A command-line app for downloading Apple Music songs, music videos and post videos.
Python
2,681
1,357 commits
updated Sep 22, 2026
A command-line app for downloading Apple Music songs, music videos and post videos.
Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/aBjMEZ9tnq
Run the Wrapper v2 server for wrapper-backed account, playback, and decryption requests. Enable it with --use-wrapper or use_wrapper = true. Configure wrapper HTTP account/playback calls with --wrapper-url or wrapper_url, and configure WV2D batch TCP decrypt with --wrapper-decrypt-host / --wrapper-decrypt-port.
gamdl builds a private Rust extension from gamdl/downloader/ammuxer as gamdl._ammuxer. That native media engine handles wrapper TCP decrypt/reassembly plus MP4/M4A writing and muxing; Python remains responsible for the CLI, downloads, metadata tagging, and high-level orchestration.
The wrapper is recommended when using the alac song codec. ALAC can be attempted without wrapper, but it probably won't work due to API limitations.
Note:
10020 for decrypt.sonm), sort artist (soar), sort album (soal), composer (©wrt), composer ID (cmID), composer sort (soco), comments (©cmt), gapless (pgap), and XID (xid ).alac do not require the wrapper.Use N_m3u8DL-RE as a faster download alternative to the default yt-dlp download mode. Enable it with --download-mode nm3u8dlre or download_mode = nm3u8dlre.
If the executable is not available in your system PATH, set its location with --nm3u8dlre-path or nm3u8dlre_path.
N_m3u8DL-RE also needs FFmpeg. If the FFmpeg executable is not available in your system PATH, set its location with --ffmpeg-path or ffmpeg_path.
Install Gamdl via pip:
pip install gamdl
Set up the cookies file:
cookies.txt, or--cookies-path or in the config fileOptional: Set up dependencies (only if you need the functionality) See the Optional Dependencies section to determine which optional tools you need.
gamdl [OPTIONS] URLS...
Download a song:
gamdl "https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-gonna-give-you-up-2022-remaster/1624945511?i=1624945512"
Download an album:
gamdl "https://music.apple.com/us/album/whenever-you-need-somebody-2022-remaster/1624945511"
Download from an artist:
gamdl "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rick-astley/669771"
Interactive Prompt Controls:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move selection |
| Space | Toggle selection |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Enter | Confirm selection |
Configure Gamdl using command-line arguments or a config file.
Config file location:
~/.gamdl/config.ini%USERPROFILE%\.gamdl\config.iniThe file is created automatically on first run. Command-line arguments override config values.
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| General Options | ||
--read-urls-as-txt, -r | Read URLs from text files | false |
--config-path | Config file path | <home>/.gamdl/config.ini |
--log-level | Logging level | INFO |
--log-file | Log file path | - |
--no-exceptions | Don't print exceptions | false |
--artist-auto-select | Automatically select artist content to download (artist URLs) | - |
--database-path | Path to the SQLite database file for registering downloaded media | - |
--no-config-file, -n | Don't use a config file | false |
| Apple Music Options | ||
--cookies-path, -c | Cookies file path | ./cookies.txt |
--wrapper-url | Wrapper HTTP control base URL | http://127.0.0.1 |
--wrapper-decrypt-host | Wrapper TCP decrypt host | 127.0.0.1 |
--wrapper-decrypt-port | Wrapper TCP decrypt port | 10020 |
--language, -l | Metadata language | en-US |
| Interface Options | ||
--cover-format | Cover format | jpg |
--cover-size | Cover size in pixels | 1200 |
--drm-backend | DRM backend (widevine or playready) | widevine |
--wvd-path | .wvd file path | - |
--prd-path | .prd file path | - |
--use-wrapper | Use wrapper for account, playback, and decryption requests | false |
| Song Options | ||
--synced-lyrics-format | Synced lyrics format | lrc |
--song-codec-priority | Comma-separated codec priority | aac-web |
--use-album-date | Use album release date for songs | false |
--no-synced-lyrics | Don't download synced lyrics | false |
--synced-lyrics-only | Download only synced lyrics | false |
| Music Video Options | ||
--music-video-resolution | Max music video resolution | 1080p |
--music-video-codec-priority | Comma-separated codec priority | h264,h265 |
