yt-dlp downloads to your computer's default Downloads folder unless you change the settings

When you run yt-dlp for the first time, it puts every video in the Downloads folder that your operating system created for you. On Windows, that's usually C:\Users\[Your Username]\Downloads. On Mac, it's /Users/[Your Username]/Downloads. On Linux, it depends on your setup, but it's often ~/Downloads or ~/videos.

You don't have to accept this default. yt-dlp lets you pick a different folder before you download, or you can change where it saves videos every single time you use it. The command you run determines where the file ends up.

Key Takeaways

  • By default, yt-dlp saves videos to your Downloads folder, but you can change this with a single command option.
  • The -o flag tells yt-dlp exactly where to save a file and what to name it.
  • You can create a config file so yt-dlp remembers your preferred download location every time you use it.
  • Organizing videos into subfolders by channel or date happens through the naming pattern you give yt-dlp, not through separate steps.

How to change where a single download goes

The simplest way to pick a different folder for one download is to use the -o flag (short for "output") when you run the command. This tells yt-dlp exactly where to put the file.

Open your terminal or command prompt and type something like this:

yt-dlp -o "/path/to/your/folder/%(title)s.%(ext)s" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID

Replace /path/to/your/folder with the actual path where you want the video. On Windows, use backslashes or forward slashes — both work. The %(title)s part means "use the video's title as the filename" and %(ext)s means "use the correct file extension" (like mp4 or webm). If you want the video saved as my-video.mp4 instead, you can type that directly instead of using the template.

This method works once. The next time you download, yt-dlp goes back to the Downloads folder unless you type the -o flag again.

Setting a permanent download location with a config file

If you always want videos in the same place, create a config file so yt-dlp remembers your choice. This saves you from typing the same path every time.

Create a plain text file called yt-dlp.conf and put it in the right location for your system. On Windows, save it to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\yt-dlp (you may need to create the yt-dlp folder first). On Mac, save it to ~/.config/yt-dlp. On Linux, also use ~/.config/yt-dlp.

Inside the file, add a single line:

-o /path/to/your/folder/%(title)s.%(ext)s

Replace /path/to/your/folder with your actual path. Save the file. From now on, every video yt-dlp downloads goes to that folder automatically. You can still override it by typing a different -o flag in a single command — the command-line option always wins over the config file.

Organizing downloads into subfolders automatically

You can make yt-dlp create subfolders for you based on the channel name, upload date, or any other detail about the video. This happens through the naming pattern you give yt-dlp, not through separate folder-creation steps.

Instead of just %(title)s, use a pattern like this:

-o "/path/to/folder/%(uploader)s/%(title)s.%(ext)s"

This creates a subfolder for each channel (using the uploader's name) and puts videos inside. You can also organize by date:

-o "/path/to/folder/%(upload_date)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s"

This names files with the upload date first, so they sort chronologically. Or combine them:

-o "/path/to/folder/%(uploader)s/%(upload_date)s - %(title)s.%(ext)s"

yt-dlp creates the uploader subfolder if it doesn't exist. You can use any combination of these template variables — the full list is in the yt-dlp documentation, but the most useful ones are %(title)s, %(uploader)s, %(upload_date)s, %(duration)s, and %(ext)s.

Finding videos you've already downloaded

If you're not sure where a video ended up, check your Downloads folder first — that's the default. If it's not there, open your terminal or command prompt and type a search command for your system.

On Windows, open Command Prompt and type:

dir /s /b *.mp4

This searches your entire user folder for any .mp4 files. On Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type:

find ~ -name "*.mp4" -type f

Both commands take a moment to run but show you every video file on your computer. If you remember part of the video's title, you can search for that instead — replace the wildcard with the title fragment.

Common mistakes that change where files go

The most common mistake is forgetting that the -o flag only works for that one download. You type it once, the video goes where you want, then you forget about it and the next download goes back to Downloads. If you want a permanent change, use the config file method instead.

Another mistake is using the wrong path format. On Windows, paths with spaces need quotes around them — -o "C:\Users\My Name\My Videos\%(title)s.%(ext)s" works, but without the quotes it fails. Forward slashes work on Windows too, so -o "C:/Users/My Name/My Videos/%(title)s.%(ext)s" is fine.

A third mistake is typing a path that doesn't exist. yt-dlp creates the final folder if it's missing, but it won't create an entire chain of folders. If you type -o "/videos/youtube/new-folder/%(title)s.%(ext)s" and the /videos/youtube folder doesn't exist, the download fails. Create the parent folders first, or use a path you know exists.

Moving or backing up videos after download

Once yt-dlp finishes downloading, the video is just a regular file on your computer. You can move it, copy it, or back it up the same way you would any other file. Drag it to a new folder, copy it to an external drive, or use your system's backup tool.

If you're moving a lot of videos, it's easier to change the download location going forward rather than moving files after the fact. But if you've already downloaded videos to the wrong place, moving them is straightforward — they don't stay connected to yt-dlp or need any special handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download to an external drive or USB stick?

Yes. Use the full path to the external drive in your -o flag. On Windows, that might be -o "D:\Videos\%(title)s.%(ext)s" if your drive is D. On Mac or Linux, it's -o "/Volumes/Drive Name/Videos/%(title)s.%(ext)s". Make sure the drive is connected and has enough free space before you start the download.

What happens if I run yt-dlp from a different folder?

The download location depends on your -o flag or config file, not on which folder you're in when you run the command. If you don't use -o and don't have a config file, it always goes to Downloads. Your current folder doesn't matter.

Can I download multiple videos to different folders at once?

Not in a single command. You would need to run yt-dlp once for each video or group of videos, using a different -o flag each time. If you want to download a whole playlist to one folder and another playlist to a different folder, run two separate commands.

Does yt-dlp overwrite videos with the same name?

By default, no — it adds a number to the filename if a file with that name already exists. You can change this behavior with the --no-overwrites flag (which skips the download if the file exists) or -w (which overwrites without asking). Check the yt-dlp help for other options if you need different behavior.

How do I see what path yt-dlp is using before it downloads?

Add the --simulate flag to your command. This shows you exactly what yt-dlp would download and where it would save the file, without actually downloading anything. Once you confirm the path is correct, run the command again without --simulate to do the actual download.