Windows 11/10  ·  Requires FFmpeg  ·  AV1 / VP9 / H.264

Download YouTube in 4K and 8K with yt-dlp on Windows

yt-dlp downloads the best available video and audio streams separately and merges them with FFmpeg. Here are the right commands for every scenario.

⬇ Download yt-dlp.exe FFmpeg setup →

FFmpeg is required for 4K/8K merges

Why video and audio are separate: YouTube delivers 4K and 8K as separate video-only and audio-only streams to reduce bandwidth. yt-dlp downloads both and uses FFmpeg to merge them into one file. Without FFmpeg, you'll get video only — no audio.

Quick answer

To download a YouTube video in 4K or 8K with yt-dlp on Windows, run yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[height<=2160]+bestaudio/best" "URL" for up to 4K, or use 4320 in place of 2160 for up to 8K. YouTube serves high-resolution video and audio as separate streams, so FFmpeg must be in the same folder as yt-dlp.exe to merge them — without it you get video with no sound. yt-dlp only downloads the resolutions the source actually offers; it cannot upscale.

Commands

yt-dlp 4K and 8K download commands for Windows

All commands require FFmpeg in the same folder as yt-dlp.exe.

Best available quality — auto-merge (recommended)
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo+bestaudio/best" "URL"
Up to 4K (2160p) — best codec available, falls back if lower
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[height<=2160]+bestaudio/best" "URL"
Cap at 1080p — good balance of quality and file size
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[height<=1080]+bestaudio/best" "URL"
Prefer H.264/MP4 — maximum compatibility with players and editors
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[ext=mp4][vcodec*=h264]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]" "URL"
Prefer AV1 → VP9 → fallback (best compression)
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[vcodec^=av01]/bestvideo[vcodec^=vp9]/bestvideo+bestaudio/best" "URL"
Up to 8K (4320p) — takes 8K if available, else best below
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[height<=4320]+bestaudio/best" "URL"

Codec guide

AV1 vs VP9 vs H.264 — which to choose

YouTube offers multiple codecs for 4K. Here's what each means for you.

AV1

  • Best compression at 4K/8K
  • Smallest file size for same quality
  • Requires modern hardware to decode smoothly
  • Best choice if your PC/player supports it

VP9

  • Good quality at 4K, widely supported
  • Larger files than AV1
  • Works in most modern media players
  • Good default for most users

H.264 (MP4)

  • Best compatibility — works everywhere
  • Largest file size at 4K
  • May not be available at 4K on all videos
  • Best for editing or older devices

FAQ

4K/8K download with yt-dlp — common questions

The 4K download has no audio — why?
FFmpeg is missing or not in the same folder as yt-dlp.exe. Without FFmpeg, yt-dlp cannot merge the separate video and audio streams. Place ffmpeg.exe next to yt-dlp.exe and re-run the command. See the FFmpeg setup guide.
The video doesn't have a 4K option — why?
Not every YouTube video is uploaded in 4K. yt-dlp cannot upscale — it only downloads what the source provides. Use yt-dlp -F "URL" to list all available formats for a specific video.
How do I see all available formats for a video?
Run yt-dlp -F "URL" (capital F). This lists every available format with ID, resolution, codec, bitrate and file size. You can then use a specific format ID with -f FORMAT_ID+AUDIO_ID.
My player can't play AV1 or WebM files
Use the H.264/MP4 command: -f "bestvideo[ext=mp4][vcodec*=h264]+bestaudio[ext=m4a]/best[ext=mp4]". Note that H.264 at 4K may not be available for all videos — YouTube's 4K streams are often AV1 or VP9 only.
How do I check if a downloaded file is truly 4K?
Right-click the video file in Explorer → Properties → Details tab. You'll see the frame width and height. 4K is 3840×2160. Alternatively, open in VLC: Tools → Media Information → Codec.