ytptube

YTPTube

YTPTube is a self-hosted download manager, automation interface, and media library preparation layer for yt-dlp. It handles one-off downloads, recurring sources, metadata-based rules, concurrent queues, and organized output from the same web interface.

YTPTube's automation tools can be used separately or together:

• Tasks check channels, playlists, feeds, and supported custom sources on a schedule.
• Presets store reusable yt-dlp options, output templates, paths, cookies, and post-processing settings.
• Conditions optionally inspect metadata returned by yt-dlp and apply matching options.

See Features for the full workflow.

If you like my work, you might also like my other projects:

• WatchState: Sync your media servers without relying on 3rd parties.
• Millwright: Automation interface for FFmpeg.
• DCompose: Manage your servers/nodes compose stacks from one WebUI.

Screenshots

Standard interface:

Simple mode:

The interface is available in English, العربية, Français, 中文, and 日本語. See the language FAQ.

What It Handles

• Individual URLs, playlists, channels, live streams, and upcoming streams
• Concurrent downloads with global and per-extractor limits
• Scheduled Tasks for recurring sources and sites without RSS feeds
• Reusable default presets, including NFO Maker and media-server presets
• Conditions that apply yt-dlp options from extracted metadata
• Notifications for selected events through Apprise or direct HTTP webhooks
• Browser extension (source) for Firefox desktop and Android and Chrome/Chromium
• iOS Shortcuts, a bookmarklet, and an HTTP API
• A file browser and built-in player with external sidecar subtitle support and optional file action controls
• Kodi-style TV and movie NFO sidecars, .info.json metadata, artwork, and media library naming
• curl-cffi impersonation and a bundled PO-token provider
• An optional browser extraction over existing Chrome instance
• Optional direct yt-dlp control through the terminal interface
• Optional integration with FlareSolverr or Trawl to allow yt-dlp to bypass some WAF protection.
• Queue and archive controls, live logs, diagnostics, and optional resource monitoring
• Docker, Podman, Unraid, and native builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Read Features for details and links to the relevant configuration guides.

Media Libraries

YTPTube NFO Maker integration turns yt-dlp metadata into Kodi-style TV or movie .nfo sidecars, cleans descriptions for library use, creates stable IDs, and keeps each NFO beside its media file. NFO files can be generated during the download or later from history.

Scheduled Tasks can separately create collection metadata like tvshow.nfo, .info.json, and artwork images when the source provides them. A separate info-reader Preset writes predictable channel and season layouts with yt-dlp metadata for compatible Jellyfin, Emby, Plex, and WatchState workflows.

See Media Servers and NFO Maker for the three workflows and their limits.

Quick Start

The included compose.yaml runs YTPTube with the bundled POT provider, Chromium browser extraction, and FlareSolverr support. It also contains commented host-specific examples for hardware acceleration and NFS/SMB storage. See the environment variable reference for additional application settings.

Create the directories and start the container:

mkdir -p ./{config,downloads/{files,tmp}}
docker compose up -d

Open http://localhost:8081 and create the first local account.

The container runs as your user and group IDs so downloaded files remain accessible to the host account. Podman users can replace the user line with userns_mode: keep-id and run podman-compose up -d.

mkdir -p ./{config,downloads/{files,tmp}} && docker run -itd --rm \
  --user "$(id -u):$(id -g)" \
  --name ytptube \
  -e YTP_TEMP_PATH=/downloads/tmp \
  -e YTP_DOWNLOAD_PATH=/downloads/files \
  -p 8081:8081 \
  -v ./config:/config:rw \
  -v ./downloads:/downloads:rw \
  ghcr.io/arabcoders/ytptube:latest

mkdir -p ./{config,downloads/{files,tmp}} && podman run -itd --rm \
  --userns=keep-id \
  --name ytptube \
  -e YTP_TEMP_PATH=/downloads/tmp \
  -e YTP_DOWNLOAD_PATH=/downloads/files \
  -p 8081:8081 \
  -v ./config:/config:rw \
  -v ./downloads:/downloads:rw \
  ghcr.io/arabcoders/ytptube:latest

Other Installations

Unraid

Install the Community Applications plugin, search for ytptube, and use the pre-configured template.

Native Builds

Download the Windows, macOS, or Linux archive from GitHub Releases. Read the native-build guide for installation and usage instructions.

Security

[!IMPORTANT] Do not expose YTPTube to an untrusted network without authentication. Authenticated users are instance administrators and can pass yt-dlp options, including options that execute commands.

Server installations require local account setup. Only disable authentication when a trusted reverse proxy controls access or the instance is restricted to a private network. Read the security recommendations before exposing an instance and use security advisories to report vulnerabilities.

Documentation

• Documentation index
• Features
• Native builds
• Configuration, usage, and troubleshooting
• HTTP API
• Security policy
• Contribution process

Project Policy

YTPTube is a personal-first project. Contributions are welcome ONLY after approval from the maintainer following prior discussion. Any unsolicited pull requests will be declined. Read CONTRIBUTING.md before starting any work to not waste your and the maintainer's time.

AI-assisted tools have been used in this project and will continue to be used where I find them useful. This project is built for my own needs and use cases, and I maintain it according to my own preferences.

You are welcome to use it if it works for you, but I will not change the project's development approach to accommodate your objections. I believe these tools can be genuinely useful when used appropriately. If the use of AI-assisted tools is a deal-breaker for you, this project may not be the right fit for you. Feel free to build your own.

YTPTube is not affiliated with yt-dlp or any supported service. It is intended for downloading content you are permitted to access, not for piracy or unlawful use.

Community

For short questions, join the Discord server. YTPTube is maintained as a solo project, so replies may take some time.

If you want to support the work financially, please donate to a children's charity such as Make-A-Wish International instead.