youtube-downloader

# YouTube Video Downloader

Download YouTube videos with full control over quality and format settings.

## Quick Start

The simplest way to download a video:

```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"
```

This downloads the video in best available quality as MP4 to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/`.

## Options

### Quality Settings

Use `-q` or `--quality` to specify video quality:

- `best` (default): Highest quality available
- `1080p`: Full HD
- `720p`: HD
- `480p`: Standard definition
- `360p`: Lower quality
- `worst`: Lowest quality available

Example:
```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -q 720p
```

### Format Options

Use `-f` or `--format` to specify output format (video downloads only):

- `mp4` (default): Most compatible
- `webm`: Modern format
- `mkv`: Matroska container

Example:
```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -f webm
```

### Audio Only

Use `-a` or `--audio-only` to download only audio as MP3:

```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -a
```

### Custom Output Directory

Use `-o` or `--output` to specify a different output directory:

```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -o /path/to/directory
```

## Complete Examples

1. Download video in 1080p as MP4:
```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -q 1080p
```

2. Download audio only as MP3:
```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -a
```

3. Download in 720p as WebM to custom directory:
```bash
python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -q 720p -f webm -o /custom/path
```

## How It Works

The skill uses `yt-dlp`, a robust YouTube downloader that:
- Automatically installs itself if not present
- Fetches video information before downloading
- Selects the best available streams matching your criteria
- Merges video and audio streams when needed
- Supports a wide range of YouTube video formats

## Important Notes

- Downloads are saved to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/` by default
- Video filename is automatically generated from the video title
- The script handles installation of yt-dlp automatically
- Only single videos are downloaded (playlists are skipped by default)
- Higher quality videos may take longer to download and use more disk space

{
  "format": "aiskill/v1",
  "skill": {
    "name": "youtube-downloader",
    "slug": "video-downloader",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "description": "Download YouTube videos with customizable quality and format options. Use this skill when the user asks to download, save, or grab YouTube videos. Supports various quality settings (best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p), multiple formats (mp4, webm, mkv), and audio-only downloads as MP3.",
    "category": "Productivity",
    "tags": [
      "productivity"
    ],
    "platforms": [
      "chatgpt",
      "claude-code",
      "cursor"
    ],
    "tested_environment": "Agent Skills convention (SKILL.md) — works with Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT/Codex and compatible agents",
    "license": "APACHE-2.0"
  },
  "prompts": {
    "system": "# YouTube Video Downloader\r\n\r\nDownload YouTube videos with full control over quality and format settings.\r\n\r\n## Quick Start\r\n\r\nThe simplest way to download a video:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID\"\r\n```\r\n\r\nThis downloads the video in best available quality as MP4 to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/`.\r\n\r\n## Options\r\n\r\n### Quality Settings\r\n\r\nUse `-q` or `--quality` to specify video quality:\r\n\r\n- `best` (default): Highest quality available\r\n- `1080p`: Full HD\r\n- `720p`: HD\r\n- `480p`: Standard definition\r\n- `360p`: Lower quality\r\n- `worst`: Lowest quality available\r\n\r\nExample:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -q 720p\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Format Options\r\n\r\nUse `-f` or `--format` to specify output format (video downloads only):\r\n\r\n- `mp4` (default): Most compatible\r\n- `webm`: Modern format\r\n- `mkv`: Matroska container\r\n\r\nExample:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -f webm\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Audio Only\r\n\r\nUse `-a` or `--audio-only` to download only audio as MP3:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -a\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Custom Output Directory\r\n\r\nUse `-o` or `--output` to specify a different output directory:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -o /path/to/directory\r\n```\r\n\r\n## Complete Examples\r\n\r\n1. Download video in 1080p as MP4:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ\" -q 1080p\r\n```\r\n\r\n2. Download audio only as MP3:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ\" -a\r\n```\r\n\r\n3. Download in 720p as WebM to custom directory:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ\" -q 720p -f webm -o /custom/path\r\n```\r\n\r\n## How It Works\r\n\r\nThe skill uses `yt-dlp`, a robust YouTube downloader that:\r\n- Automatically installs itself if not present\r\n- Fetches video information before downloading\r\n- Selects the best available streams matching your criteria\r\n- Merges video and audio streams when needed\r\n- Supports a wide range of YouTube video formats\r\n\r\n## Important Notes\r\n\r\n- Downloads are saved to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/` by default\r\n- Video filename is automatically generated from the video title\r\n- The script handles installation of yt-dlp automatically\r\n- Only single videos are downloaded (playlists are skipped by default)\r\n- Higher quality videos may take longer to download and use more disk space",
    "user_template": ""
  },
  "variables": [],
  "install": {
    "steps": [
      {
        "title": "Download & unzip",
        "detail": "Download the .zip package from SkillVault and unzip it. The video-downloader/ folder contains SKILL.md plus any companion scripts, references and assets."
      },
      {
        "title": "Copy into your agent skills directory",
        "detail": "Move the folder into your agent's skills directory — e.g. ~/.claude/skills/ (Claude Code), .codex/skills/, .cursor/skills/ or your project's .claude/skills/ folder — then restart or reload the session."
      },
      {
        "title": "Use it",
        "detail": "Describe the task in natural language; the agent loads the skill automatically when the request matches the skill description."
      }
    ]
  },
  "usage": {
    "steps": []
  },
  "metadata": {
    "author": "SkillVault",
    "source": "https://skillvault.top/skills/video-downloader",
    "exported_at": "2026-11-03T07:44:34.178Z"
  }
}

