diff --git a/src/main/binaries.ts b/src/main/binaries.ts
index 18eef62..c2843e7 100644
--- a/src/main/binaries.ts
+++ b/src/main/binaries.ts
@@ -13,10 +13,31 @@ export function getBinDir(): string {
   return is.dev ? join(app.getAppPath(), 'resources', 'bin') : join(process.resourcesPath, 'bin')
 }
 
-export function getYtdlpPath(): string {
+/**
+ * AeroFetch keeps its OWN writable copy of yt-dlp.exe under userData, separate
+ * from the read-only bundled seed in resources/bin. The managed copy is what
+ * actually gets spawned and self-updated (`--update-to`), so an app reinstall or
+ * portable re-extraction — which only ever replace the bundled seed — can never
+ * roll a freshly-updated yt-dlp back to a stale version. See ensureManagedYtdlp
+ * in ytdlp.ts, which seeds this from getBundledYtdlpPath() on first run.
+ *
+ * ffmpeg/ffprobe/aria2c stay in getBinDir(): they're not self-updating and
+ * yt-dlp finds them via `--ffmpeg-location <binDir>`.
+ */
+export function getManagedBinDir(): string {
+  return join(app.getPath('userData'), 'bin')
+}
+
+/** The bundled, read-only yt-dlp.exe seeded into the managed copy when missing. */
+export function getBundledYtdlpPath(): string {
   return join(getBinDir(), 'yt-dlp.exe')
 }
 
+/** The managed (spawned + auto-updated) yt-dlp.exe under userData. */
+export function getYtdlpPath(): string {
+  return join(getManagedBinDir(), 'yt-dlp.exe')
+}
+
 export function getFfmpegPath(): string {
   return join(getBinDir(), 'ffmpeg.exe')
 }
diff --git a/src/main/download.ts b/src/main/download.ts
index c4fe548..492fdca 100644
--- a/src/main/download.ts
+++ b/src/main/download.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   getSystem32Path
 } from './binaries'
 import { getSettings, getDownloadArchivePath, getDefaultMediaDir } from './settings'
+import { ensureManagedYtdlp } from './ytdlp'
 import { getCookiesFilePath } from './cookies'
 import { listTemplates } from './templates'
 import { assertHttpUrl } from './url'
@@ -240,11 +241,14 @@ export function startDownload(
   wc: WebContents,
   opts: StartDownloadOptions
 ): StartDownloadResult {
+  // Self-heal the managed copy from the bundled seed before spawning, so a
+  // never-seeded or deleted yt-dlp.exe doesn't fail an otherwise-fine download.
+  ensureManagedYtdlp()
   const ytdlp = getYtdlpPath()
   if (!existsSync(ytdlp)) {
     return {
       ok: false,
-      error: `yt-dlp.exe not found at ${ytdlp}\nDrop it into resources/bin/ (see the README there).`
+      error: `yt-dlp.exe is missing and couldn't be restored from the bundle.\nReinstall AeroFetch, or drop yt-dlp.exe into resources/bin/ (see the README there).`
     }
   }
   // ffmpeg is used by nearly every download (merge, audio extract, thumbnail/
diff --git a/src/main/ffmpeg.ts b/src/main/ffmpeg.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6886b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ffmpeg.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { execFile } from 'child_process'
+import { existsSync } from 'fs'
+import { getFfmpegPath, getFfprobePath } from './binaries'
+import type { FfmpegVersionResult } from '@shared/ipc'
+
+/**
+ * Read the version token from an ffmpeg/ffprobe binary. Both print a first line
+ * of the form "<tool> version <VERSION> Copyright ..." (e.g.
+ * "ffmpeg version 6.1.1-full_build-www.gyan.dev Copyright ..."), so we return the
+ * token after "version". Resolves null if the binary is absent, errors, times
+ * out, or the line doesn't parse — Settings then shows "not found" instead of
+ * failing. Unlike yt-dlp these are never self-updated, so there's no update path.
+ */
+function readToolVersion(path: string): Promise<string | null> {
+  if (!existsSync(path)) return Promise.resolve(null)
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    execFile(path, ['-version'], { windowsHide: true, timeout: 15_000 }, (err, stdout) => {
+      if (err) {
+        resolve(null)
+        return
+      }
+      const firstLine = stdout.split('\n', 1)[0] ?? ''
+      const m = firstLine.match(/version\s+(\S+)/i)
+      resolve(m ? m[1] : null)
+    })
+  })
+}
+
+/** Versions of the bundled ffmpeg + ffprobe, read in parallel for the Settings panel. */
+export async function getFfmpegVersions(): Promise<FfmpegVersionResult> {
+  const [ffmpeg, ffprobe] = await Promise.all([
+    readToolVersion(getFfmpegPath()),
+    readToolVersion(getFfprobePath())
+  ])
+  return { ffmpeg, ffprobe }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/index.ts b/src/main/index.ts
index fc0184c..7673b68 100644
--- a/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/src/main/index.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ import {
   type YtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type SystemThemeInfo
 } from '@shared/ipc'
-import { getYtdlpVersion, updateYtdlp } from './ytdlp'
+import { getYtdlpVersion, updateYtdlp, runStartupYtdlpAutoUpdate } from './ytdlp'
+import { getFfmpegVersions } from './ffmpeg'
 import { checkForAppUpdate, downloadAppUpdate, runAppUpdate } from './updater'
 import { probeMedia } from './probe'
 import { startDownload, cancelDownload, previewCommand } from './download'
@@ -190,6 +191,8 @@ function registerIpcHandlers(): void {
 
   ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.ytdlpVersion, () => getYtdlpVersion())
 
+  ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.ffmpegVersion, () => getFfmpegVersions())
+
   ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.probe, (_e, url: string) => probeMedia(url))
 
   ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.downloadStart, (e, opts: StartDownloadOptions) => {
@@ -353,6 +356,16 @@ if (isPrimaryInstance) {
     registerSendToShortcut()
     createWindow()
 
+    // Keep yt-dlp current on its own: seed the managed copy, then (throttled to
+    // once a day) self-update it to the chosen channel so a stale binary can't
+    // silently cause YouTube 403s. Best-effort and off the critical path — it
+    // never blocks startup, and status is pushed to the window if it's listening.
+    runStartupYtdlpAutoUpdate((status) => {
+      if (mainWindow && !mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+        mainWindow.webContents.send(IpcChannels.ytdlpAutoUpdateStatus, status)
+      }
+    }).catch(() => {})
+
     app.on('activate', () => {
       if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) createWindow()
     })
diff --git a/src/main/settings.ts b/src/main/settings.ts
index f99a049..17b08de 100644
--- a/src/main/settings.ts
+++ b/src/main/settings.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   COOKIE_BROWSERS,
   ACCENT_COLORS,
   DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_OPTIONS,
+  isYtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type Settings,
   type DownloadOptions,
   type SponsorBlockCategory
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ const DEFAULTS: Settings = {
   cookiesBrowser: 'chrome',
   restrictFilenames: false,
   downloadArchive: false,
+  // yt-dlp is self-managed: a writable copy under userData, auto-updated on the
+  // nightly channel (fastest to follow YouTube changes that cause 403s).
+  autoUpdateYtdlp: true,
+  ytdlpChannel: 'nightly',
+  ytdlpLastUpdateCheck: 0,
   customCommandEnabled: false,
   defaultTemplateId: null,
   notifyOnComplete: true,
@@ -193,12 +199,24 @@ export function setSettings(partial: Partial<Settings>): Settings {
       case 'useAria2c':
       case 'restrictFilenames':
       case 'downloadArchive':
+      case 'autoUpdateYtdlp':
       case 'customCommandEnabled':
       case 'notifyOnComplete':
       case 'autoDownloadNew':
       case 'hasCompletedOnboarding':
         if (typeof value === 'boolean') s.set(key, value)
         break
+      case 'ytdlpChannel':
+        // Same allowlist that guards the `--update-to` flag (audit F1).
+        if (isYtdlpUpdateChannel(value)) s.set('ytdlpChannel', value)
+        break
+      case 'ytdlpLastUpdateCheck': {
+        // Set by the main-process auto-updater; validated here since setSettings
+        // is the only writer. A bogus value at worst skips/forces one check.
+        const n = Number(value)
+        if (Number.isFinite(n) && n >= 0) s.set('ytdlpLastUpdateCheck', n)
+        break
+      }
       case 'defaultTemplateId':
         if (value === null || typeof value === 'string') s.set('defaultTemplateId', value)
         break
diff --git a/src/main/ytdlp.ts b/src/main/ytdlp.ts
index 4890cd8..ffec8fa 100644
--- a/src/main/ytdlp.ts
+++ b/src/main/ytdlp.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,37 @@
 import { execFile } from 'child_process'
-import { existsSync } from 'fs'
-import { getYtdlpPath } from './binaries'
+import { existsSync, mkdirSync, copyFileSync } from 'fs'
+import { dirname } from 'path'
+import { getYtdlpPath, getBundledYtdlpPath } from './binaries'
+import { getSettings, setSettings } from './settings'
+import { shouldAutoCheckYtdlp } from './ytdlpPolicy'
 import {
   isYtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type YtdlpVersionResult,
   type YtdlpUpdateChannel,
-  type YtdlpUpdateResult
+  type YtdlpUpdateResult,
+  type YtdlpAutoUpdateStatus
 } from '@shared/ipc'
 
