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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesMeTube is a self-hosted web interface for yt-dlp: you open its web page, submit a supported media link, and MeTube saves the download on the machine running the container. Its documented quick start uses Docker or Docker Compose, publishes the interface on port 8081, and mounts a host directory at /downloads. It is a downloader, not a streaming host or media-library manager—and technical capability does not itself grant permission to download or reuse a video.
What MeTube does—and what it does not
MeTube puts a browser-based interface around yt-dlp. It accepts links from YouTube and many other sites supported by yt-dlp, then writes media files to the server where MeTube runs. The project documents downloads of video, audio, subtitles, and thumbnails, including from individual videos, playlists, and channels. See the MeTube README and configuration reference for its current capabilities and options.
It can also queue new uploads through channel and playlist subscriptions. For individual downloads, users can choose quality, format, and output folder; operators can configure server-wide yt-dlp options and presets. Those controls make it useful for collecting media on a server, but they do not turn it into a library catalog: MeTube’s documented scope ends after writing the file. The project recommends separate tools for tagging and organizing a media collection.
How to self-host MeTube with Docker
The project’s documented quick start is a Docker container, with a Docker Compose example offering the same port and download-directory mapping. The published images support amd64 and arm64 architectures. You need Docker or Docker Compose and a host directory with sufficient space and suitable permissions for the files you plan to save.
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The essential mappings are host port 8081 to container port 8081, and a host downloads directory to /downloads in the container. The project’s README provides the current Docker and Compose examples; use those rather than relying on an example copied elsewhere, especially when configuring permissions or additional environment variables.
| Container setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
Port mapping: host 8081 to container 8081 |
Lets a browser reach MeTube’s web interface through the host on port 8081. |
Volume mapping: host directory to /downloads |
Stores completed files in a host location that persists beyond the container lifecycle. |
| Environment variables | Configure documented behavior, including ownership, permissions, download concurrency, output templates, and network-related settings. |
Choose a host directory deliberately: the downloaded files reside there, not in an online MeTube account. If the server’s internal disk is too small, an external hard drive can be used as host storage, provided the host can access and mount it reliably. The project does not require a particular storage device.
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Configure the parts that affect daily use
MeTube exposes configuration through environment variables. The README documents options for user and group ownership, file permissions, concurrent downloads, playlist limits, subscriptions, and output templates. It also covers yt-dlp options and presets, HTTPS, reverse-proxy paths, and cross-origin access. Check the official configuration reference for exact variable names and valid values before changing a deployment.
Be especially cautious with ALLOW_YTDL_OPTIONS_OVERRIDES. The project marks this for trusted users only because it permits running commands in the container. Do not enable it for an untrusted or public-facing audience.
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Network protections and safe exposure
MeTube’s Troubleshooting FAQ, edited September 25, 2026, documents two safeguards. Requests originating from other websites are refused unless their origin is allowed in CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS. MeTube also rejects URLs that resolve to private, loopback, link-local, and other non-global addresses, reducing the risk of server-side request forgery (SSRF).
Setting ALLOW_PRIVATE_ADDRESSES=true disables the address protection entirely. The project describes that setting for controlled-network use only. Keep it disabled unless you understand the network consequences and control the relevant network; do not treat it as a routine fix for a rejected URL. Configure access to the web interface thoughtfully, especially if it is reachable beyond your trusted local network.
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Keep MeTube current and diagnose failed downloads
Site support can change, and the project advises keeping the container updated because yt-dlp releases frequently. The README says a new MeTube image is published for each stable yt-dlp release and documents an option to follow nightly yt-dlp builds. Nightly builds may be useful when a site change is not yet handled in a stable release, but they are not the same as the stable update path.
When a download fails, first distinguish a MeTube interface or configuration issue from a yt-dlp site-extraction failure. The project recommends reproducing most download failures by running yt-dlp inside the container with the same URL and options. If that command fails too, the problem is likely in yt-dlp’s handling of the site or in the supplied options rather than the web interface itself. Use the project’s troubleshooting guidance and current container configuration when investigating.
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Downloading is not the same as having permission
MeTube’s ability to retrieve a file does not establish that downloading, keeping, or reusing that content is allowed. YouTube’s Terms of Service say viewers may view or listen to content for personal, non-commercial use, and restrict downloading except where the Service expressly authorizes it or YouTube and, where applicable, the rights holders provide prior written permission. The terms state: “You are not allowed to: access, reproduce, download, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, alter, modify or otherwise use any part of the Service or any Content except: (a) as expressly authorized by the Service; or (b) with prior written permission from YouTube and, if applicable, the respective rights holders;” Check the permissions and laws applicable to your specific use rather than assuming that a technically successful download is authorized.
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