Where Does yt-dlp Keep Config and Cache?
yt-dlp reads config from XDG and AppData spots and caches to its own folder. The recommended paths on each OS.
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yt-dlp loads config from a short search list. The recommended user file is ~/.config/yt-dlp/config on Linux and macOS, and %APPDATA%\yt-dlp\config on Windows. Fallbacks include ~/.yt-dlp/config and plain yt-dlp.conf variants.
Cache defaults to ~/.cache/yt-dlp (or %LOCALAPPDATA% style cache on Windows via XDG_CACHE_HOME). A portable yt-dlp.conf next to the binary overrides for thumb drive setups. System wide files under /etc apply to all users on Linux and macOS.
Where yt-dlp stores this, by platform
~/.config/yt-dlp/config
Recommended user config. Cache sits at ~/.cache/yt-dlp unless --cache-dir says otherwise. XDG_CONFIG_HOME and XDG_CACHE_HOME redirect both when set.
~/.config/yt-dlp/config
Same XDG style paths as Linux. The binary looks for portable yt-dlp.conf beside itself first, then these per user files. System fallback is /etc/yt-dlp/config.
%APPDATA%\yt-dlp\config
APPDATA usually resolves to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming. One option per line. Portable installs can use yt-dlp.conf next to the exe instead.
Frequently asked questions
where do i put yt-dlp options so they always apply
Create the file ~/.config/yt-dlp/config on Linux or macOS, or %APPDATA%\yt-dlp\config on Windows. Put one command line option per line. Run with --ignore-config once to test whether the file is the culprit when behavior looks wrong.
how do i clear or move the yt-dlp cache
Pass --cache-dir to point it elsewhere, --no-cache-dir to disable caching, or --rm-cache-dir to wipe the current cache. The cache holds player signatures and client IDs, so deleting it only costs a few extra requests.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.