# YouTube Downloader (`scraper_one/yt-downloader`) Actor ✨ Download YouTube videos in your chosen quality. Ideal for saving educational content, archiving important videos, or automating large-scale video downloads with control over resolution and size. - **URL**: https://apify.com/scraper\_one/yt-downloader.md - **Developed by:** [Scraper One](https://apify.com/scraper_one) (community) - **Categories:** Videos, Automation, Developer tools - **Stats:** 74 total users, 16 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 2 bookmarks - **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars ## Pricing from $2.00 / 1,000 1mb of video files This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use 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 Downloader ![Apify Actor](https://img.shields.io/badge/Apify-Actor-blue) This **Apify Actor** downloads YouTube videos and music in selected quality. The actor: 1. Downloads the video (or audio) 2. Returns a temporary secure download URL Designed for **automation**, **content archiving**, **data pipelines**, and integration with other Apify workflows. 🚀 --- ### ⚡ Fast & Reliable Infrastructure - Secure backend processing - Temporary secure download links - Optimized format selection --- ### ✨ Features - 🎥 Download YouTube videos or audio by URL - 🎯 Select preferred quality (`360p`, `720p`, `256kbps` etc.) - 🔁 Automatic analyze → download workflow - 🔐 Secure time-limited download URLs --- ### 📥 Input Parameters | Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-------------|----------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | `videoUrls` | string[] | ✅ Yes* | List of YouTube video URLs. Recommended input for one or multiple videos. | | `url` | string | ❌ No | Deprecated legacy single YouTube video URL field. Prefer `videoUrls`. | | `quality` | string | ❌ No | Preferred video quality (e.g., `"360p"`, `"720p"`). If not provided, a safe default is selected automatically | | `audioOnly` | boolean | ❌ No | Check to download only audio. | | `bitrate` | string | ❌ No | Preferred audio quality (e.g. `"192 kbps"`, `"256 kbps"`. If not provided, a safe default is selected automatically | *Provide at least one URL using `videoUrls`. The deprecated `url` field is still supported for backward compatibility. --- #### 📝 Example Input ```json { "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YM9RbGmX-Y" ], "quality": "720p" } ```` ```json { "audioOnly": true, "bitrate": "256", "videoUrls": [ "https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz0qubtokio&si=QNcmmFFfrJ6NYOdS" ] } ``` Deprecated legacy input: ```json { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "quality": "720p" } ``` If `quality` is not provided, the actor will: 1. Prefer `720p` 2. Fallback to `480p` (non-60fps) 3. Use the best available safe format *** ### 📤 Output The actor returns a JSON object containing a temporary download URL. #### Example Output ```json { "downloadUrl": "https://your-secure-storage-url/video.mp4?X-Amz-..." } ``` The link: - ⏳ Is time-limited - 🔐 Is secure - 🔄 Expires automatically *** ### 🚀 Usage 1. Open the actor in Apify. 2. Provide YouTube video URLs in `videoUrls`. 3. (Optional) Select desired quality. 4. Run the actor. 5. Download your video from the returned URL. You can also run it via API. *** ### 🌐 Example API Call ```bash curl -X POST https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/your-actor-id/run \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YM9RbGmX-Y" ], "quality": "720p" }' ``` *** ### ⚠️ Limitations & Notes - The download URL is temporary and expires after a short time. - Some high-quality formats (e.g., 1080p60) may be restricted. - Large videos may take longer to process. - Private or restricted videos cannot be downloaded. - Use responsibly and comply with YouTube's Terms of Service. - Rate limits may apply. Please be patient. Contact support if you need higher limits. *** ### 🎯 Best Use Cases - 📦 Archive YouTube content - 🤖 Feed videos into AI pipelines - 📊 Automate content research - 🔁 Integrate into data workflows - 🎙 Combine with transcription or comment scraping *** ### Other Recommended Scrapers - 🐦 [X (Twitter) Posts Search](https://apify.com/scraper_one/x-posts-search) — Find posts/tweets based on keywords, hashtags, and more - 🐦 [X (Twitter) Post Replies Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/x-post-replies-scraper) — Scrap replies of multiple X (Twitter) posts - 🐦 [X (Twitter) Profile Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/x-profile-posts-scraper) — Scrap posts of specific X (Twitter) profile - 📘 [Facebook Posts Search](https://apify.com/scraper_one/facebook-posts-search) — Discover Facebook posts for a given topic or page - 📘 [Facebook Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/facebook-comments-scraper) — Extract comments from public Facebook posts - 📘 [Facebook Reactions Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/facebook-reactions-scraper) — Scrap reactions from Facebook posts (like, sad, haha, angry etc.) - 📘 [Facebook Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/facebook-posts-scraper) — Scrap posts from Facebook pages, groups etc. - 🎬 [YouTube Search Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/youtube-search-scraper) — Extract videos from search queries - 🎬 [YouTube Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/scraper_one/youtube-comments-scraper) — Extract comments from posted videos ### 📬 Support Need help or custom infrastructure? Contact: **scraper1one@gmail.com** # Actor input Schema ## `url` (type: `string`): YT video URL ## `videoUrls` (type: `array`): List of video URLs to process ## `quality` (type: `string`): Desired quality of the video. Defaults to 720p, and fallbacks to 360p. ## `audioOnly` (type: `boolean`): Download only audio. ## `bitrate` (type: `string`): Desired quality of the audio in kbps. ## Actor input object example ```json { "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cdFIkJhjVc" ], "audioOnly": false } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cdFIkJhjVc" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("scraper_one/yt-downloader").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "videoUrls": ["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cdFIkJhjVc"] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("scraper_one/yt-downloader").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 '{ "videoUrls": [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cdFIkJhjVc" ] }' | apify call scraper_one/yt-downloader --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scraper_one/yt-downloader", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "YouTube Downloader", "description": "✨ Download YouTube videos in your chosen quality. Ideal for saving educational content, archiving important videos, or automating large-scale video downloads with control over resolution and size.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "Ts9ERCWwwe3ovHTPy" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/scraper_one~yt-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-scraper_one-yt-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/scraper_one~yt-downloader/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-scraper_one-yt-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/scraper_one~yt-downloader/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-scraper_one-yt-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "url": { "title": "Input URL (deprecated)", "type": "string", "description": "YT video URL" }, "videoUrls": { "title": "Video URLs", "maxItems": 100, "type": "array", "description": "List of video URLs to process", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "quality": { "title": "Quality", "enum": [ "240p", "360p", "480p", "720p", "1080p", "1440p", "2160p" ], "type": "string", "description": "Desired quality of the video. Defaults to 720p, and fallbacks to 360p." }, "audioOnly": { "title": "Audio Only", "type": "boolean", "description": "Download only audio.", "default": false }, "bitrate": { "title": "Audio Bitrate", "enum": [ "48", "50", "64", "96", "128", "192", "256", "320" ], "type": "string", "description": "Desired quality of the audio in kbps." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```