By default, yt-dlp is already configured to seek out the best available video and audio. However, to be explicit and ensure it merges the absolute best of both worlds, use this command: yt-dlp -f "bv*+ba/b" [URL] Use code with caution.

: Serves as a fallback to the best single file that contains both video and audio if separate streams aren't available. 2. Why You Must Have FFmpeg

If you try to download 4K or 8K video without installed, you will likely be capped at 720p or 1080p.

yt-dlp has established itself as the premier command-line tool for downloading media, largely because it handles the complex task of finding and merging the highest-quality streams that modern platforms like YouTube provide.

This guide covers everything you need to know to ensure your downloads always hit the maximum possible resolution and fidelity using yt-dlp .