# Youtube Video Downloader (`utils/youtube-video-downloader`) Actor Download YouTube videos in multiple resolutions (up to 4K) and formats. Built with smart fallback strategies and proxy rotation for reliable extraction as YouTube's detection evolves. Batch processing, custom quality selection, fast turnaround. Actively maintained. - **URL**: https://apify.com/utils/youtube-video-downloader.md - **Developed by:** [Oliver Queen](https://apify.com/utils) (community) - **Categories:** Videos, Social media, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 50.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. 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 Video Downloader [![Apify](https://img.shields.io/badge/Apify-Actor-FF6A00)](https://apify.com) Download YouTube videos at your chosen quality and format. No login required — anonymous guest cookies are fetched automatically. Uses residential proxies to avoid bot detection and access region-restricted content. ### Features - **Any resolution** — 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 2160p (4K), or let the actor pick the best available - **Multiple formats** — MP4 (most compatible), WebM, or MKV - **Trim by timeframe** — download only the portion you need (e.g. `1:30-3:00`) - **No cookies required** — anonymous guest cookies fetched via Chrome impersonation - **Residential proxy support** — avoids bot detection, works with region-locked content - **Smart fallback strategy** — automatically tries 7 different player clients and 12 impersonation combinations to bypass blocks - **Self-healing extraction** — survives bot detection by rotating strategies until one works ### Input | Field | Type | Required | Description | |-------|------|----------|-------------| | `url` | string | Yes | Full YouTube video URL (e.g. `https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ`) | | `videoQuality` | select | No | Resolution: `best`, `2160` (4K), `1440` (2K), `1080` (Full HD), `720` (HD), `480` (SD), `360` (SD). Default: `best` | | `outputFormat` | select | No | Container format: `mp4`, `webm`, `mkv`. Default: `mp4` | | `timeframe` | string | No | Clip range in `MM:SS-MM:SS` or `HH:MM:SS-HH:MM:SS` format (e.g. `1:30-3:00`). Leave empty for the full video | | `proxyConfiguration` | proxy | No | Apify proxy configuration. Pre-filled with RESIDENTIAL proxy group | ### Output The actor pushes a record to the default dataset and stores the video file in the default Key-Value store. #### Dataset record ```json { "title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up", "duration": 212, "thumbnail": "https://img.youtube.com/vi/dQw4w9WgXcQ/hqdefault.jpg", "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "format": "mp4", "filename": "rick-astley-never-gonna-give-you-up.mp4", "downloadUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/SjFF1GR4uiXH550ja/records/rick-astley-never-gonna-give-you-up.mp4" } ```` #### Key-Value Store The video file is stored in the default Key-Value store. You can access it directly via the `downloadUrl` field in the dataset record. The content type is set appropriately based on the format (`video/mp4`, `video/webm`, or `video/x-matroska`). ### Why Use This Actor? - **No cookies required** — anonymous guest cookies are generated automatically; no need to export browser cookies or risk leaking session data - **Residential proxy** — use Apify's RESIDENTIAL proxy groups to access region-locked content and reduce bot detection - **Multiple formats** — get your video in MP4, WebM, or MKV - **Simple output** — get a playable video download URL directly from the Key-Value Store - **One-shot execution** — runs once and exits; no servers to manage # Actor input Schema ## `url` (type: `string`): Full YouTube video URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ) ## `videoQuality` (type: `string`): Desired video resolution. 'best' uses the highest available. ## `outputFormat` (type: `string`): Container format for the downloaded video. ## `timeframe` (type: `string`): Download only a portion of the video. Format: MM:SS-MM:SS or HH:MM:SS-HH:MM:SS (e.g. 1:30-3:00). Leave empty for full video. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Select RESIDENTIAL proxy to avoid bot detection and optionally pick your country for region-locked content. ## Actor input object example ```json { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "videoQuality": "best", "outputFormat": "mp4", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `metadata` (type: `string`): JSON array of download results. Each item contains title, duration, thumbnail, url, format, streams, filename, and downloadUrl. ## `videoFile` (type: `string`): Downloaded video file in the requested format (MP4, WebM, or MKV), stored in the default key-value store. # 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 = { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "timeframe": "", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("utils/youtube-video-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 = { "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "timeframe": "", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"], }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("utils/youtube-video-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 '{ "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ", "timeframe": "", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } }' | apify call utils/youtube-video-downloader --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=utils/youtube-video-downloader", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Youtube Video Downloader", "description": "Download YouTube videos in multiple resolutions (up to 4K) and formats. Built with smart fallback strategies and proxy rotation for reliable extraction as YouTube's detection evolves. Batch processing, custom quality selection, fast turnaround. Actively maintained.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "Kjam7K0eIgC7Lu5Tu" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/utils~youtube-video-downloader/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-utils-youtube-video-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/utils~youtube-video-downloader/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-utils-youtube-video-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/utils~youtube-video-downloader/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-utils-youtube-video-downloader", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "title": "YouTube URL", "type": "string", "description": "Full YouTube video URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)" }, "videoQuality": { "title": "Video Quality", "enum": [ "best", "2160", "1440", "1080", "720", "480", "360" ], "type": "string", "description": "Desired video resolution. 'best' uses the highest available.", "default": "best" }, "outputFormat": { "title": "Output Format", "enum": [ "mp4", "webm", "mkv" ], "type": "string", "description": "Container format for the downloaded video.", "default": "mp4" }, "timeframe": { "title": "Timeframe (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Download only a portion of the video. Format: MM:SS-MM:SS or HH:MM:SS-HH:MM:SS (e.g. 1:30-3:00). Leave empty for full video." }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Select RESIDENTIAL proxy to avoid bot detection and optionally pick your country for region-locked content." } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```