YouTube

EFA Projection supports YouTube links in two ways: embedded (with a YouTube iframe) or downloaded locally to run offline. You pick the mode when you add the video.

Add a YouTube video

1. Copy the video link (format https://youtube.com/watch?v=... or https://youtu.be/...).
2. Sidebar → Media → + → YouTube (or Add item to program → YouTube).
3. Paste the link.
4. Give it a descriptive name.
5. Pick the mode: Embedded or Downloaded.
6. Click Save.

Embedded (online)

The app opens the video with a YouTube iframe in the projection window.

Pros

• Uses no storage of its own — the video stays on YouTube.
• Available instantly — no download up front.
• Adaptive quality — YouTube adjusts resolution based on connection.

Cons

• Needs stable internet at the moment of the service. If the connection drops, the video stops.
• Ads — if the video has YouTube ads, they play at the start.
• “Video available” state depends on the creator — if the author deletes it or makes it private, it stops working.

Available controls

From the app preview (or from the mobile remote control):

• Play / pause
• Restart (jump back to the beginning)
• Volume

The arrow keys also work — useful for moving to the next program item when the video ends.

Downloaded (offline)

The app downloads the video with yt-dlp and saves it as a local file. After that it projects like any other system video.

How it works

1. When you pick Downloaded, the app automatically downloads yt-dlp the first time (it’s an open-source tool, ~30 MB).
2. It downloads the video as MP4 to your local disk.
3. The video is tied to the item and plays without internet.

While it downloads you see a progress bar. Downloads can take several minutes depending on size and connection speed.

Pros

• Works offline once downloaded — ideal for services in places with unstable WiFi.
• No ads (yt-dlp downloads the plain video).
• Always-smooth playback — doesn’t depend on your connection during the service.

Cons

• Uses local storage on the desktop device (and on the server if you sync it).
• Doesn’t update — if the creator edits the video, you stay on the downloaded version until you decide to re-download.
• Requires a prior download — you can’t add it at the moment of the service if you don’t have a connection.

Legal limitations

yt-dlp is a legal tool for downloading content from YouTube. Use of the downloaded content is subject to YouTube’s terms of service and to the copyright laws of your jurisdiction. EFA Projection doesn’t exempt you from those rules — use videos you’re licensed for or that are in the public domain / Creative Commons.

Which to pick

Situation	Recommended mode
Stable, fast internet	Embedded
Unstable church WiFi	Downloaded
Critical video for the service (can’t afford failure)	Downloaded
Want to save local storage	Embedded
Short video (< 5 min)	Either
Long video (concert, 1-hour sermon)	Downloaded (more reliable)

Play the video

Same as any media:

• Double-click from the sidebar or the program.
• Space to pause / resume.
• Arrow keys ↑ ↓ don’t apply (the video is a single slide); use the YouTube-specific actions (play/pause/restart).

When the video ends, the screen returns to the default background.

Delete a downloaded video

Right-click → Delete. The app removes:

1. The local file from disk.
2. The local database record.
3. The server record.

If you only want to free up local storage without losing the item, right-click → Remove local file: deletes just the file, leaving the embedded link available.

Next step

For more on how the visuals project, Themes and Projection window.