Is YTDownloader free?

Yes. YTDownloader is free to download and use.

Does YTDownloader need Homebrew or ffmpeg installed?

No. yt-dlp, ffmpeg, and ffprobe are all bundled inside the app package. You don't need Homebrew or any command-line setup.

Where are downloads saved?

All downloads go to ~/Downloads/YouTube automatically.

macOS says the app is from an unidentified developer. How do I open it?

Right-click the app in Finder and choose Open, then confirm. Or run: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/YTDownloader.app

Is Intel Mac supported?

The published DMG is Apple Silicon (arm64) only. Intel Mac users can build from source using Xcode command line tools and make dmg.

Can YTDownloader download from sites other than YouTube?

YTDownloader is designed for YouTube. It uses yt-dlp internally, which supports many sites, but the UI and clipboard detection are optimized for YouTube URLs.

v1.2.0 macOS arm64 Free Download

YTDownloader

A native macOS app for downloading YouTube videos from a copied or pasted link. Clipboard auto-detection, quality selection, live progress — and yt-dlp, ffmpeg, ffprobe are all bundled. No terminal, no Homebrew, no setup.

Download DMG — Free View on GitHub

macOS 13+ · Apple Silicon (arm64) · No dependencies required

Core Features

📋

Clipboard Auto-Detection — No Manual Paste

Copy a YouTube URL and YTDownloader detects it instantly. No need to open the app first — just copy, then click Download.

🎬

Quality Selection — Best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p, MP3

Pick your preferred quality before downloading. Audio-only MP3 export is available for podcasts, music, and lectures.

📊

Live Progress — Speed, ETA, and File Size

Real-time download feedback: speed, estimated time remaining, and file size. No spinner-only UI.

⏸

Pause, Resume, and Cancel

Full job control — pause mid-way, resume later, or cancel. Clear finished jobs to keep the window tidy.

📦

Batteries Included — yt-dlp, ffmpeg, ffprobe Bundled

No Homebrew or PATH setup needed. yt-dlp, ffmpeg, and ffprobe ship inside the app package.

🗂

Saves to ~/Downloads/YouTube

All downloads land in a dedicated ~/Downloads/YouTube folder, named and organized automatically.

How it works

01

Install the app

Download the DMG, drag YTDownloader.app to /Applications, and launch. If macOS blocks it, use Control-click > Open.
02

Copy a YouTube URL

Copy any YouTube video link. YTDownloader detects it from the clipboard and pre-fills the input automatically.
03

Choose quality

Pick best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p, or audio-only MP3.
04

Download

Click Go. Live progress updates in real time. The file lands in ~/Downloads/YouTube when done.

Quality options

Option	Description	Best for
`Best`	Highest available resolution and bitrate	Archiving, editing source material
`1080p`	Full HD video	Local playback on large displays
`720p`	HD video, smaller file size	Balance of quality and storage
`480p / 360p`	Standard definition	Low storage, mobile devices
`Audio-only MP3`	Audio extracted and converted to MP3	Podcasts, music, lectures

Requirements

System

macOS 13 or later
Apple Silicon (arm64)
Internet connection for downloading

Bundled — nothing to install

yt-dlp (bundled)
ffmpeg (bundled)
ffprobe (bundled)

First launch

App is ad-hoc signed, not notarized
Use Control-click > Open in Finder
Or: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/YTDownloader.app

FAQ

Is it free?: Yes. YTDownloader is free to download and use.
Do I need Homebrew or ffmpeg installed?: No. yt-dlp, ffmpeg, and ffprobe are all bundled inside the app. Just download and run.
Where are downloads saved?: All files go to ~/Downloads/YouTube automatically.
macOS blocks the app on first launch — what do I do?: Right-click the app in Finder and choose Open, then confirm. Alternatively, run xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/YTDownloader.app in Terminal.
Is Intel Mac supported?: The published DMG targets Apple Silicon (arm64). Intel users can build from source: cd YTDownloader && make dmg. You need Xcode CLI tools and curl.
What if a video fails to download?: yt-dlp may need updating when YouTube changes its format. Rebuild the app or manually replace the bundled yt-dlp binary inside the app package.

Download YTDownloader

v1.2.0 · macOS arm64 · Free

Download DMG View on GitHub