https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#installation/ (need to scroll down a bit and select the button that says "download." Run the exe after it has been downloaded and it will flicker a command prompt. you're done!
--- Then download ffmpeg-git-full.7z and run the three exe files inside the zip found at https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/. I was told these are essentially required programs to make yt-dlp do its thing. I trusted this advice and it worked.
---Then type cmd in the file explorer address bar while in the folder where yt-dlp.exe was downloaded (likely just the downloads folder in Windows) and a new cmd window will open.
--- Then type yt-dlp "url" at the command prompt.