+/**
+ * Ensure the writable managed yt-dlp.exe exists, copying the bundled seed in if
+ * it doesn't (first run, or after the user/AV deleted it). Best-effort and
+ * idempotent — when the copy is already present this is just one existsSync, so
+ * it's cheap to call before any spawn/update. Does nothing if the seed itself is
+ * gone (a broken install); callers surface their own missing-binary error then.
+ */
+export function ensureManagedYtdlp(): void {
+  const managed = getYtdlpPath()
+  if (existsSync(managed)) return
+  const seed = getBundledYtdlpPath()
+  if (!existsSync(seed)) return
+  try {
+    mkdirSync(dirname(managed), { recursive: true })
+    copyFileSync(seed, managed)
+  } catch {
+    /* best-effort; a failed seed just leaves the managed copy absent */
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Step-1 spike: spawn the bundled yt-dlp and read back `--version`.
  * Proves the main-process → bundled-binary → IPC path end to end.
@@ -51,6 +75,9 @@ export function updateYtdlp(channel: YtdlpUpdateChannel): Promise<YtdlpUpdateRes
     return Promise.resolve({ ok: false, error: 'Unsupported update channel.' })
   }
 
+  // Self-heal: restore the managed copy from the bundled seed before updating, so
+  // a deleted yt-dlp.exe is re-seeded and then updated in one click.
+  ensureManagedYtdlp()
   const ytdlpPath = getYtdlpPath()
 
