MacYTDL

MacYTDL is a utility which downloads videos using the youtube-dl, video downloader script. youtube-dl is able to download videos from a great many web sites. MacYTDL runs on any Apple Mac with macOS 10.10 or later. It has been developed in AppleScript. The code is not protected and can be opened in Script Editor. MacYTDL is code signed and notarized.

Download from here.

Features

• Download individual videos and playlists.
• Download multiple videos separately (in parallel) or in one process (sequentially).
• Works with all sites supported by youtube-dl.
• Can cancel individual downloads.
• Settings for level of youtube-dl feedback, download folder, file format, remuxing format, download speed, proxy URL etc.
• Batch downloads.
• Download a text description of the video.
• Localisation – currently Spanish, Italian and German are available (switching languages is supported in macOS 10.15 and 11).
• Download and embed subtitles in chosen format and language including auto-generated captions from YouTube.
• Download and optionally embed thumbnail images and metadata.
• Download or extract audio-only files in chosen format.
• Download selected episodes from ABC iView and SBS OnDemand (Australia) show pages.
• Optional macOS Service which gets the current text selection, clipboard contents or active web browser URL, switches to MacYTDL and pastes URL of video to be downloaded.
• All components downloaded and/or installed by MacYTDL, which can be controlled by the user. Component updates available in the app.
• A separate log file is retained for each download enabling problem solving if a download fails.
• Has a built-in uninstaller which moves all components to Trash.
• Includes a range of simple utilities.
• Is 64-bit and so runs in macOS 10.15 Catalina and Big Sur.

How to install

• Download and open the DMG file.
• Browse the Help file.
• Click and drag MacYTDL to any location - it's best to use the Applications folder.
• Run MacYTDL.
• Click on "Yes" to install various components and create a preferences folder when asked.
• Provide administrator credentials when asked.
• Wait.
• MacYTDL main dialog is displayed.

More detail is available in the Help file(2.6MB).

Bugs, problems, questions

To report bugs, problems etc., get a Github account, click on the "Issues" tab above and open a new issue. Alternatively, send an email using the "About" dialog inside MacYTDL Utilities.

Acknowledgements

MacYTDL would be useless without youtube-dl. It is a remarkable, feature rich utility maintained by the most dedicated group of volunteers.

Much is owed to Shane Stanley, for his many contributions solving problems with MacYTDL. Shane developed Dialog Toolkit Plus which provides the dialogs in MacYTDL. Ideas for this GUI front-end came from many sources including:

• Adam Albrec, author of PPC Media Centre.
• Michael Page (http://techion.com.au), author of the Video Hoarder automator script.
• “kopurando” (https://github.com/kopurando), author of the Virga downloader.
• “Tombs” (https://forum.videohelp.com/members/235982-Tombs) an active contributor to Whirlpool and author of the URLDown Dropper utility for Windows.
• “xplorr” (https://forum.videohelp.com/members/268051-xplorr), author of TVDownloader.
• Anonymous (https://cresstone.com/apps/youtubeDLFrontEnd/), author of youtubeDLFrontEnd.
• Frank, John, Santo, Trevor and Walter, fellow members of the ACT Apple Users Group.
• MacYTDL users 11lucasarr11, Alex, Andy, andyrb412, BigJoe309, bovirus, CdrSpock, Dantha, defcon5at, EuronymousDeadOhlin, janvdvelde, MalEbenSo, martinsstuff, meiwechner, michel-GH, Mike, pedrocadiz13, Peter, Rick, roest01, SwineBurglar, Ted, tigrr, Tobias, Tom, upekshapriya.

MacYTDL is free

MacYTDL is a retirement project for me and will always be free. But, if you use other shareware or open source software consider making a donation to the developers – let them know they are appreciated.