Downloading a YouTube video thumbnail with yt-dlp is very simple. This is a very useful tip for using YouTube on Linux.
List all thumbnails for a video easily.
(jcartwright@localhost) 192.168.1.5 Videos $ yt-dlp -i --no-warnings --list-thumbnails https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls
[youtube] Extracting URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls
[youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading webpage
[youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading ios player API JSON
[youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading android player API JSON
[youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information
[youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information
[youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information
[info] Available thumbnails for HkG7yz6SPls:
ID Width Height URL
0 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/3_live.jpg
1 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/3_live.webp
2 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/2_live.jpg
3 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/2_live.webp
4 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/1_live.jpg
5 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/1_live.webp
6 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/mq3_live.jpg
7 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/mq3_live.webp
8 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/mq2_live.jpg
9 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/mq2_live.webp
10 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/mq1_live.jpg
11 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/mq1_live.webp
12 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hq3_live.jpg
13 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/hq3_live.webp
14 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hq2_live.jpg
15 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/hq2_live.webp
16 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hq1_live.jpg
17 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/hq1_live.webp
18 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/sd3_live.jpg
19 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/sd3_live.webp
20 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/sd2_live.jpg
21 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/sd2_live.webp
22 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/sd1_live.jpg
23 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/sd1_live.webp
24 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/default_live.jpg
25 120 90 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/default.jpg?v=64f756fd
26 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/default_live.webp
27 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/mqdefault_live.jpg
28 320 180 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/mqdefault.jpg?v=64f756fd
29 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/mqdefault_live.webp
30 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/0_live.jpg
31 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/0_live.webp
32 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault_live.jpg
33 168 94 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault_live.jpg?sqp=CLzV3qcG-oaymwEbCKgBEF5IVfKriqkDDggBFQAAiEIYAXABwAEG&rs=AOn4CLACsWDcfVYPHFulBsam7_pMU3lNPA
34 196 110 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault_live.jpg?sqp=CLzV3qcG-oaymwEbCMQBEG5IVfKriqkDDggBFQAAiEIYAXABwAEG&rs=AOn4CLAp6Kbo94Tjgqw-SQbDUTPhrrBkJA
35 246 138 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault_live.jpg?sqp=CLzV3qcG-oaymwEcCPYBEIoBSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLBbyRkaBNZ7KM_-fIe3Z4s9gNGuAg
36 336 188 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault_live.jpg?sqp=CLzV3qcG-oaymwEcCNACELwBSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLDPO1j6WeCJiBcvhYb_S2Ef3Z8jZg
37 480 360 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault.jpg?v=64f756fd
38 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/hqdefault_live.webp
39 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/sddefault_live.jpg
40 640 480 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/sddefault.jpg?v=64f756fd
41 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/sddefault_live.webp
42 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/hq720_live.jpg
43 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/hq720_live.webp
44 1280 720 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/maxresdefault_live.jpg
45 1920 1080 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/maxresdefault.jpg
46 unknown unknown https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/HkG7yz6SPls/maxresdefault_live.webp
This lists a lot of files for all video sizes.
Then you may download a 1080p thumbnail easily with a simple command.
(jcartwright@localhost) 192.168.1.5 Videos $ yt-dlp -i --no-warnings --get-thumbnail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls | wget -i - --2023-09-06 08:03:25-- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HkG7yz6SPls/maxresdefault.jpg Resolving i.ytimg.com (i.ytimg.com)... 142.250.66.246, 142.250.67.22, 142.250.204.22, ... Connecting to i.ytimg.com (i.ytimg.com)|142.250.66.246|:443... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK Length: 135517 (132K) [image/jpeg] Saving to: ‘maxresdefault.jpg’ maxresdefault.jpg 100%[==============================================================================================================================>] 132.34K --.-KB/s in 0.07s 2023-09-06 08:03:25 (1.77 MB/s) - ‘maxresdefault.jpg’ saved [135517/135517] FINISHED --2023-09-06 08:03:25-- Total wall clock time: 4.4s Downloaded: 1 files, 132K in 0.07s (1.77 MB/s) |
This is a very useful tip for YouTube.
Retrieve a list of all video and audio formats for a YouTube video.
(jcartwright@localhost) 192.168.1.5 Videos $ yt-dlp -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls [youtube] Extracting URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading webpage [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading ios player API JSON [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading android player API JSON [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information [info] Available formats for HkG7yz6SPls: ID EXT RESOLUTION FPS │ TBR PROTO │ VCODEC VBR ACODEC MORE INFO ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 233 mp4 audio only │ m3u8 │ audio only unknown Default 234 mp4 audio only │ m3u8 │ audio only unknown Default 269 mp4 256x144 15 │ 290k m3u8 │ avc1.42C00B 290k video only 91 mp4 256x144 15 │ 290k m3u8 │ avc1.42c00b mp4a.40.5 229 mp4 426x240 30 │ 546k m3u8 │ avc1.4D4015 546k video only 92 mp4 426x240 30 │ 546k m3u8 │ avc1.4d4015 mp4a.40.5 230 mp4 640x360 30 │ 1210k m3u8 │ avc1.4D401E 1210k video only 93 mp4 640x360 30 │ 1210k m3u8 │ avc1.4d401e mp4a.40.2 231 mp4 854x480 30 │ 1569k m3u8 │ avc1.4D401F 1569k video only 94 mp4 854x480 30 │ 1569k m3u8 │ avc1.4d401f mp4a.40.2 311 mp4 1280x720 60 │ 4370k m3u8 │ avc1.4D4020 4370k video only 300 mp4 1280x720 60 │ 4370k m3u8 │ avc1.4d4020 mp4a.40.2 312 mp4 1920x1080 60 │ 7172k m3u8 │ avc1.64002A 7172k video only 301 mp4 1920x1080 60 │ 7172k m3u8 │ avc1.64002a mp4a.40.2 |
Then use this command to download a certain video format.
(jcartwright@localhost) 192.168.1.5 Videos $ yt-dlp -f 269 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls [youtube] Extracting URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkG7yz6SPls [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading webpage [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading ios player API JSON [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading android player API JSON [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information [youtube] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading m3u8 information [info] HkG7yz6SPls: Downloading 1 format(s): 269 [download] Destination: Friendship is Magic ✨ 2023-09-06 08_31 [HkG7yz6SPls].mp4 [hls @ 0x562ff9fe6440] Skip ('#EXT-X-VERSION:3') [hls @ 0x562ff9fe6440] Skip ('#EXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME:2023-09-05T22:02:30.036+00:00')