2026.03.17

Tencent/WeKnora2026.03.17Mar 17, 2026by github-actions[bot]

AI Summary

This release focuses on YouTube extractor fixes and updates to the build toolchain and CI processes.

Key Highlights

Fixed `webpage_client` extractor-arg respect and `--live-from-start` support.
Updated PyInstaller to version 6.19.0 for Windows builds.
Fixed documentation for `player_client` extractor-arg.
Marked CurlCFFIRH tests as flaky for CI stability.

New Features

YouTube extractor fixes
PyInstaller update
CI improvements
Documentation fixes

Full Release Notes

[![Installation](https://img.shields.io/badge/-Which%20file%20to%20download%3F-white.svg?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#installation "Installation instructions") [![Discord](https://img.shields.io/discord/807245652072857610?color=blue&labelColor=555555&label=&logo=discord&style=for-the-badge)](https://discord.gg/H5MNcFW63r "Discord") [![Donate](https://img.shields.io/badge/_-Donate-red.svg?logo=githubsponsors&labelColor=555555&style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/blob/master/Maintainers.md#maintainers "Donate") [![Documentation](https://img.shields.io/badge/-Docs-brightgreen.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=GitBook&labelColor=555555)](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/tree/2026.03.17#readme "Documentation") [![Nightly](https://img.shields.io/badge/Nightly%20builds-purple.svg?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp-nightly-builds/releases/latest "Nightly builds") [![Master](https://img.shields.io/badge/Master%20builds-lightblue.svg?style=for-the-badge)](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp-master-builds/releases/latest "Master builds")

#### A description of the various files is in the [README](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#release-files)

The zipimport Unix executable contains code licensed under ISC and MIT. The PyInstaller-bundled executables are subject to these and other licenses, all of which are compiled in [THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.txt](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/blob/7fd74d10097833ebce0cb162e0ccf7825de9b768/THIRD_PARTY_LICENSES.txt)

---

<details><summary><h3>Changelog</h3></summary>


#### Extractor changes
- **youtube**
    - [Always respect `webpage_client` extractor-arg](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/66c4947e9cb70c9de96f7da75f9acbe4192d6c9d) ([#16250](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16250)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
    - [Fix `--live-from-start` support](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/1b6ec8fc2589a1733a0937270faa4230ce6b1ca5) ([#16254](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16254)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
    - [Update ejs to 0.8.0](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/04d6974f502bbdfaed72c624344f262e30ad9708) ([#16269](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16269)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly), [Grub4K](https://github.com/Grub4K)

#### Misc. changes
- **build**: [Use PyInstaller v6.19.0 for Windows](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/7fab4c2b23e16c4a4f94020a37a6bdf8d502be37) ([#16265](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16265)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
- **ci**: [Bump actions pins](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/4fc768b7f7194a05b13ad3e7bc5bfde84ed9ede7) ([#16252](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16252)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
- **docs**: [Fix `player_client` extractor-arg documentation](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/e68afb28277b4bee39726dbcbb06801edde9f659) ([#16235](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16235)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)
- **test**: networking: [Mark all CurlCFFIRH tests as flaky for any OS](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/18656b2f2af41a138793c7012a88f467c0d90274) ([#16266](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/16266)) by [bashonly](https://github.com/bashonly)

</details>