Check if the identifiers in the file match exactly (e.g., https:// vs http:// ).
Use unique identifiers (like a URL or a specific file hash).
After a successful download, the script appends the filename to the bottom of watched.txt . 📂 Structure of a watched.txt File Download File code watched.txt
If you are building your own downloader, a watched.txt file is the simplest way to manage state.
Create urls_to_get.txt containing the links you want to download. Run the command: yt-dlp -a urls_to_get.txt --download-archive watched.txt Use code with caution. Check if the identifiers in the file match exactly (e
Before downloading file_abc , the script reads watched.txt to see if file_abc is listed.
For maximum compatibility with most scripts, the file should be a simple file with one entry per line: 📂 Structure of a watched
These tools use a "download archive" file to track every video ID that has been successfully downloaded.