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yt-download

Download YouTube videos with English subtitles and metadata using yt-dlp.

Updated May 1, 2026
Search Tags:#automation#youtube#yt-dlp#metadata#idempotent#subtitle#video-download
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/xiaoquqi/hermes-agent-skills --skill yt-download
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: yt-download
Source: https://github.com/xiaoquqi/hermes-agent-skills/tree/main/media/yt-download
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/xiaoquqi/hermes-agent-skills --skill yt-download

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires yt-dlp, node, python3, chrome, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill automates downloading YouTube videos and English subtitles with metadata storage, eliminating manual, multi-step download workflows and ensuring reproducible results with idempotent behavior and robust retry logic.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Download YouTube videos using yt-dlp with English subtitles (including manually provided en subtitles) and optional auto subtitles as a fallback.
  • Store a sanitized, title-based directory with a consistent metadata file and a per-video info.json, while preserving existing content and merging new subtitles when necessary.
  • Supports breakpoint resume via -c, proxy configuration through ALL_PROXY, and configurable retry/backoff to handle flaky networks; useful for archiving, offline viewing, and content curation.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL to start downloading the video along with English subtitles and metadata.

Frequently Asked Questions about yt-download

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I download YouTube videos with English subtitles and metadata?▼

To download YouTube videos with subtitles and metadata, you provide a YouTube URL and the skill uses yt-dlp to fetch the video, English subtitles, and an info.json file into a sanitized directory.

Can yt-dlp automatically download auto-generated subtitles as a fallback?▼

Yes, yt-dlp can download auto-generated subtitles as a fallback. The skill configures subtitle selection to prefer manually provided English subtitles and uses optional auto subtitles when necessary.

What is the best way to handle flaky networks when downloading YouTube videos?▼

The best way to handle flaky networks during YouTube video downloads is using configurable retry loops with exponential backoff, breakpoint resume via the -c flag, and proxy configuration through ALL_PROXY.

Does downloading YouTube videos with yt-dlp support resuming interrupted downloads?▼

Yes, downloading YouTube videos supports resuming interrupted downloads. The skill uses the yt-dlp -c flag for breakpoint resume and applies idempotent directory creation to prevent duplicate files.

Do I need Python and Node installed to use yt-dlp for video downloads?▼

Yes, you need Python3, Node, and Chrome installed. These dependencies are required to execute the scripts that run yt-dlp and manage the video, subtitle, and metadata consolidation process.

Why does my YouTube video download create a specific directory structure?▼

Your YouTube video download creates a specific directory structure because the skill sanitizes titles for directory names and consolidates metadata. This idempotent behavior preserves existing content and merges new subtitles safely.

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