# YouTube Video Downloader & Scraper (`alpha-scraper/youtube-video-downloader-scraper`) Actor

YouTube Video Downloader & Metadata Scraper. Extract high-quality \[ ✅ video-only or  audio-only or  merge video download links ] and  some metadata from one or multiple YouTube videos  — all in a single run, with clean structured output and  **Resolution Selector** (  360p  →  8K  ).

- **URL**: https://apify.com/alpha-scraper/youtube-video-downloader-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Alpha Scraper](https://apify.com/alpha-scraper) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, Social media, Other
- **Stats:** 8 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$8.50/month + usage

To use this Actor, you pay a monthly rental fee to the developer. The rent is subtracted from your prepaid usage every month after the free trial period.You also pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher Apify subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#rental-actors

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## 🎥 YouTube Video Downloader

**High-quality, video-only or audio-only or merge video download links** and **rich metadata** from one or multiple YouTube videos  — all in a **single run**, with **clean structured output** and **resolution control**.

**Extract rich metadata and instant download links for YouTube videos or playlists — fast, clean, and reliable.**

### ✨ Key Features

- ✅ Supports **single video & playlist URLs**
- ✅ Multiple resolution options (8K → 360p)
- ✅ Clean & structured JSON output
- ✅ Video-only, audio-only & merged links
- ✅ Automatic best-quality fallback
- ✅ Bulk processing supported
- ✅ Ideal for automation & data pipelines

***

### 🚀 What This Actor Provides

This actor processes **YouTube video or playlist URLs** and returns:

- 🎬 **Direct downloadable video links** (video-only)
- 🎧 **Separate audio download links**
- 🔀 **Merged video + audio download links**
- 📊 **Detailed video metadata**
- 🎯 **Resolution-based video selection**

It is ideal for **content archiving, analytics, preview systems, and download automation**.

***

#### 🎥 Video Resolution

Choose your desired resolution:

```json
{
  8K
  4K
  2K
  1080p (default)
  720p
  480p
  360p
}

**If the selected resolution is unavailable, the actor **automatically provides the highest available resolution**.
```

***

### 📥 Input Example

```json
{
  "videoResolution": "1080p",

  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFU2hU7nE0k"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://youtu.be/G5RpJwCJDqc?si=h7DRF_vVVO8IB866"
    }
  ]
}

```

***

### 📤 Output Example

```json
[
  {
    "original_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFU2hU7nE0k",
    "requested_resolution": "1080p",
    "provided_resolution": "1080p",
    "title": "How SpaceX Lands Rockets",
    "channel": "Science Explained",
    "duration": "8m 34s",
    "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wFU2hU7nE0k/maxresdefault.jpg",
    "downloadable_video_link": "https://example------------------------------------------------------------",
    "downloadable_audio_link": "https://example------------------------------------------------------------",
    "merge_downloadable_video_link": "https://example-------------------------------------------------------",
    "view_count": "2.3M",
    "categories": [
      "Science",
      "Technology"
    ],
    "description": "A detailed explanation of how SpaceX successfully lands reusable rockets.",
    "availability": "public",
    "live_status": "not_live",
    "channel_subscribers": "1.4M",
    "video_filesize": "96.8MB"
  },
  {
    "original_url": "https://youtu.be/G5RpJwCJDqc?si=h7DRF_vVVO8IB866",
    "requested_resolution": "1080p",
    "provided_resolution": "720p",
    "title": "Top 10 Travel Destinations",
    "channel": "World Travel Guide",
    "duration": "5m 12s",
    "thumbnail": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G5RpJwCJDqc/maxresdefault.jpg",
    "downloadable_video_link": "https://example-----------------------------------------------------",
    "downloadable_audio_link": "https://example-----------------------------------------------------",
    "merge_downloadable_video_link": "https://example------------------------------------------------",
    "view_count": "850K",
    "categories": [
      "Travel",
      "Lifestyle"
    ],
    "description": "Discover the top 10 travel destinations you should visit this year.",
    "availability": "public",
    "live_status": "not_live",
    "channel_subscribers": "620K",
    "video_filesize": "54.3MB"
  }
]

