Stacher 7.1.11 for Windows

Stacher 7.1.11 is a free Windows app that gives the command-line tool yt-dlp a friendly graphical interface. You paste a link, choose options with clicks instead of typed commands, and Stacher handles the download of video or audio. You can download Stacher for Windows from stacher.io.

Overview

yt-dlp is a powerful open-source downloader that supports a very large number of video sites, but it lives in the terminal: every option is a flag you have to remember. Stacher wraps that engine in a window with a search and link field, a download queue and settings pages. That makes the capabilities of yt-dlp, such as choosing exact formats, extracting audio, downloading subtitles or whole playlists, accessible to people who do not want to learn command-line syntax. Because websites change often, the engine behind it needs frequent updates, and Stacher can keep yt-dlp current so downloads keep working. For users who already know yt-dlp, Stacher is a convenient way to manage many downloads and presets. For beginners, it is a gentle introduction to what yt-dlp can do. Changes to the app are published in the Stacher changelog.

Installation

1. Download the Windows installer from the official Stacher website.
2. Install and open the app; it sets up or updates its download engine.
3. Choose a download folder in the settings.
4. Paste a video or playlist link and start the download.

The installer is about 178.14 MB according to catalogue data.

Useful settings

• Set a default format and quality so you do not choose every time.
• Enable subtitle downloads for lectures and films in other languages.
• Use audio-only mode for podcasts and talks.
• Keep the engine updated when downloads start failing.

When downloads fail

Most failures come from a site change that the engine does not handle yet. Update the engine from within Stacher and try again. Private, age-restricted or region-locked videos may need you to be signed in or may not be downloadable at all. If only one format fails, choose a different quality or container in the options.

Legal use

Downloading is not automatically allowed just because a tool makes it easy. Many platforms forbid downloads in their terms, and copyrighted material needs the rights holder's permission. Use Stacher for your own content, videos under free licences, or material you are allowed to save, and do not redistribute downloads you have no rights to.

Key facts

Pros and cons

• Pro: graphical interface for yt-dlp.
• Pro: queue, presets and playlist support.
• Pro: free.
• Con: large installer compared with yt-dlp itself.
• Con: legal limits apply to most online videos.

Alternatives

yt-dlp itself is in our listings for command-line users. 4K Video Downloader Plus, ClipGrab and JDownloader are other graphical downloaders.