--music-video-remux-format | Music video remux format | m4v |
| Post Video Options | ||
--uploaded-video-quality | Post video quality | best |
| Download & Path Options | ||
--output-path, -o | Output directory path | ./Apple Music |
--temp-path | Temporary directory path | . |
--nm3u8dlre-path | N_m3u8DL-RE executable path | N_m3u8DL-RE |
--ffmpeg-path | FFmpeg executable path | ffmpeg |
--download-mode | Download mode | ytdlp |
| Template Options | ||
--album-folder-template | Album folder template | {album_artist}/{album} |
--compilation-folder-template | Compilation folder template | Compilations/{album} |
--no-album-folder-template | No album folder template | {artist}/Unknown Album |
--playlist-folder-template | Playlist folder template | Playlists/{playlist_artist} |
--single-disc-file-template | Single disc file template | {track:02d} {title} |
--multi-disc-file-template | Multi disc file template | {disc}-{track:02d} {title} |
--no-album-file-template | No album file template | {title} |
--playlist-file-template | Playlist file template | {playlist_title} |
--date-tag-template | Date tag template | %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ |
--exclude-tags | Comma-separated tags to exclude | - |
--truncate | Max filename length | - |
| File Output Options | ||
--overwrite | Overwrite existing files | false |
--save-cover, -s | Save cover as separate file | false |
--save-playlist | Save M3U8 playlist file | false |
Tags for templates and exclude-tags:
album, album_artist, album_idartist, artist_idcomposer, composer_iddate (supports strftime format: {date:%Y})disc, disc_totalmedia_typeplaylist_artist, playlist_id, playlist_title, playlist_tracktitle, title_idtrack, track_totalTags for exclude-tags only:
album_sort, artist_sort, composer_sort, title_sortcomment, compilation, copyright, cover, gapless, genre, genre_id, lyrics, rating, storefront, xidall (special: skip all tagging)DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERRORytdlp, nm3u8dlre[!NOTE]
- yt-dlp is only used as a file download library. Media is still fetched directly from Apple Music's servers, and yt-dlp is only responsible for handling the file download process.
jpgpngraw - Raw format as provided by the artist (requires save_cover to be enabled as it doesn't embed covers into files)widevineplayready[!NOTE]
- Widevine is the default DRM backend and uses the built-in WVD when
--wvd-pathis not set.- PlayReady requires providing a
.prddevice with--prd-path.- When
--use-wrapperis enabled, compatible FairPlay streams are decrypted through wrapper. Streams that cannot use wrapper fall back to the selected--drm-backend.- 4K music videos require either a Widevine L1
.wvddevice or a PlayReady SL3000 (SL3K).prddevice.
Use ISO 639-1 language codes (e.g., en-US, es-ES, ja-JP, pt-BR). Don't always work for music videos.
Web:
aac-web - AAC 256kbps 44.1kHzaac-he-web - AAC-HE 64kbps 44.1kHzNon-web (alac can be attempted without wrapper, but it probably won't work due to API limitations):
aac - AAC 256kbps up to 48kHzaac-he - AAC-HE 64kbps up to 48kHzaac-binaural - AAC 256kbps binauralaac-downmix - AAC 256kbps downmixaac-he-binaural - AAC-HE 64kbps binauralaac-he-downmix - AAC-HE 64kbps downmixatmos - Dolby Atmos 768kbpsac3 - AC3 640kbpsalac - ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHzask - Interactive codec selectionlrcsrt - SubRip subtitle format (more accurate timing)ttml - Native Apple Music format (not compatible with most media players)h264h265ask - Interactive codec selection240p, 360p, 480p, 540p, 720p, 1080p1440p, 2160pm4v, mp4best - Up to 1080p with AAC 256kbpsask - Interactive quality selectionmain-albumscompilation-albumslive-albumssingles-epsall-albumstop-songsmusic-videosUse Gamdl as a library in your Python projects:
import asyncio
from gamdl.api import AppleMusicApi
from gamdl.downloader import (
AppleMusicBaseDownloader,
AppleMusicDownloader,
AppleMusicMusicVideoDownloader,
AppleMusicSongDownloader,
AppleMusicUploadedVideoDownloader,
)
from gamdl.interface import (
AppleMusicBaseInterface,
AppleMusicInterface,
AppleMusicMusicVideoInterface,
AppleMusicSongInterface,
AppleMusicUploadedVideoInterface,
)
async def main():
# Create AppleMusicApi instance from cookies
apple_music_api = await AppleMusicApi.create_from_netscape_cookies(
cookies_path="cookies.txt",
)
# Check subscription
if not apple_music_api.active_subscription:
print("No active Apple Music subscription")
return
