request update of yt-dlp [Solved]

[MikeR]

Unfortunately trying the update i get:

Code: Select all

$ sudo yt-dlp -U
Current version: stable@2025.06.30 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
Latest version: stable@2025.08.20 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
ERROR: As yt-dlp has been installed via apt, you should use that to update.  If you're on a stable release, also check backports.

So as it stands I have to wait for the repo.
Your advice requested:
Should I purge the installed version, and re-install from Github https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp ?
Seems to be the most practical. Use pip or wget?
Note: Trying to add the recommended repository fails:

Code: Select all

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/yt-dlp 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 362, in <module>
    sys.exit(0 if addaptrepo.main() else 1)
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 345, in main
    shortcut = handler(source, **shortcut_params)
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/shortcuts.py", line 40, in shortcut_handler
    return handler(shortcut, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/ppa.py", line 86, in __init__
    if self.lpppa.publish_debug_symbols:
       ^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/ppa.py", line 126, in lpppa
    self._lpppa = self.lpteam.getPPAByName(name=self.ppaname)
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/ppa.py", line 113, in lpteam
    self._lpteam = self.lp.people(self.teamname)
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'people'

Thanks,
Mike

[DukeComposed]

Unfortunately trying the update i get:

Code: Select all

$ sudo yt-dlp -U
Current version: stable@2025.06.30 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
Latest version: stable@2025.08.20 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
ERROR: As yt-dlp has been installed via apt, you should use that to update.  If you're on a stable release, also check backports.

Don't be that guy.

[MikeR]

@DukeComposed
Unfortunately the version in MXPI is out of date, and does not always work (Google keeps changing the Youtube protocol)
And the recommended PPA does not add.

Sorry 'bout that
Mike

[DukeComposed]

@DukeComposed
Unfortunately the version in MXPI is out of date

I'm well aware of that. As I said, don't be that guy. Don't be the guy who knows how packages work, runs "yt-dlp -U" anyway, gets an error message saying how the software's built-in upgrade mechanism doesn't work if it was installed with a package, and then ask with complete sincerity what the error message means and why "yt-dlp -U" didn't work. You were on that thread. You know that guy. Don't be that guy.

[siamhie]

@MikeR
What I did was remove the repo version.
Download the current version from git. (yt-dlp 2.95 MB) https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releas ... 2025.08.20
(as root) move it to /usr/local/bin and make it executable.

Now you can check for updates anytime.

Code: Select all

╔═[siamhie@flux23]═[20:10 21/08/25]════════════════════════[~]
╚═> yt-dlp -U
Latest version: stable@2025.08.20 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
yt-dlp is up to date (stable@2025.08.20 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp)

[MikeR]

@siamhie
Thanks, did that.
As /usr/local/bin was not in $PATH, I placed the file in /usr/bin/yt-dlp
Hoping for the best.

Mike

[rod178]

I gave up on yt-dlp some time ago, although still installed

I now only use JDownloader, which is FOSS. It checks for updates each time loaded, seems to be in step with Google's changes
https://jdownloader.org/download/index

[Mauser]

That yt-dlp is more trouble than you can shake a stick at because it keeps on breaking ClipGrab due to yt-dlp requiring frequent updates in order to get ClipGrab to work.

ClipGrab downloads it's own version of yt-dlp and stores it in ~/.local/share/ClipGrab/ClipGrab.


CG.jpg

Thank you for the explanation. From what it looks like from all the posts in this thread it seems all versions have ongoing issues that crop up at random often intervals. I found a solution by adding youtubedl-gui from the MXPI and use that when ClipGrab doesn't work.

[RedGreen925]

Unfortunately trying the update i get:

Code: Select all

$ sudo yt-dlp -U
Current version: stable@2025.06.30 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
Latest version: stable@2025.08.20 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp
ERROR: As yt-dlp has been installed via apt, you should use that to update.  If you're on a stable release, also check backports.

So as it stands I have to wait for the repo.
Your advice requested:
Should I purge the installed version, and re-install from Github https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp ?
Seems to be the most practical. Use pip or wget?
Note: Trying to add the recommended repository fails:

Code: Select all

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/yt-dlp 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 362, in <module>
    sys.exit(0 if addaptrepo.main() else 1)
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 345, in main
    shortcut = handler(source, **shortcut_params)
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/shortcuts.py", line 40, in shortcut_handler
    return handler(shortcut, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/ppa.py", line 86, in __init__
    if self.lpppa.publish_debug_symbols:
       ^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/ppa.py", line 126, in lpppa
    self._lpppa = self.lpteam.getPPAByName(name=self.ppaname)
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/ppa.py", line 113, in lpteam
    self._lpteam = self.lp.people(self.teamname)
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'people'

Thanks,
Mike

Of course it fails when adding a ppa that is for ubuntu not a debian based system. If you want to install it for their own web site sources then download the yt-dlp from them as you show you have uninstall the apt version as it tells you to do then it will allow you to update. You must put it in a directory that is in your $PATH for the system to be able to find it on the command line. Also the sudo is unnecessary for the update command it is a user owned and run file it does not need root permissions to run.

[Stevo]

I've backported the latest 2025.08.20 from Sid; can be downloaded early from https://wormhole.app/Wqplne#VvR6EUtwgk3RCk3gJ9jVDA