   if (!existsSync(ytdlpPath)) {
@@ -78,3 +105,45 @@ export function updateYtdlp(channel: YtdlpUpdateChannel): Promise<YtdlpUpdateRes
     )
   })
 }
+
+/**
+ * Startup yt-dlp maintenance: always seed the managed copy, then — if auto-update
+ * is on and the daily throttle has elapsed — self-update it to the configured
+ * channel. Whether it changed is decided by comparing `--version` before/after
+ * (robust against yt-dlp's localized "up to date" wording). Status is pushed to
+ * the renderer so the Settings UI reflects a check it didn't trigger.
+ *
+ * Best-effort: every failure path still records the attempt time (so an
+ * unreachable update server doesn't re-hit the network every launch) and never
+ * throws — a stale binary must never block the app from starting.
+ */
+export async function runStartupYtdlpAutoUpdate(
+  send: (status: YtdlpAutoUpdateStatus) => void
+): Promise<void> {
+  ensureManagedYtdlp()
+  const settings = getSettings()
+  if (!shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(settings.autoUpdateYtdlp, settings.ytdlpLastUpdateCheck, Date.now())) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  const channel = settings.ytdlpChannel
+  send({ phase: 'checking', channel })
+
+  const before = await getYtdlpVersion()
+  const result = await updateYtdlp(channel)
+  setSettings({ ytdlpLastUpdateCheck: Date.now() })
+
+  if (!result.ok) {
+    send({ phase: 'error', channel, error: result.error, checkedAt: Date.now() })
+    return
+  }
+
+  const after = await getYtdlpVersion()
+  const changed = before.ok && after.ok && before.version !== after.version
+  send({
+    phase: changed ? 'updated' : 'current',
+    channel,
+    version: after.ok ? after.version : undefined,
+    checkedAt: Date.now()
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/main/ytdlpPolicy.ts b/src/main/ytdlpPolicy.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2d54f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ytdlpPolicy.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/**
+ * Pure auto-update scheduling policy for yt-dlp. Kept free of any electron /
+ * node-runtime dependency (like buildArgs.ts) so the throttle can be unit-tested
+ * without spinning up Electron. ytdlp.ts imports these to drive the real check.
+ */
+
+/** Once-a-day throttle for the startup auto-update check. */
+export const AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
+
+/**
+ * Whether a background yt-dlp update check should run now: only when auto-update
+ * is enabled AND at least one interval has elapsed since the last check. A
+ * zero/absent lastCheck means "never checked" → run. `now` and the interval are
+ * passed in so the decision is a pure function of its inputs.
+ */
+export function shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(
+  enabled: boolean,
+  lastCheck: number,
+  now: number,
+  intervalMs: number = AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS
+): boolean {
+  if (!enabled) return false
+  if (!lastCheck) return true
+  return now - lastCheck >= intervalMs
+}
diff --git a/src/preload/index.ts b/src/preload/index.ts
index eb95485..0ccd75b 100644
--- a/src/preload/index.ts
+++ b/src/preload/index.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import {
   type YtdlpVersionResult,
   type YtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type YtdlpUpdateResult,
+  type YtdlpAutoUpdateStatus,
+  type FfmpegVersionResult,
   type ProbeResult,
   type StartDownloadOptions,
   type StartDownloadResult,
@@ -55,6 +57,10 @@ const api = {
   getYtdlpVersion: (): Promise<YtdlpVersionResult> =>
     ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.ytdlpVersion),
 
+  /** Versions of the bundled ffmpeg + ffprobe (display-only; not auto-updated). */
+  getFfmpegVersions: (): Promise<FfmpegVersionResult> =>
+    ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.ffmpegVersion),
+
   probe: (url: string): Promise<ProbeResult> => ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.probe, url),
 
   startDownload: (opts: StartDownloadOptions): Promise<StartDownloadResult> =>
@@ -115,6 +121,13 @@ const api = {
   updateYtdlp: (channel: YtdlpUpdateChannel): Promise<YtdlpUpdateResult> =>
     ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.ytdlpUpdate, channel),
 
+  /** Subscribe to background yt-dlp auto-update status. Returns an unsubscribe function. */
+  onYtdlpAutoUpdateStatus: (cb: (s: YtdlpAutoUpdateStatus) => void): (() => void) => {
+    const listener = (_e: IpcRendererEvent, s: YtdlpAutoUpdateStatus): void => cb(s)
+    ipcRenderer.on(IpcChannels.ytdlpAutoUpdateStatus, listener)
+    return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener(IpcChannels.ytdlpAutoUpdateStatus, listener)
+  },
+
   listErrorLog: (): Promise<ErrorLogEntry[]> => ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.errorLogList),
 
   clearErrorLog: (): Promise<ErrorLogEntry[]> => ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.errorLogClear),
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx
index 8f52a91..e1a3bb9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {
   type YtdlpVersionResult,
   type YtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type YtdlpUpdateResult,
+  type FfmpegVersionResult,
   type AppUpdateInfo,
   type MediaKind,
   type CookieSource,
@@ -209,6 +210,9 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
   const customCommandEnabled = useSettings((s) => s.customCommandEnabled)
   const defaultTemplateId = useSettings((s) => s.defaultTemplateId)
   const notifyOnComplete = useSettings((s) => s.notifyOnComplete)
+  const autoUpdateYtdlp = useSettings((s) => s.autoUpdateYtdlp)
+  const ytdlpChannel = useSettings((s) => s.ytdlpChannel)
+  const ytdlpLastUpdateCheck = useSettings((s) => s.ytdlpLastUpdateCheck)
   const update = useSettings((s) => s.update)
   const templates = useTemplates((s) => s.templates)
   const errorEntries = useErrorLog((s) => s.entries)
@@ -219,8 +223,8 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
 
   const [checking, setChecking] = useState(false)
   const [version, setVersion] = useState<YtdlpVersionResult | null>(null)
+  const [ffmpeg, setFfmpeg] = useState<FfmpegVersionResult | null>(null)
 
