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N_m3u8DL-CLI

Command-line downloader for m3u8/HLS video streams, saved as mp4 or ts.

GitHub Download 3.0.2
Stars
16.2k
Forks
2.3k
Licence
MIT
Language
C#
Last update
3.4 years ago
Type
CLI

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

N_m3u8DL-CLI is a free command-line tool that downloads video streams from m3u8 links or files and saves them as mp4 or ts. It handles AES-128-CBC decryption, multi-threaded downloads, resuming, and custom HTTP headers. The README says it is built on .NET Framework, is Windows-oriented, and is now in a maintenance phase, with a successor project (N_m3u8DL-RE) for Win/Linux/Mac.

  • Download an HLS stream to an mp4 or ts file with a single command
  • Download a limited segment range or time span of a video using --downloadRange
  • Record a live stream for a set duration with --liveRecDur (labeled BETA in the README)
  • Download with a custom referer or cookie by passing --headers
  • Merge audio-only tracks from a stream using --enableAudioOnly

Great for

  • Windows users who want a scriptable command-line m3u8 downloader
  • People who need custom HTTP headers or a proxy when fetching a stream
  • Users who want to download only part of a stream by segment or time range
  • Anyone who needs to merge downloads into mp4 with ffmpeg or built-in binary merging

Not ideal for

  • Linux or macOS users, because the README says this version is not cross-platform; the author points to N_m3u8DL-RE instead
  • People who need new features, since the README says the project is in maintenance and the last push was 2023-06-03
  • Anyone expecting to decrypt Youku or Balloon Cloud videos, which the README says are not supported
Step-by-step guide: how to use N_m3u8DL-CLIInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Download the app

    You'll need: .NET Framework (per README; exact version not stated) · ffmpeg (optional, only if you use the ffmpeg merge option)

    Clone repository

    git clone https://github.com/nilaoda/N_m3u8DL-CLI.git
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Download the latest release (3.0.2 in the metadata) from the GitHub releases page
    • Open a terminal in the folder with the exe
    • Run N_m3u8DL-CLI with a URL, for example: N_m3u8DL-CLI <URL> --saveName myvideo
    • Check the output folder for the mp4 or ts file
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use --headers to pass request headers such as Referer or Cookie that the stream requires
    • Use --proxyAddress to route requests through an HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy, or --noProxy to skip the system proxy
    • Use --maxSpeed to cap download speed and --stopSpeed to retry when speed drops
    • Use --enableDelAfterDone to clean temporary files after a download finishes
    • Use the SimpleG GUI included in the release if you prefer not to type options

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHubRelease 3.0.23 files incl. N_m3u8DL-CLI_v3.0.2.exeOfficial website & docsnilaoda.github.io/N_m3u8DL-CLI/

Strengths

  • Covers many common options such as multi-threading, speed limits, resume, and AES-128 decryption
  • Has a full command-line options list and user documentation at the project homepage
  • Released under the MIT license, so it is free to use and modify

Trade-offs

  • The README describes it as Windows and .NET Framework based and in maintenance mode
  • Last repository push was June 2023, so newer streaming formats may not be covered
  • The README is mostly in Chinese; an English README is linked separately

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
N_m3u8DL-CLI (this)16.2kCLIintermediate3.4 years agoWindows users who want a scriptable command-line m3u8 downloader
PowerShell56kCLIbeginner4 days agoDevelopers who script or automate tasks across Windows, Linux, and macOS
winget-cli26.6kCLIbeginner7 days agoWindows users who want to install common apps from a terminal
terminal105kAppbeginner6 days agoWindows users who work in the command line every day and want tabs and rich text
cmder27kAppbeginner11 days agoWindows users who want a nicer, tabbed command-line window
lux31.8kCLIbeginner7 months agoPeople who want to save videos from supported sites to a local file from the command line

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.