# Self-Hosted YouTube Automation with YTPTube (Advanced MeTube Alternative) **URL:** \ **Category:** Tools & Scripts\ **Tags:** programming, streaming\ **Created:** [June 9, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/self-hosted-youtube-automation-with-ytptube-advanced-metube-alternative/306249 "2025-06-09T01:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SRZ](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/srz/32/146132_2.png) [@SRZ](https://onehack.st/u/SRZ)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/self-hosted-youtube-automation-with-ytptube-advanced-metube-alternative/306249/1 "2025-06-09T01:37:15Z")
### Short Introduction YTPTube is a powerful, user-friendly, self-hosted frontend for `yt-dlp` wrapped in a Docker container. It’s a complete rewrite of MeTube with a focus on automation, flexibility, and usability for both technical and non-technical users. It offers advanced scheduling, concurrent downloads, cookies support, ARM64 builds, browser extensions, and more—making it ideal for YouTube archiving, automation, and content downloading at scale. ### Simplified One-Line Flowchart Pull Docker ➔ Choose UI Mode ➔ Configure Presets/Proxies ➔ Schedule or Download ➔ Auto-Update & Enjoy ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/9/6/967b6bfd86ce8dafb2a45a999320454c5772420a.jpeg) * * * ### Easy Step-by-Step Method **Step 1: Clone or Deploy YTPTube** - GitHub Repo with instructions and Docker image: [https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube](https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube) **Step 2: Choose Between Basic and Advanced UI Modes** - Use **Advanced Mode** for full features. - Use **Basic Mode** for simplified access (great for sharing with family/friends): [https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube?tab=readme-ov-file#basic-mode](https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube?tab=readme-ov-file#basic-mode) **Step 3: Use Presets, CLI Options, and Cookies** - Supports per-link CLI flags. - Add reusable **presets** (like `-t mp3`) for repetitive tasks. - Supports browser-based cookie pasting to bypass YouTube restrictions. - Handles age-restricted content flawlessly. **Step 4: Automate Your Workflows** - Queue playlists or channels on a schedule. - Requeue upcoming livestreams or premieres automatically based on `live_in` metadata. ![Stream Queue Sample](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/f/0/f0958db619052a22b1ac35b5a4bea1833789e92d.png) **Step 5: Add Browser Extensions & iOS Shortcuts** - Works with Firefox, Chromium-based browsers, and iOS Shortcuts. - These connect to your hosted instance for quick video grabbing. Preview UI: [https://files.catbox.moe/lbztzp.png](https://files.catbox.moe/lbztzp.png) **Step 6: Audio-Only? Convert to MP3 Easily** - Use CLI option `-t mp3` or set it as a preset. - Makes audio downloads simple for music lovers. **Step 7: Use on ARM64 Devices** - As of [latest release](https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube/releases/tag/master-20250603-cf2fb5f), ARM64 builds are available. - `master` builds support `linux/arm64`; `dev` builds remain `amd64` only. **Step 8: Proxy Support & Cookie Expiry Workarounds** - Proxies like Squid can bypass blocked OVH IPs. - Environment variable `HTTP_PROXY` works similarly to MeTube’s proxy handling. **Step 9: Configure for Read-Only Systems (Optional)** - Yes, YTPTube supports **rootless** operation and can run in **read-only** mode if: - `/config`, `/tmp`, and `/downloads` are mounted as writable volumes - Auto-update is disabled via ENV * * * ### Quick Tips - 🔁 **Rapid Fix Cycle** : Bugs are often fixed within minutes. - 🔄 **Auto yt-dlp Updates** : Pulls latest version on every container start (can be disabled). - 🔐 **Basic Auth Available** : Protect your instance with username/password. - 💡 **Display Modes** : Use “List View” for a compact history layout. - 🧠 **JSON Conversion** : Input URLs are internally converted into JSON-compatible instructions for yt-dlp. - 🧱 **Bundled Tools** : Includes `ffmpeg`, `aria2`, `mkvtoolsnix`, `rtmpdump`, and more inside the container. - 📦 **Simple File Browser** : Can be enabled for browsing downloaded files directly from the web UI. * * * ### Important Notes - 🚫 **No Raw CLI or cURL Commands** : For safety, users cannot input raw shell commands into the UI. - 📁 **Writable Folders Required** : Minimum write access to `/config`, `/tmp`, and `/downloads` is mandatory. - ⚠ **Not All Features in Basic Mode** : Designed to be simple; advanced options are hidden. - 🧪 **Livestream Support** : Only tested on YouTube (not Twitch or others yet). - 🧩 **Custom Update Paths** : Auto-updater can be disabled if using read-only containers. - 🐌 **ARM64 Caution** : Python package install is slower; thus, dev builds don’t support ARM64 yet. - 💬 **Roadmap Insight** : More UI improvements and performance tweaks are in development; check `dev` branch regularly. * * * ### Useful Links - 🔗 Main Repo: [https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube](https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube) - 📄 yt-dlp Docs: [https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp?tab=readme-ov-file#impersonation](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp?tab=readme-ov-file#impersonation) - 🆕 Latest Release: [https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube/releases/tag/master-20250603-cf2fb5f](https://github.com/arabcoders/ytptube/releases/tag/master-20250603-cf2fb5f) - 🛠 Watchstate Project (by same dev): [https://github.com/arabcoders/watchstate](https://github.com/arabcoders/watchstate)