-  const [updateChannel, setUpdateChannel] = useState<YtdlpUpdateChannel>('stable')
   const [updating, setUpdating] = useState(false)
   const [updateResult, setUpdateResult] = useState<YtdlpUpdateResult | null>(null)
 
@@ -251,6 +255,28 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
     return window.api.onAppUpdateProgress((p) => setAppFraction(p.fraction))
   }, [])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Show the current yt-dlp version without a manual click, and reflect a
+    // background auto-update (which may run on launch) live in this panel.
+    window.api.getYtdlpVersion().then(setVersion).catch(() => {})
+    // ffmpeg/ffprobe are display-only (bundled, not auto-updated); load them once.
+    window.api.getFfmpegVersions().then(setFfmpeg).catch(() => {})
+    return window.api.onYtdlpAutoUpdateStatus((s) => {
+      if (s.phase === 'checking') {
+        setChecking(true)
+        return
+      }
+      setChecking(false)
+      if (s.version) setVersion({ ok: true, version: s.version })
+      if (s.checkedAt) useSettings.setState({ ytdlpLastUpdateCheck: s.checkedAt })
+      if (s.phase === 'updated') {
+        setUpdateResult({ ok: true, output: `Updated to yt-dlp ${s.version ?? ''}`.trim() })
+      } else if (s.phase === 'error' && s.error) {
+        setUpdateResult({ ok: false, error: s.error })
+      }
+    })
+  }, [])
+
   async function checkAppUpdate(): Promise<void> {
     setAppChecking(true)
     setAppUpd(null)
@@ -378,7 +404,7 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
     setUpdating(true)
     setUpdateResult(null)
     try {
-      const result = await window.api.updateYtdlp(updateChannel)
+      const result = await window.api.updateYtdlp(ytdlpChannel)
       setUpdateResult(result)
       if (result.ok) setVersion(null) // stale — prompt a re-check rather than show a wrong version
     } catch (e) {
@@ -900,14 +926,21 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
           <Subtitle2>About</Subtitle2>
         </div>
         <Caption1 className={styles.hint}>
-          AeroFetch is a generic frontend for yt-dlp. It bundles yt-dlp and ffmpeg.
+          AeroFetch is a generic frontend for yt-dlp. It bundles ffmpeg and manages its
+          own copy of yt-dlp, keeping it up to date automatically.
         </Caption1>
-        <div className={styles.folderRow}>
-          <Button onClick={checkVersion} disabled={checking}>
-            Check yt-dlp version
-          </Button>
-          {checking && <Spinner size="tiny" />}
-        </div>
+
+        <Field
+          label="Keep yt-dlp updated automatically"
+          hint="Checks once a day on launch and updates yt-dlp in the background, so YouTube changes don't start breaking downloads with 403 errors."
+        >
+          <Switch
+            checked={autoUpdateYtdlp}
+            onChange={(_, d) => update({ autoUpdateYtdlp: d.checked })}
+            label={autoUpdateYtdlp ? 'On' : 'Off'}
+          />
+        </Field>
+
         {version?.ok && (
           <Text style={{ fontFamily: tokens.fontFamilyMonospace }}>yt-dlp {version.version}</Text>
         )}
@@ -916,13 +949,37 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
             {version.error}
           </Caption1>
         )}
+        {ffmpeg && (
+          <>
+            <Text style={{ fontFamily: tokens.fontFamilyMonospace }}>
+              ffmpeg {ffmpeg.ffmpeg ?? 'not found'}
+            </Text>
+            <Text style={{ fontFamily: tokens.fontFamilyMonospace }}>
+              ffprobe {ffmpeg.ffprobe ?? 'not found'}
+            </Text>
+          </>
+        )}
+        {ytdlpLastUpdateCheck > 0 && (
+          <Caption1 className={styles.hint}>
+            Last checked for updates {new Date(ytdlpLastUpdateCheck).toLocaleString()}.
+          </Caption1>
+        )}
+        <div className={styles.folderRow}>
+          <Button onClick={checkVersion} disabled={checking}>
+            Check yt-dlp version
+          </Button>
+          {checking && <Spinner size="tiny" />}
+        </div>
 
-        <Field label="Update channel" hint="Nightly tracks yt-dlp's daily build; stable is the tagged release.">
+        <Field
+          label="Update channel"
+          hint="Nightly tracks yt-dlp's daily build; stable is the tagged release. Nightly follows YouTube changes fastest."
+        >
           <Select
             aria-label="Update channel"
-            value={updateChannel}
+            value={ytdlpChannel}
             options={UPDATE_CHANNEL_OPTIONS}
-            onChange={(v) => setUpdateChannel(v as YtdlpUpdateChannel)}
+            onChange={(v) => update({ ytdlpChannel: v as YtdlpUpdateChannel })}
           />
         </Field>
         <div className={styles.folderRow}>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/main.tsx b/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
index 9362047..06dfe8d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ if (import.meta.env.DEV && !window.api) {
     cookiesBrowser: 'chrome',
     restrictFilenames: false,
     downloadArchive: false,
+    autoUpdateYtdlp: true,
+    ytdlpChannel: 'nightly',
+    ytdlpLastUpdateCheck: Date.now() - 3_600_000,
     customCommandEnabled: false,
     defaultTemplateId: null,
     notifyOnComplete: true,
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ if (import.meta.env.DEV && !window.api) {
     runAppUpdate: async () => ({ ok: true }),
     onAppUpdateProgress: () => () => {},
     getYtdlpVersion: async () => ({ ok: true, version: '2025.06.01 (UI preview mock)' }),
+    getFfmpegVersions: async () => ({ ffmpeg: '7.1-full_build (UI preview mock)', ffprobe: '7.1-full_build (UI preview mock)' }),
     probe: async (url: string) => {
       await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 700)) // simulate network latency
       // A 'list'/'playlist' URL exercises the playlist selection UI in preview.
@@ -154,6 +158,8 @@ if (import.meta.env.DEV && !window.api) {
       await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 600)) // simulate the self-update run
       return { ok: true, output: `yt-dlp is already up to date (channel: ${channel}, UI preview mock)` }
     },
+    // No background updater in the browser preview — hand back an inert unsubscribe.
+    onYtdlpAutoUpdateStatus: () => () => {},
     listErrorLog: async () => [],
     clearErrorLog: async () => [],
     exportBackup: async () => ({ ok: true, path: 'C:\\Users\\you\\Downloads\\aerofetch-backup.json' }),
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/settings.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/settings.ts
index bd5f490..2d4613a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/settings.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/settings.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ const FALLBACK: Settings = {
   cookiesBrowser: 'chrome',
   restrictFilenames: false,
   downloadArchive: false,
+  autoUpdateYtdlp: true,
+  ytdlpChannel: 'nightly',
+  ytdlpLastUpdateCheck: 0,
   customCommandEnabled: false,
   defaultTemplateId: null,
   notifyOnComplete: true,
diff --git a/src/shared/ipc.ts b/src/shared/ipc.ts
index 100eaa2..0306d96 100644
--- a/src/shared/ipc.ts
+++ b/src/shared/ipc.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export const IpcChannels = {
   /** main → renderer push channel for installer download progress */
   appUpdateProgress: 'app:update-progress',
   ytdlpVersion: 'ytdlp:version',
+  ffmpegVersion: 'ffmpeg:version',
   probe: 'media:probe',
   downloadStart: 'download:start',
   downloadCancel: 'download:cancel',
@@ -40,6 +41,8 @@ export const IpcChannels = {
   templatesRemove: 'templates:remove',
   commandPreview: 'command:preview',
   ytdlpUpdate: 'ytdlp:update',
+  /** main → renderer push channel for background yt-dlp auto-update status */
+  ytdlpAutoUpdateStatus: 'ytdlp:auto-update-status',
   errorLogList: 'errorlog:list',
   errorLogClear: 'errorlog:clear',
   backupExport: 'backup:export',
@@ -196,6 +199,18 @@ export interface YtdlpVersionResult {
   error?: string
 }
 
+/**
+ * Versions of the bundled ffmpeg + ffprobe, for display in Settings. Each is the
+ * parsed version token, or null when that binary is missing or unreadable. These
+ * ship with AeroFetch and aren't auto-updated (ffmpeg has no self-update and,
+ * unlike yt-dlp, doesn't break as sites change), so there's no ok/error here —
+ * just "what's installed".
+ */
+export interface FfmpegVersionResult {
+  ffmpeg: string | null
+  ffprobe: string | null
+}
+
 /** Result of checking the configured Gitea repo for a newer AeroFetch release. */
 export interface AppUpdateInfo {
   ok: boolean
@@ -260,6 +275,24 @@ export interface YtdlpUpdateResult {
   error?: string
 }
 
+/**
+ * Status of a background (startup) yt-dlp auto-update, pushed main → renderer on
+ * IpcChannels.ytdlpAutoUpdateStatus so the Settings UI can reflect a check that
+ * ran on its own — no button click needed.
+ */
+export interface YtdlpAutoUpdateStatus {
+  /** 'checking' when the update starts; the rest are terminal */
+  phase: 'checking' | 'updated' | 'current' | 'error'
+  /** which channel was checked */
+  channel: YtdlpUpdateChannel
+  /** yt-dlp version after the run, when known (phases 'updated' | 'current') */
+  version?: string
+  /** epoch ms the check finished (terminal phases) — feeds the "last checked" line */
+  checkedAt?: number
+  /** error text when phase === 'error' */
+  error?: string
+}
+
 /** A single selectable output format, derived from `yt-dlp -J`. */
 export interface FormatOption {
   /** yt-dlp format_id, or BEST_FORMAT_ID for the auto-best option */
@@ -437,6 +470,12 @@ export interface Settings {
   restrictFilenames: boolean
   /** record completed downloads in a yt-dlp --download-archive file to skip repeats */
   downloadArchive: boolean
+  /** keep the managed yt-dlp.exe auto-updated in the background on launch */
+  autoUpdateYtdlp: boolean
+  /** channel the auto-updater (and the manual "Update yt-dlp" button) updates to */
+  ytdlpChannel: YtdlpUpdateChannel
+  /** epoch ms of the last automatic yt-dlp update check; 0 = never run */
+  ytdlpLastUpdateCheck: number
   /** apply a named custom-command template's extra args to every new download */
   customCommandEnabled: boolean
   /** id of the CommandTemplate applied when customCommandEnabled is on; null = none picked yet */
diff --git a/test/ytdlpPolicy.test.ts b/test/ytdlpPolicy.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f5101e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/ytdlpPolicy.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
+import { shouldAutoCheckYtdlp, AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS } from '../src/main/ytdlpPolicy'
+
+const NOW = 1_782_435_469_486 // arbitrary fixed "now"
+
+describe('shouldAutoCheckYtdlp', () => {
+  it('never checks when auto-update is disabled', () => {
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(false, 0, NOW)).toBe(false)
+    // …even if a full interval has elapsed.
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(false, NOW - AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS * 2, NOW)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('checks on first run (lastCheck is 0 / never)', () => {
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, 0, NOW)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('skips while inside the throttle window', () => {
+    // Checked one minute ago → far inside the 24h window.
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, NOW - 60_000, NOW)).toBe(false)
+    // Exactly one ms short of the interval still skips.
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, NOW - (AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS - 1), NOW)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('checks once the interval has elapsed (boundary inclusive)', () => {
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, NOW - AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS, NOW)).toBe(true)
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, NOW - AUTO_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS * 3, NOW)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('honours a custom interval', () => {
+    const hour = 60 * 60 * 1000
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, NOW - 30 * 60_000, NOW, hour)).toBe(false)
+    expect(shouldAutoCheckYtdlp(true, NOW - hour, NOW, hour)).toBe(true)
+  })
+})