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voc0der edited this page Mar 26, 2026 · 1 revision

Features

ytdl-material is a self-hosted web app for downloading and managing media from supported sites. If you are new to the project, the short version is simple: paste a link, choose how you want it saved, and let the app keep everything organized in one place.

What You Can Do

Download videos or audio

  • Download full videos or audio-only versions.
  • Choose quality before downloading.
  • Pick an audio language when multiple tracks are available.
  • Download subtitles when the source provides them, including auto-generated captions.
  • Save playlists and other multi-item links without doing everything one file at a time.

Use it like a real media library

  • Browse your downloaded files from the app instead of digging through folders.
  • Play media in the built-in player.
  • Use subtitles and chapters during playback when they exist in the saved file.
  • Check file info to quickly see what was actually downloaded.
  • Keep audio and video libraries organized separately if you want.

Stay organized

  • Use categories and output templates to keep files in predictable locations.
  • Include thumbnails and metadata with downloads.
  • Build custom playlists from the files you already saved.
  • Track duplicates so your library does not get messy.
  • Use archives to avoid downloading the same thing again by accident.

Automate recurring downloads

  • Subscribe to channels and playlists.
  • Let the app check for new uploads automatically.
  • Keep up with favorite sources without manually revisiting them every time.

Control downloads without living in the terminal

  • Use a web UI instead of remembering command-line arguments.
  • Monitor active downloads and background tasks from inside the app.
  • Use advanced download options when you want more control.
  • Support cookies-based downloads for sources that need sign-in.

Why People Use It

ytdl-material is useful if you want:

  • a cleaner front end for yt-dlp
  • a simple self-hosted media downloader
  • a library you can actually browse and play from
  • automatic tracking for channels or playlists
  • a setup that works for one person or a shared household/server

In Practice

For most people, the day-to-day flow looks like this:

  1. Paste a URL or search from the Home page.
  2. Choose video or audio, plus quality, language, and subtitles if needed.
  3. Start the download.
  4. Come back later in Downloads or the Player to use what you saved.
  5. Add subscriptions for anything you want the app to watch automatically.

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