```

### 📦 Output Data Explained (Field by Field)

Each run returns an array of objects. Below is a **clear explanation of every output field**:

| Field Name                      | Description                                         |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `original_url`                  | The original YouTube video or playlist URL provided |
| `requested_resolution`          | Resolution selected by the user (e.g., 1080p)       |
| `provided_resolution`           | Actual resolution delivered (best available match)  |
| `title`                         | Full title of the video                             |
| `channel`                       | Channel or uploader name                            |
| `duration`                      | Video length (formatted: h m s)                     |
| `thumbnail`                     | High-quality thumbnail image URL                    |
| `downloadable_video_link`       | Direct video-only download link (no audio)          |
| `downloadable_audio_link`       | Direct audio-only download link                     |
| `merge_downloadable_video_link` | Combined video + audio download link                |
| `view_count`                    | Total views (formatted: K / M)                      |
| `categories`                    | Content category list                               |
| `description`                   | Full video description                              |
| `availability`                  | Public or restricted availability status            |
| `live_status`                   | Indicates if the video is live or not               |
| `channel_subscribers`           | Channel subscriber count                            |
| `video_filesize`                | Estimated video file size                           |

***

### 🌟 Features & Overview

✨ **Resolution Selector** (8K → 360p)
🎥 **Video-only extraction (no sound)**
🎧 **Separate audio download support**
🔗 **Merged video + audio links**
📦 **Batch processing (multiple URLs)**
📊 **Clean, structured, ready-to-use output**
🔁 **Retry-friendly & stable results**

***

### ✅ Benefits & Advantages

- 🚀 Saves time — no manual format selection
- 📁 Perfect for automation & pipelines
- 🧩 Easy integration with apps & workflows
- 📊 Ideal for analysis, archiving & previews
- 🔄 Reliable output even for multiple URLs

***

### 🧠 Best Practices

✅ Always provide **valid YouTube URLs**
✅ Select a **realistic resolution** (fallback happens automatically)
✅ Use **multiple URLs** to maximize batch efficiency
✅ Re-run the actor if a temporary failure occurs
✅ Use **merged links** if you need audio + video together

***

### ⚠️ Possible Errors & How to Avoid Them

| Issue                      | How to Avoid                        |
| -------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Invalid URL                | Double-check YouTube links          |
| Private / restricted video | Ensure video is publicly accessible |
| Resolution not available   | Actor auto-selects best available   |
| Temporary failure          | Simply re-run the actor             |
| Empty output               | Ensure `startUrls` is not empty     |

***

### 📌 Important Notes

- 🎥 Videos are **video-only** (no embedded audio)
- 🎧 Audio links are provided **separately**
- 🔁 Re-running the actor often resolves transient issues
- 🚫 No internal implementation details are exposed

***

***

### 🧠 Best Practices

- ✔ Always provide **valid YouTube URLs**
- ✔ Use playlists for **bulk extraction**
- ✔ Rerun if temporary issues occur
- ✔ Choose realistic resolution options
- ✔ Store download links immediately (they may expire)

***

### 🎧 Audio-Only Downloader

If you only need **audio downloads**, use this actor instead:

👉 **YouTube Audio Downloader**
[🎶 Youtube Audio Downloader (Video/Shorts)](https://console.apify.com/actors/lTUPL4gmLTDNXBeWw/input)

***

### ✅ Summary

**YouTube Video Downloader Pro** is a clean, reliable, and scalable solution for extracting YouTube video data and direct download links — perfect for creators, analysts, and automation workflows.

🎉 **Run once. Collect everything. Done.**

***

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- Best keyword for users :

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***

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# Actor input Schema

## `videoResolution` (type: `string`):

Select the desired video resolution. If the selected resolution is not available, the highest available resolution will be used.

## `startUrls` (type: `array`):

List of one or more YouTube video or playlist URLs

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "videoResolution": "1080p",
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFU2hU7nE0k"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://youtu.be/G5RpJwCJDqc?si=h7DRF_vVVO8IB866"
    }
  ]
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "videoResolution": "1080p",
    "startUrls": [
        {
            "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFU2hU7nE0k"
        },
        {
            "url": "https://youtu.be/G5RpJwCJDqc?si=h7DRF_vVVO8IB866"
        }
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("alpha-scraper/youtube-video-downloader-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "videoResolution": "1080p",
    "startUrls": [
        { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFU2hU7nE0k" },
        { "url": "https://youtu.be/G5RpJwCJDqc?si=h7DRF_vVVO8IB866" },
    ],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("alpha-scraper/youtube-video-downloader-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "videoResolution": "1080p",
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFU2hU7nE0k"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://youtu.be/G5RpJwCJDqc?si=h7DRF_vVVO8IB866"
    }
  ]
}' |
apify call alpha-scraper/youtube-video-downloader-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=alpha-scraper/youtube-video-downloader-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/9kZQcUlHZRKp1ilZA/builds/nYK7NT5uvghpVHP4T/openapi.json