# Create base interface
base_interface = await AppleMusicBaseInterface.create(
apple_music_api=apple_music_api,
)
# Create specialized interfaces
song_interface = AppleMusicSongInterface(
base=base_interface,
)
music_video_interface = AppleMusicMusicVideoInterface(
base=base_interface,
)
uploaded_video_interface = AppleMusicUploadedVideoInterface(
base=base_interface,
)
# Create main interface
interface = AppleMusicInterface(
song=song_interface,
music_video=music_video_interface,
uploaded_video=uploaded_video_interface,
)
# Create base downloader
base_downloader = AppleMusicBaseDownloader(
interface=interface,
)
# Create specialized downloaders
song_downloader = AppleMusicSongDownloader(base=base_downloader)
music_video_downloader = AppleMusicMusicVideoDownloader(
base=base_downloader,
)
uploaded_video_downloader = AppleMusicUploadedVideoDownloader(base=base_downloader)
# Create main downloader
downloader = AppleMusicDownloader(
song=song_downloader,
music_video=music_video_downloader,
uploaded_video=uploaded_video_downloader,
)
# Download from URL
url = "https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-gonna-give-you-up-2022-remaster/1624945511?i=1624945512"
download_queue = []
async for media in downloader.get_download_item_from_url(url):
download_queue.append(media)
for download_item in download_queue:
try:
await downloader.download(download_item)
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error downloading: {e}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
asyncio.run(main())
MIT License - see LICENSE file for details
Currently, I'm not interested in reviewing pull requests that change or add features. Only critical bug fixes will be considered. However, feel free to open issues for bugs or feature requests.
99 followers · starred Mar 2026
1,034 followers · starred Aug 2025
201 followers · starred May 2025
15 followers · starred Apr 2026
A command-line app for downloading Apple Music songs, music videos and post videos.
Python
2,681
1,357 commits
updated Sep 22, 2026
A command-line app for downloading Apple Music songs, music videos and post videos.
Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/aBjMEZ9tnq
Run the Wrapper v2 server for wrapper-backed account, playback, and decryption requests. Enable it with --use-wrapper or use_wrapper = true. Configure wrapper HTTP account/playback calls with --wrapper-url or wrapper_url, and configure WV2D batch TCP decrypt with --wrapper-decrypt-host / --wrapper-decrypt-port.
gamdl builds a private Rust extension from gamdl/downloader/ammuxer as gamdl._ammuxer. That native media engine handles wrapper TCP decrypt/reassembly plus MP4/M4A writing and muxing; Python remains responsible for the CLI, downloads, metadata tagging, and high-level orchestration.
The wrapper is recommended when using the alac song codec. ALAC can be attempted without wrapper, but it probably won't work due to API limitations.
Note:
10020 for decrypt.sonm), sort artist (soar), sort album (soal), composer (©wrt), composer ID (cmID), composer sort (soco), comments (©cmt), gapless (pgap), and XID (xid ).alac do not require the wrapper.Use N_m3u8DL-RE as a faster download alternative to the default yt-dlp download mode. Enable it with --download-mode nm3u8dlre or download_mode = nm3u8dlre.
If the executable is not available in your system PATH, set its location with --nm3u8dlre-path or nm3u8dlre_path.
N_m3u8DL-RE also needs FFmpeg. If the FFmpeg executable is not available in your system PATH, set its location with --ffmpeg-path or ffmpeg_path.
Install Gamdl via pip:
pip install gamdl
Set up the cookies file:
cookies.txt, or--cookies-path or in the config fileOptional: Set up dependencies (only if you need the functionality) See the Optional Dependencies section to determine which optional tools you need.
gamdl [OPTIONS] URLS...
Download a song:
gamdl "https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-gonna-give-you-up-2022-remaster/1624945511?i=1624945512"
Download an album:
gamdl "https://music.apple.com/us/album/whenever-you-need-somebody-2022-remaster/1624945511"
Download from an artist:
gamdl "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rick-astley/669771"
Interactive Prompt Controls:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move selection |
| Space | Toggle selection |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Enter | Confirm selection |
Configure Gamdl using command-line arguments or a config file.
