Python3 Library for Downloading YouTube Videos
Installation
pip install pytubefix
Quickstart
Download MP4 Video in Highest Resolution:
from pytubefix import YouTube
from pytubefix.cli import on_progress
url = "url"
yt = YouTube(url, on_progress_callback=on_progress)
print(yt.title)
ys = yt.streams.get_highest_resolution()
ys.download()
Download Audio-Only (.m4a):
from pytubefix import YouTube
from pytubefix.cli import on_progress
url = "url"
yt = YouTube(url, on_progress_callback=on_progress)
print(yt.title)
ys = yt.streams.get_audio_only()
ys.download()
Download a Complete Playlist:
from pytubefix import Playlist
from pytubefix.cli import on_progress
url = "url"
pl = Playlist(url)
for video in pl.videos:
ys = video.streams.get_audio_only()
ys.download()
Use OAuth Authentication:
from pytubefix import YouTube
from pytubefix.cli import on_progress
url = "url"
yt = YouTube(url, use_oauth=True, allow_oauth_cache=True, on_progress_callback=on_progress)
ys = yt.streams.get_highest_resolution()
ys.download() # Authenticate once for subsequent downloads
Specify Output Directory for Downloads:
from pytubefix import YouTube
from pytubefix.cli import on_progress
url = "url"
yt = YouTube(url, on_progress_callback=on_progress)
ys = yt.streams.get_highest_resolution()
ys.download(output_path="path/to/directory")
Working with Subtitles/Caption Tracks
View Available Subtitles:
from pytubefix import YouTube
yt = YouTube('http://youtube.com/watch?v=2lAe1cqCOXo')
print(yt.captions)
Print Subtitle Tracks:
from pytubefix import YouTube
yt = YouTube('http://youtube.com/watch?v=2lAe1cqCOXo')
caption = yt.captions['a.en']
print(caption.generate_srt_captions())
Save Subtitles to a Text File:
from pytubefix import YouTube
yt = YouTube('http://youtube.com/watch?v=2lAe1cqCOXo')
caption = yt.captions['a.en']
caption.save_captions("captions.txt")
Using Channels
Get Channel Name:
from pytubefix import Channel
c = Channel("https://www.youtube.com/@ProgrammingKnowledge/featured")
print(f'Channel name: {c.channel_name}')
Download All Videos from a Channel:
from pytubefix import Channel
c = Channel("https://www.youtube.com/@ProgrammingKnowledge")
print(f'Downloading videos by: {c.channel_name}')
for video in c.videos:
video.streams.get_highest_resolution().download()
Search for Videos
Basic Search:
from pytubefix import Search
results = Search('GitHub Issue Best Practices')
for video in results.videos:
print(f'Title: {video.title}')
print(f'URL: {video.watch_url}')
print(f'Duration: {video.length} sec')
print('---')
Use Filters:
from pytubefix.contrib.search import Search, Filter
filters = (
Filter.create()
.upload_date(Filter.UploadDate.TODAY)
.type(Filter.Type.VIDEO)
.duration(Filter.Duration.UNDER_4_MINUTES)
.feature([Filter.Features.CREATIVE_COMMONS, Filter.Features._4K])
.sort_by(Filter.SortBy.UPLOAD_DATE)
)
s = Search('music', filters=filters)
for video in s.videos:
print(video.watch_url)
AsyncYouTube — Advanced Guide with Complete Examples
AsyncYouTube is a fully asynchronous Python interface built on PyTubeFix, intended for developers who require complete control over YouTube video data. It provides access to video streams, metadata, chapters, key moments, and more — all without blocking your event loop.
Quick Start Example
A full program demonstrating basic usage:
import asyncio
from pytubefix import AsyncYouTube
URL = "YOUR_VIDEO_URL"
async def main():
# Initialize AsyncYouTube with OAuth to handle age-restricted content
yt = AsyncYouTube(URL, use_oauth=True, allow_oauth_cache=True)
# Fetch all available streams asynchronously
streams = await yt.streams()
print("Available Streams:")
for stream in streams:
print(stream)
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
Download a Specific Stream
Complete example showing download with progress and completion callbacks:
import asyncio
from pytubefix import AsyncYouTube
URL = "YOUR_VIDEO_URL"
async def main():
def on_progress(stream, chunk, bytes_remaining):
total = stream.filesize
percent = (1 - bytes_remaining / total) * 100
print(f"\rProgress: {percent:.2f}%", end="")
def on_complete(stream, file_path):
print(f"\n√ Done downloading: {file_path}")
yt = AsyncYouTube(URL, use_oauth=True, allow_oauth_cache=True)
yt.register_on_progress_callback(on_progress)
yt.register_on_complete_callback(on_complete)
stream = await yt.get_stream_by_itag(18) # 360p MP4 progressive stream
print(f"Downloading: {await yt.title()}")
stream.download(filename="my_video.mp4") # Blocking call by design
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
Note: Always use callbacks to track progress;
download()is synchronous.
Fetch Video Metadata
import asyncio
from pytubefix import AsyncYouTube
URL = "YOUR_VIDEO_URL"
async def main():
yt = AsyncYouTube(URL, use_oauth=True, allow_oauth_cache=True)
title = await yt.title()
views = await yt.views()
likes = await yt.likes()
author = await yt.author()
thumbnail = await yt.thumbnail_url()
print(f"Title: {title}")
print(f"Views: {views}")
print(f"Likes: {likes}")
print(f"Author: {author}")
print(f"Thumbnail URL: {thumbnail}")
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
Retrieve Chapters and Key Moments
import asyncio
from pytubefix import AsyncYouTube
URL = "YOUR_VIDEO_URL"
async def main():
yt = AsyncYouTube(URL, use_oauth=True, allow_oauth_cache=True)
chapters = await yt.chapters()
key_moments = await yt.key_moments()
print("Chapters:", chapters)
print("Key Moments:", key_moments)
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
Create AsyncYouTube from Video ID
import asyncio
from pytubefix import AsyncYouTube
VIDEO_ID = "YOUR_VIDEO_ID"
async def main():
yt = AsyncYouTube.from_id(VIDEO_ID, use_oauth=True, allow_oauth_cache=True)
streams = await yt.streams()
print("Streams fetched from Video ID:")
for s in streams:
print(s)
if __name__ == '__main__':
asyncio.run(main())
Best Practices
- Always
awaitasynchronous methods:streams(),title(),views(),likes(),chapters(),key_moments(). - Use
use_oauth=Trueto handle age-restricted content; cache tokens to minimize repeated logins. - Wrap network calls in
try/exceptto handle errors gracefully. - Combine callbacks with asyncio for efficient non-blocking downloads.
- Maintain consistent program structure with
main()andasyncio.run()for readability and maintainability.
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