy and paste the code below into your file. youtube playlist free downloader python script
import yt_dlp
To download your private playlists, yt-dlp needs authorization. The safest way is to pass your browser cookies. Export your cookies using a browser extension (like "Get cookies.txt") to a file named cookies.txt , then add this line to your ydl_opts : 'cookiefile': 'cookies.txt', Use code with caution. 3. Rate Limiting If you’re a tinkerer or archivist, this script
ydl.download([url]) print(f"\n✨ Success! All videos saved to ./output_dir/playlist_title")
Before we dive into the code, you need a few things installed on your computer. 1. Install Python except VideoUnavailable: print(f" ✗ Video unavailable
Often, you want only the audio (for music playlists) or need to download high-resolution videos (1080p, 4K) which require merging separate audio and video streams. Here's an enhanced script.