Config file location:
~/.gamdl/config.ini%USERPROFILE%\.gamdl\config.iniThe file is created automatically on first run. Command-line arguments override config values.
| Option | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| General Options | ||
--read-urls-as-txt, -r | Read URLs from text files | false |
--config-path | Config file path | <home>/.gamdl/config.ini |
--log-level | Logging level | INFO |
--log-file | Log file path | - |
--no-exceptions | Don't print exceptions | false |
--artist-auto-select | Automatically select artist content to download (artist URLs) | - |
--database-path | Path to the SQLite database file for registering downloaded media | - |
--no-config-file, -n | Don't use a config file | false |
| Apple Music Options | ||
--cookies-path, -c | Cookies file path | ./cookies.txt |
--wrapper-url | Wrapper HTTP control base URL | http://127.0.0.1 |
--wrapper-decrypt-host | Wrapper TCP decrypt host | 127.0.0.1 |
--wrapper-decrypt-port | Wrapper TCP decrypt port | 10020 |
--language, -l | Metadata language | en-US |
| Interface Options | ||
--cover-format | Cover format | jpg |
--cover-size | Cover size in pixels | 1200 |
--drm-backend | DRM backend (widevine or playready) | widevine |
--wvd-path | .wvd file path | - |
--prd-path | .prd file path | - |
--use-wrapper | Use wrapper for account, playback, and decryption requests | false |
| Song Options | ||
--synced-lyrics-format | Synced lyrics format | lrc |
--song-codec-priority | Comma-separated codec priority | aac-web |
--use-album-date | Use album release date for songs | false |
--no-synced-lyrics | Don't download synced lyrics | false |
--synced-lyrics-only | Download only synced lyrics | false |
| Music Video Options | ||
--music-video-resolution | Max music video resolution | 1080p |
--music-video-codec-priority | Comma-separated codec priority | h264,h265 |
--music-video-remux-format | Music video remux format | m4v |
| Post Video Options | ||
--uploaded-video-quality | Post video quality | best |
| Download & Path Options | ||
--output-path, -o | Output directory path | ./Apple Music |
--temp-path | Temporary directory path | . |
--nm3u8dlre-path | N_m3u8DL-RE executable path | N_m3u8DL-RE |
--ffmpeg-path | FFmpeg executable path | ffmpeg |
--download-mode | Download mode | ytdlp |
| Template Options | ||
--album-folder-template | Album folder template | {album_artist}/{album} |
--compilation-folder-template | Compilation folder template | Compilations/{album} |
--no-album-folder-template | No album folder template | {artist}/Unknown Album |
--playlist-folder-template | Playlist folder template | Playlists/{playlist_artist} |
--single-disc-file-template | Single disc file template | {track:02d} {title} |
--multi-disc-file-template | Multi disc file template | {disc}-{track:02d} {title} |
--no-album-file-template | No album file template | {title} |
--playlist-file-template | Playlist file template | {playlist_title} |
--date-tag-template | Date tag template | %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ |
--exclude-tags | Comma-separated tags to exclude | - |
--truncate | Max filename length | - |
| File Output Options | ||
--overwrite | Overwrite existing files | false |
--save-cover, -s | Save cover as separate file | false |
--save-playlist | Save M3U8 playlist file | false |
Tags for templates and exclude-tags:
album, album_artist, album_idartist, artist_idcomposer, composer_iddate (supports strftime format: {date:%Y})disc, disc_totalmedia_typeplaylist_artist, playlist_id, playlist_title, playlist_tracktitle, title_idtrack, track_totalTags for exclude-tags only:
album_sort, artist_sort, composer_sort, title_sortcomment, compilation, copyright, cover, gapless, genre, genre_id, lyrics, rating, storefront, xidall (special: skip all tagging)DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERRORytdlp, nm3u8dlre[!NOTE]
- yt-dlp is only used as a file download library. Media is still fetched directly from Apple Music's servers, and yt-dlp is only responsible for handling the file download process.
jpgpngraw - Raw format as provided by the artist (requires save_cover to be enabled as it doesn't embed covers into files)widevineplayready[!NOTE]
- Widevine is the default DRM backend and uses the built-in WVD when
--wvd-pathis not set.- PlayReady requires providing a
.prddevice with--prd-path.- When
--use-wrapperis enabled, compatible FairPlay streams are decrypted through wrapper. Streams that cannot use wrapper fall back to the selected--drm-backend.- 4K music videos require either a Widevine L1
.wvddevice or a PlayReady SL3000 (SL3K).prddevice.
