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Elenorp's avatar
Elenorp
Copper Contributor
Aug 31, 2026

Best way for youtube audio download from my Windows PC?

Does anyone know how to do this? They are all country music decades ago and totally don't have any copyright issue. The download services does not come with a bulk download option and does not support batch download as well.

Is any good solution for youtube audio download that safe to use on my Windows 11 PC? I tested two command line tools but unable to get them to work as the setup process were too complicated.

Lastly, I hope the audio option is MP3 for the maximum compatibility.

9 Replies

  • RyanHoward's avatar
    RyanHoward
    Iron Contributor

    For anyone looking into how to download audio from youtube video, Arroxy is an open-source tool that runs locally and doesn't depend on third-party websites. It's fairly straightforward once you get past the initial setup.

    Grab the video URL, paste it into Arroxy, choose your audio format and quality, then run the download. The tool pulls the audio directly to your machine. There's no built-in GUI, so it's all command-line based—not complicated, but not click-and-go either.

    Supports playlists, format selection, and quality control. The tradeoff is the setup takes a minute, and you'll need to be comfortable with basic terminal usage. If you're looking for a way to how to download audio from youtube video without dealing with pop-ups or upload limits, Arroxy works—just keep in mind it's more of a functional tool than a polished one.

    • Pros: No ads, no malware, supports playlists, and gives you control over format and quality.
    • Cons: Command-line interface and setup can be a bit of a hurdle for first-timers.
  • Delikell's avatar
    Delikell
    Iron Contributor

    You can use the open-source command-line tool gallery-dl, which is an open-source tool capable of downloading media files from various image galleries and video hosting sites. The software is ideal for users looking for alternatives and seeking a lightweight solution.

    As a versatile solution, it allows you how to download audio from youtube video and offers flexible extraction options through a simple pip installation and terminal commands.

    How to Download Audio from YouTube Video

    Step 1: Install the software using pip:

    pip install gallery-dl

    Step 2: Run the following command to extract the audio:

    gallery-dl -f bestaudio --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 URL

    • Replace URL with the actual URL.

    Although this open-source software isn't as popular as other tools, it offers reliable audio extraction capabilities with minimal resource usage. It provides a simple command-line solution that avoids the overhead associated with larger tools.

  • Emilianb's avatar
    Emilianb
    Tin Contributor

    You can use ytmp3list for YouTube audio download as MP3, as it is a Python- based tool specifically designed for this purpose. 

    How to download YouTube audio as MP3, the core workflow of ytmp3list is different from typical tools:

    1. Search by Song Title, Not URL: Instead of pasting a YouTube link, you prepare a songs.txt file with one song title per line.
    2. Interactive Video Selection: The script searches YouTube for each song title and presents the top 3 video results for you to choose from.
    3. Parallel Downloads: After you make your selections, the script downloads all chosen MP3 files simultaneously using threading, showing real-time progress.

     

    To get ytmp3list running, you'll need to handle a few technical prerequisites:

    • Python: Ensure Python 3.7 or higher is installed on your system.
    • YouTube API Key: You must obtain a free API key from the Google Cloud Console by enabling the YouTube Data API v3.
    • Environment Configuration: You'll need to set up a .env file with your API key.
    • Dependencies: Install the required Python packages using pip install -r requirements.txt.

     

    To download YouTube audio as MP3. The process requires you to manage Python dependencies and an API key, making it more involved than a basic web converter.

  • Alexnp's avatar
    Alexnp
    Tin Contributor

    tunex- cli is a cross-platform utility built with Bun that excels at downloading and extracting audio. For your specific need to youtube audio download as mp3, it offers dedicated commands and key features.

    The tool is designed to be used via the command line, which fits your request for a more complex method.
    1.Installation: You can install it globally using a package manager. The primary command to do this with bun is:

    bash
    bun install tunex- cli -g

    This allows you to use the shorter tunex command.

