: Always put the URL in double quotes to prevent the terminal from misinterpreting special characters like & or ? .
While the term " youtube-dl " is often used as a catch-all, the is the version you should use in 2026. It includes frequent updates to bypass Facebook's changing video delivery methods and handles high-definition (HD) formats more effectively. Step 1: Basic Download Command youtube-dl download facebook video
Downloading Facebook videos with youtube-dl is a popular method for users who prefer the speed and control of a command-line interface over ad-heavy third-party websites. While the original youtube-dl project is less active today, its modern fork, , is currently the standard tool for reliably grabbing content from platforms like Facebook. Why Use yt-dlp Over youtube-dl ? : Always put the URL in double quotes
: If you want to list all available formats (like SD vs. HD) before downloading, use the -F flag: yt-dlp -F "URL" . Step 2: Downloading Private or Restricted Videos It includes frequent updates to bypass Facebook's changing
To download a public Facebook video in the best available quality, open your terminal or command prompt and use the following syntax: yt-dlp "https://facebook.com" Use code with caution.
Facebook often restricts videos to "Friends Only" or logged-in users. In these cases, a standard command will fail with a "Login Required" error. You have two main options to fix this: