## Introduction In a world where multitasking is the norm, finding ways to streamline our activities is crucial. While most of us typically access YouTube through web browsers or dedicated apps, there’s an alternative method that many may overlook: playing YouTube from the command line. This approach is particularly beneficial if you want to listen to audio without the distractions of a visual interface. Whether you’re a developer, a tech enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys exploring efficient workflows, this guide will walk you through how to harness the power of your terminal to enjoy YouTube audio seamlessly. ## Why Use the Command Line? Using the command line to play YouTube videos offers several advantages: - **Efficiency**: If you're already working in a terminal environment, switching to a web browser can be time-consuming. Command line tools allow you to stay focused on your tasks. - **Lightweight**: Command line applications typically consume fewer system resources than their graphical counterparts, making them ideal for older machines or when running resource-intensive applications. - **Accessibility**: For users with disabilities, command line interfaces can sometimes offer a more accessible way to interact with technology. - **Customization**: Many command line tools allow for extensive customization through scripting, enabling users to create personalized workflows. With these benefits in mind, let’s explore how to play YouTube audio directly from the command line. ## Tools You’ll Need To start playing YouTube from the command line, you’ll need a few tools that are compatible with your operating system. Below are some popular options: ### 1. **YouTube-dl** YouTube-dl is a powerful and versatile command line program that allows users to download videos from YouTube and many other platforms. It can also be used to stream audio without downloading the entire video file. ### 2. **MPV Player** MPV is an open-source media player that is highly scriptable and integrates well with command line instructions. This player can handle various media formats and stream content directly from URLs. ### 3. **FFmpeg** FFmpeg is a robust multimedia framework that can decode, encode, transcode, mux, demux, stream, filter, and play almost anything that humans and machines have created. It can be used in conjunction with YouTube-dl to manipulate audio streams. ## Setting Up Your Environment ### Installing YouTube-dl **For Linux:** Open your terminal and run the following commands: ```bash sudo apt update sudo apt install youtube-dl ``` **For MacOS:** You can install YouTube-dl using Homebrew: ```bash brew install youtube-dl ``` **For Windows:** Download the executable from the [YouTube-dl website](https://ytdl-org.github.io/youtube-dl/download.html) and save it to a directory in your PATH. ### Installing MPV Player **For Linux:** ```bash sudo apt install mpv ``` **For MacOS:** ```bash brew install mpv ``` **For Windows:** Download the installer from the [MPV website](https://mpv.io/installation/) and follow the setup instructions. ### Installing FFmpeg **For Linux:** ```bash sudo apt install ffmpeg ``` **For MacOS:** ```bash brew install ffmpeg ``` **For Windows:** Download the FFmpeg build from the [FFmpeg website](https://ffmpeg.org/download.html) and follow the installation instructions. ## Playing YouTube Audio from the Command Line Now that you have the necessary tools installed, let’s dive into the steps to play YouTube audio. ### Using YouTube-dl and MPV 1. **Open your terminal.** 2. **Run the following command to play a YouTube video directly:** ```bash youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3 --exec "mpv --no-video {}" ``` Replace `` with the actual link to the YouTube video you wish to listen to. This command extracts the audio and immediately starts playing it with MPV, suppressing the video window. ### Streaming Directly Without Downloading If you prefer to stream the audio without downloading, you can use the command: ```bash mpv ``` This command allows you to play the audio directly from YouTube, making it a quick and efficient way to enjoy your favorite music or podcasts. ## Additional Features and Customization You can also customize how you use these tools: ### Downloading Playlists To download an entire playlist for offline listening, use: ```bash youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3 ``` ### Setting Up Aliases For frequent users, setting up command line aliases can save time. Edit your shell configuration file (e.g., `.bashrc` or `.zshrc`) and add: ```bash alias playyt="mpv --no-video" ``` Now you can simply run: ```bash youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3 --exec playyt {} ``` ## Conclusion Playing YouTube from the command line may seem unconventional, but it opens up a world of efficiency and simplicity for audio enthusiasts. By utilizing tools like YouTube-dl and MPV, you can easily access your favorite content without the distractions of a full-fledged web browser. Whether you're working on a project, exercising, or simply unwinding, this method allows you to enjoy the richness of YouTube audio at your convenience. So why not give it a try? Embrace the power of the command line and elevate your listening experience today! Source: https://hackaday.com/2026/01/31/playing-youtube-from-the-command-line/