Use ISO 639-1 language codes (e.g., en-US, es-ES, ja-JP, pt-BR). Don't always work for music videos.
Web:
aac-web - AAC 256kbps 44.1kHzaac-he-web - AAC-HE 64kbps 44.1kHzNon-web (alac can be attempted without wrapper, but it probably won't work due to API limitations):
aac - AAC 256kbps up to 48kHzaac-he - AAC-HE 64kbps up to 48kHzaac-binaural - AAC 256kbps binauralaac-downmix - AAC 256kbps downmixaac-he-binaural - AAC-HE 64kbps binauralaac-he-downmix - AAC-HE 64kbps downmixatmos - Dolby Atmos 768kbpsac3 - AC3 640kbpsalac - ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHzask - Interactive codec selectionlrcsrt - SubRip subtitle format (more accurate timing)ttml - Native Apple Music format (not compatible with most media players)h264h265ask - Interactive codec selection240p, 360p, 480p, 540p, 720p, 1080p1440p, 2160pm4v, mp4best - Up to 1080p with AAC 256kbpsask - Interactive quality selectionmain-albumscompilation-albumslive-albumssingles-epsall-albumstop-songsmusic-videosUse Gamdl as a library in your Python projects:
import asyncio
from gamdl.api import AppleMusicApi
from gamdl.downloader import (
AppleMusicBaseDownloader,
AppleMusicDownloader,
AppleMusicMusicVideoDownloader,
AppleMusicSongDownloader,
AppleMusicUploadedVideoDownloader,
)
from gamdl.interface import (
AppleMusicBaseInterface,
AppleMusicInterface,
AppleMusicMusicVideoInterface,
AppleMusicSongInterface,
AppleMusicUploadedVideoInterface,
)
async def main():
# Create AppleMusicApi instance from cookies
apple_music_api = await AppleMusicApi.create_from_netscape_cookies(
cookies_path="cookies.txt",
)
# Check subscription
if not apple_music_api.active_subscription:
print("No active Apple Music subscription")
return
# Create base interface
base_interface = await AppleMusicBaseInterface.create(
apple_music_api=apple_music_api,
)
# Create specialized interfaces
song_interface = AppleMusicSongInterface(
base=base_interface,
)
music_video_interface = AppleMusicMusicVideoInterface(
base=base_interface,
)
uploaded_video_interface = AppleMusicUploadedVideoInterface(
base=base_interface,
)
# Create main interface
interface = AppleMusicInterface(
song=song_interface,
music_video=music_video_interface,
uploaded_video=uploaded_video_interface,
)
# Create base downloader
base_downloader = AppleMusicBaseDownloader(
interface=interface,
)
# Create specialized downloaders
song_downloader = AppleMusicSongDownloader(base=base_downloader)
music_video_downloader = AppleMusicMusicVideoDownloader(
base=base_downloader,
)
uploaded_video_downloader = AppleMusicUploadedVideoDownloader(base=base_downloader)
# Create main downloader
downloader = AppleMusicDownloader(
song=song_downloader,
music_video=music_video_downloader,
uploaded_video=uploaded_video_downloader,
)
# Download from URL
url = "https://music.apple.com/us/album/never-gonna-give-you-up-2022-remaster/1624945511?i=1624945512"
download_queue = []
async for media in downloader.get_download_item_from_url(url):
download_queue.append(media)
for download_item in download_queue:
try:
await downloader.download(download_item)
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error downloading: {e}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
asyncio.run(main())
MIT License - see LICENSE file for details
Currently, I'm not interested in reviewing pull requests that change or add features. Only critical bug fixes will be considered. However, feel free to open issues for bugs or feature requests.
99 followers · starred Mar 2026
1,034 followers · starred Aug 2025
201 followers · starred May 2025
15 followers · starred Apr 2026