TL;DR
A public GitHub repository provides a Bash script that uses yt-dlp to batch download and organize YouTube playlists into channel-named folders. The tool expects yt-dlp and FFmpeg, reads playlists from a playlists.txt file, and is distributed under the MIT license.
What happened
A GitHub project offers a lightweight Bash utility to download multiple YouTube playlists and store videos in a neat folder structure organized by channel. The script reads entries from playlists.txt where each line pairs a channel name with a playlist URL in the format Channel Name|PlaylistURL, then invokes yt-dlp (with FFmpeg for stream merging) to fetch content. Files are saved without numeric prefixes, using Playlist Title/Video Title.mp4, and the download process skips files already present by using a no-overwrite behavior. Users are instructed to place a cookies.txt file in the repository directory for authenticated downloads; the project recently patched the download script to resolve the cookies file path so it works when run from subdirectories. The repository is small and focused: written in shell, licensed MIT, and has 10 stars with no published releases.
Why it matters
- Automates batch retrieval of playlist content and organizes files by channel, reducing manual sorting.
- Avoids re-downloading existing files, which can save bandwidth and time for large playlists.
- Relies on established tools (yt-dlp and FFmpeg), enabling compatibility with common media workflows.
Key facts
- Repository name: yt-playlist-downloader by Linuxmaster14 on GitHub.
- Primary script: download_playlists.sh (Bash).
- Prerequisites listed: yt-dlp and FFmpeg are required.
- Playlist input format: playlists.txt lines use Channel Name|PlaylistURL.
- Saved file naming: Playlist Title/Video Title.mp4 (no numeric prefixes).
- Sync behavior: skips files already downloaded using a no-overwrites option.
- Cookies: expects a cookies.txt file in the same directory; recent fix resolves absolute path to the cookies file.
- License: MIT.
- Project stats shown: 10 stars, 0 watchers, 0 forks, no releases published; language: Shell (100%).
What to watch next
- not confirmed in the source: whether future changes to yt-dlp or YouTube will require updates to the script.
- not confirmed in the source: any limits or rate controls for large-scale batch downloads or impacts on account-related restrictions.
Quick glossary
- yt-dlp: A command-line program used to download videos and playlists from YouTube and other sites.
- FFmpeg: A multimedia framework for handling, converting, and merging audio and video streams.
- Bash script: A text file containing a sequence of commands executed by the Unix Bash shell.
- cookies.txt: A plain-text export of browser cookies used to provide authentication or session information to command-line download tools.
Reader FAQ
How do I add playlists for batch download?
Edit playlists.txt and add lines in the format Channel Name|PlaylistURL.
What prerequisites are required to run the script?
The repository lists yt-dlp and FFmpeg as required dependencies.
Where should I put cookies for authenticated downloads?
Place a cookies.txt file in the same directory as the script; the project also fixed the script to resolve an absolute cookies path.
Is there an official release or packaged binary?
No releases are published in the repository.
How can I pass cookies directly to yt-dlp via the script?
not confirmed in the source
YouTube Playlist Downloader A simple, powerful Bash script to batch download and organize YouTube playlists by channel name using yt-dlp. Features Organized Structure: Creates separate directories for each channel. Smart…
Sources
- YouTube Playlist Downloader
- bash – Shell Script to download youtube files from playlist
- hitesh9624/YouTube-Playlist-Downloader
- Bash Script to Download Youtube Playlist | by Mustafa SAADI
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