Package Exports

ytdl-core-enhanced
ytdl-core-enhanced/lib/index.js

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Readme

ytdl-core-enhanced

Stable YouTube downloader using Android InnerTube client with automatic signature decoding.

Features

✅ Android InnerTube Client - Reliable format extraction using YouTube's official Android API
✅ Automatic Signature Decoding - Handles encrypted format URLs transparently
✅ Restricted Videos - Download age-restricted and region-locked videos with cookies
✅ Multi-threading - Fast parallel downloads with multiple connections
✅ 100% API Compatible - Drop-in replacement for ytdl-core
✅ Production Ready - Stable and tested with YouTube 2025

Installation

npm install ytdl-core-enhanced

Quick Start

Basic Download

const ytdl = require('ytdl-core-enhanced');
const fs = require('fs');

ytdl('https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ')
  .pipe(fs.createWriteStream('video.mp4'));

Download with Quality Selection

const ytdl = require('ytdl-core-enhanced');
const fs = require('fs');

// Highest quality
ytdl('VIDEO_URL', { quality: 'highest' })
  .pipe(fs.createWriteStream('video.mp4'));

// Specific format (1080p video)
ytdl('VIDEO_URL', { quality: 137 })
  .pipe(fs.createWriteStream('video-1080p.mp4'));

// Audio only
ytdl('VIDEO_URL', { filter: 'audioonly' })
  .pipe(fs.createWriteStream('audio.m4a'));

Get Video Info

const ytdl = require('ytdl-core-enhanced');

ytdl.getInfo('VIDEO_URL').then(info => {
  console.log('Title:', info.videoDetails.title);
  console.log('Author:', info.videoDetails.author.name);
  console.log('Duration:', info.videoDetails.lengthSeconds, 'seconds');
  console.log('Formats:', info.formats.length);
});

Downloading Restricted Videos

For age-restricted, region-locked, or member-only videos, you need to provide YouTube cookies from a logged-in account.

Install Cookie-Editor extension for your browser:
- Chrome/Edge
- Firefox
Go to YouTube and log in to your account
Click the Cookie-Editor extension icon
Click "Export" → "Header String" (this copies cookie string to clipboard)
Use the cookie string in your code:

const ytdl = require('ytdl-core-enhanced');
const fs = require('fs');

const cookieString = 'PASTE_YOUR_COOKIE_STRING_HERE';

ytdl('VIDEO_URL', {
  requestOptions: {
    headers: {
      'Cookie': cookieString
    }
  }
}).pipe(fs.createWriteStream('video.mp4'));

const ytdl = require('ytdl-core-enhanced');
const fs = require('fs');

// Save your cookie string to a file
fs.writeFileSync('.youtube-cookies.txt', 'YOUR_COOKIE_STRING');

// Read and use it
const cookieString = fs.readFileSync('.youtube-cookies.txt', 'utf8');

ytdl('VIDEO_URL', {
  requestOptions: {
    headers: {
      'Cookie': cookieString
    }
  }
}).pipe(fs.createWriteStream('video.mp4'));

⚠️ Security Warning: Cookie strings contain your authentication tokens. Treat them like passwords:

Never commit cookies to git repositories
Add .youtube-cookies.txt to your .gitignore
Regenerate cookies if accidentally exposed (logout and login again)

💡 Cookie Lifespan: YouTube cookies typically last 1-2 weeks. If downloads start failing with 403 errors, refresh your cookies.

API Reference

ytdl(url, [options])

Downloads a video from YouTube.

Parameters:

url (string): Video URL or video ID
options (object): Download options

Options:

quality: Quality preference (default: 'highest')
- 'highest' - Best quality
- 'lowest' - Lowest quality
- 'highestaudio' - Best audio quality
- 'lowestaudio' - Lowest audio quality
- Number (itag) - Specific format (e.g., 137 for 1080p)
filter: Format filter function or preset
- 'audioonly' - Audio only
- 'videoonly' - Video only (no audio)
- 'audioandvideo' - Combined video+audio
- Function - Custom filter (format) => boolean
requestOptions: HTTP request options
- headers: Custom headers (e.g., cookies)

Returns: ReadableStream

Example:

ytdl('dQw4w9WgXcQ', {
  quality: 'highest',
  filter: 'audioandvideo',
  requestOptions: {
    headers: {
      'Cookie': cookieString
    }
  }
}).pipe(fs.createWriteStream('video.mp4'));

ytdl.getInfo(url, [options])

Gets video information without downloading.

Parameters:

url (string): Video URL or video ID
options (object): Options (same as ytdl)

Returns: Promise

JSPM