    2.Basic Command: The core command for your task is simple and direct. To start a youtube audio download as mp3, you would run:

    bash
    tunex yt-audio-only "YOUR_ VIDEO_ URL"

    3.Configuration and Customization: For a more tailored experience, tunex- cli allows configuration through CLI flags, environment variables, or a ~/. tunex/config. json file. You can set defaults for your output directory, thread count, and log file path. This makes it a powerful tool for scripting and automation.

    tunex- cli is a clean, command-line driven solution that is well-suited for a youtube audio download as mp3 workflow. Its lack of extra dependencies and specific audio-extraction commands make it a practical and technically engaging alternative to common GUI tools.

  • Atllas's avatar
    Atllas
    Tin Contributor

    yt- music- dl. sh:

    The complexity of this method comes from its manual setup requirements. To download youtube audio as mp3 using yt- music- dl .sh, you need to prepare several components yourself:

    1. Core Binaries: You must manually place the yt- dlp, ff mpeg, and deno binary files into a ./bin folder within the script's directory .
    2. Browser Cookies: To access videos, the script requires your YouTube authentication cookies. You'll need to extract these from your browser and save them as a cookies .txt file .

    After you've navigated through this intricate setup, the script automates the process for you. Its primary function is to download youtube audio as mp3 by leveraging yt -dlp.
    The key features that make it worthwhile include:

    • Metadata Embedding: It doesn't just give you an audio file. The script automatically adds crucial metadata like track number, artist, album, and release year into the final MP3 file .
    • Album Artwork: It downloads and embeds album thumbnails directly into the MP3 files, making your local music library look professional .
    • Organized Output: Files are saved in a structured folder hierarchy: {Artist} / {Album}/ {Track} - {Song}. m4a .

    This script is ideal for someone comfortable with the command line and managing files manually, making it a perfect fit for a technically challenging and free workflow to download youtube audio as mp3.

  • Hasperm's avatar
    Hasperm
    Iron Contributor

    MusicalDownloader is an open-source tool for extracting audio from video platforms. It serves as a simple solution for youtube audio download as mp3. 

    It offers audio quality of up to 320 kbps and features a clean, streamlined interface free of unnecessary features.

    How to Download YouTube Audio as an MP3

    Step 1: Download the software from GitHub and install it.

    Step 2: Open the application → Paste the URL into the input field.

    Step 3: Select MP3 as the output format.

    Step 4: Select the desired quality.

    Step 5: Click Download → The file will be saved automatically.

    Finally, you can find the audio file in your Downloads folder.

    The software is ad-free and has no usage restrictions. Its lightweight design makes it ideal for quickly downloading individual files.

    However, it can only handle one file at a time, so it’s not suitable if you need to download multiple files at once.

  • AddisonBell's avatar
    AddisonBell
    Iron Contributor

    Saving only the audio from a video can be convenient when you want to listen offline or keep a smaller file. Metube provides a straightforward downloading interface and can be useful for users who want to download youtube audio as mp3.

    How to use:

    1. Open the application in your browser.
    2. Copy the link of the video you want to process.
    3. Paste the link into the download field.
    4. Choose MP3 or an audio-only output option.
    5. Select the preferred audio quality if available.
    6. Start the download and wait for the conversion to finish.
    7. Check the saved audio file afterward.

    With this workflow, download youtube audio as mp3 becomes easier when you only need the audio from permitted content.

    Note:

    • Check content permissions before downloading.
    • Choose a suitable audio quality before starting.
    • Keep enough storage space available for downloaded files.
  • AzureMoon's avatar
    AzureMoon
    Silver Contributor

    Sometimes users only need the audio from an online video, whether for offline listening, organizing reference material, or keeping spoken content in a smaller file. In that situation, people may search for a simple way to download youtube audio as mp3 without dealing with complicated conversion settings.

    Parabolic is a graphical media downloader that supports links from various online sources and provides options for choosing audio or video formats. Its interface makes it easier to manage individual links and configure the output before processing content.

    • To get started, copy the link to the content you want to save and paste it into the application. Wait for the link to be recognized, then review the available download options.
    • Next, choose audio as the output type and select MP3 when that format is available. Set the preferred quality and destination folder, and check the settings before continuing.

    Finally, start the process and wait for the audio to finish downloading and converting. Open the destination folder afterward to make sure the file plays correctly. For users looking to download youtube audio as mp3, this workflow provides a fairly straightforward way to handle audio downloads for content they are permitted to save.