format: aiskill/v1
skill:
  name: youtube-downloader
  slug: video-downloader
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    Download YouTube videos with customizable quality and format options. Use this skill when the
    user asks to download, save, or grab YouTube videos. Supports various quality settings (best,
    1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p), multiple formats (mp4, webm, mkv), and audio-only downloads as MP3.
  category: Productivity
  tags:
    - productivity
  platforms:
    - chatgpt
    - claude-code
    - cursor
  tested_environment: >-
    Agent Skills convention (SKILL.md) — works with Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT/Codex and
    compatible agents
  license: APACHE-2.0
prompts:
  system: "# YouTube Video Downloader\r\n\r\nDownload YouTube videos with full control over quality and format settings.\r\n\r\n## Quick Start\r\n\r\nThe simplest way to download a video:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID\"\r\n```\r\n\r\nThis downloads the video in best available quality as MP4 to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/`.\r\n\r\n## Options\r\n\r\n### Quality Settings\r\n\r\nUse `-q` or `--quality` to specify video quality:\r\n\r\n- `best` (default): Highest quality available\r\n- `1080p`: Full HD\r\n- `720p`: HD\r\n- `480p`: Standard definition\r\n- `360p`: Lower quality\r\n- `worst`: Lowest quality available\r\n\r\nExample:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -q 720p\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Format Options\r\n\r\nUse `-f` or `--format` to specify output format (video downloads only):\r\n\r\n- `mp4` (default): Most compatible\r\n- `webm`: Modern format\r\n- `mkv`: Matroska container\r\n\r\nExample:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -f webm\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Audio Only\r\n\r\nUse `-a` or `--audio-only` to download only audio as MP3:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -a\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Custom Output Directory\r\n\r\nUse `-o` or `--output` to specify a different output directory:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"URL\" -o /path/to/directory\r\n```\r\n\r\n## Complete Examples\r\n\r\n1. Download video in 1080p as MP4:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ\" -q 1080p\r\n```\r\n\r\n2. Download audio only as MP3:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ\" -a\r\n```\r\n\r\n3. Download in 720p as WebM to custom directory:\r\n```bash\r\npython scripts/download_video.py \"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ\" -q 720p -f webm -o /custom/path\r\n```\r\n\r\n## How It Works\r\n\r\nThe skill uses `yt-dlp`, a robust YouTube downloader that:\r\n- Automatically installs itself if not present\r\n- Fetches video information before downloading\r\n- Selects the best available streams matching your criteria\r\n- Merges video and audio streams when needed\r\n- Supports a wide range of YouTube video formats\r\n\r\n## Important Notes\r\n\r\n- Downloads are saved to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/` by default\r\n- Video filename is automatically generated from the video title\r\n- The script handles installation of yt-dlp automatically\r\n- Only single videos are downloaded (playlists are skipped by default)\r\n- Higher quality videos may take longer to download and use more disk space"
  user_template: ""
variables: []
install:
  steps:
    - title: Download & unzip
      detail: >-
        Download the .zip package from SkillVault and unzip it. The video-downloader/ folder
        contains SKILL.md plus any companion scripts, references and assets.
    - title: Copy into your agent skills directory
      detail: >-
        Move the folder into your agent's skills directory — e.g. ~/.claude/skills/ (Claude Code),
        .codex/skills/, .cursor/skills/ or your project's .claude/skills/ folder — then restart or
        reload the session.
    - title: Use it
      detail: >-
        Describe the task in natural language; the agent loads the skill automatically when the
        request matches the skill description.
usage:
  steps: []
metadata:
  author: SkillVault
  source: https://skillvault.top/skills/video-downloader
  exported_at: "2026-11-03T07:44:34.178Z"