First identify which program says “file not found.” If yt-dlp says it cannot find FFmpeg or ffprobe, fix the executable’s installation or location. If FFmpeg says it cannot open an input, check the exact media path after -i. If only one playlist entry fails, inspect that entry’s log rather than treating the whole playlist as broken.
The phrase alone is not enough to identify the cause. The operating system, full error text, command, and verbose output determine whether the missing object is an executable, an input file, an output target, or a particular playlist item.
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Identify what is missing
yt-dlp and FFmpeg are separate programs in this workflow. yt-dlp may need FFmpeg for merging or post-processing; FFmpeg itself may instead be unable to open a local input file. Read the complete error and note which program emitted it.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| What the log says or shows | Check first | Next step |
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| yt-dlp reports that FFmpeg or ffprobe is missing | The FFmpeg executable and its configured location | Verify the binary, check PATH, or set --ffmpeg-location. |
| FFmpeg cannot open an input file | The path and filename supplied after -i |
Check that exact file, its spelling and extension, and the command’s working directory. |
| One playlist entry fails while processing continues | The failing entry and its availability | Read the log around that item; decide whether to stop on the first error. |
| A download appears successful but the output is missing | The destination and output filename template | Check -P, -o, and yt-dlp’s reported output filename. |
FFmpeg describes itself as a “universal media converter,” but that does not mean it can find a file whose path is wrong or access an executable that is not installed or discoverable. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation.
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Fix yt-dlp errors saying FFmpeg or ffprobe is missing
Confirm that the executable exists
yt-dlp needs the FFmpeg binary, not a Python package with a similar name. The yt-dlp README explicitly distinguishes the binary from the Python package. Check that FFmpeg and, where needed, ffprobe are actually installed and that you know where the executable files are located.
Make yt-dlp able to locate it
Two supported approaches are to put the executables on PATH or pass --ffmpeg-location. That option accepts either the binary path or the directory containing the binary. Use the path that exists on your machine; do not copy a platform-specific path from an example without checking it.
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After changing PATH on Windows, restart the shell so it picks up the updated environment. The yt-dlp FAQ documents this requirement. If the error persists, check for a misspelled directory, a path to the wrong file, or a configured location that no longer exists.
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Fix FFmpeg errors opening an input file
Check the path after -i
In FFmpeg command syntax, -i introduces the input URL or filename. Compare the value immediately after it with the file you intend to use: verify spelling, capitalization where relevant, extension, directory, and whether the file is actually present. FFmpeg supports file URLs and filesystem paths; the command’s current working directory can affect how a relative path resolves. The FFmpeg documentation covers input syntax and file handling.
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Separate download destination from output name
When yt-dlp downloads playlist items, -P selects the download destination, while -o defines the output filename template. Those options do different jobs. yt-dlp’s default output filename includes the video title and ID, so the saved file may not have the short name or location you expected. Check the command’s options and the filename yt-dlp reports rather than assuming a download named after the playlist entry’s title.
For a later FFmpeg command, use the actual saved path as the input after -i. If the name contains spaces or shell-special characters, quote it according to the shell you are using; quoting rules differ between operating systems and shells.
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When only one playlist entry fails
yt-dlp normally proceeds to the next video after a download error. A single failure therefore does not, by itself, show that FFmpeg is broken or that the entire playlist is unusable. Find the failing item in the output and read the surrounding messages to determine whether the problem is that entry’s availability, a download problem, or a post-processing step.
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--abort-on-errorwhen you want diagnosis to stop at the first error, making the first failure easier to isolate. - Avoid using
-i(ignore errors) while diagnosing. It ignores download and post-processing errors and can make the underlying failure less visible. - Once you understand the failure, choose whether you want yt-dlp to continue past unavailable or broken entries or stop and require a clean run.
The project’s command-line reference documents playlist error-handling options.
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Build a report that can be diagnosed
If the checks above do not resolve the issue, capture enough context to distinguish an executable lookup problem from a bad file path or failed playlist item. Include the complete command, exact error text, operating system, yt-dlp and FFmpeg versions, and full verbose output. Without those details, “file not found” does not establish which object is missing. The yt-dlp project’s Issue #7178 is a dated example involving a configured FFmpeg location that did not exist; it illustrates why checking the actual path and sharing verbose output matter, but it does not establish the cause of every similar error.
Or let it run in the cloud
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