diff --git a/tubearchivist/api/views.py b/tubearchivist/api/views.py
index fe07637..d1165c2 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/api/views.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/api/views.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from api.src.search_processor import SearchProcess
 from api.src.task_processor import TaskHandler
 from home.src.download.queue import PendingInteract
-from home.src.download.yt_cookie import CookieHandler
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import CookieHandler
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap
 from home.src.index.generic import Pagination
 from home.src.index.video import SponsorBlock
@@ -484,6 +484,7 @@ class CookieView(ApiBaseView):
     def post(request):
         """handle post request"""
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-        validated = CookieHandler().validate()
+        config = AppConfig().config
+        validated = CookieHandler(config).validate()
 
         return Response({"cookie_validated": validated})
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py
index 27217c4..36e3d1e 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py
@@ -7,13 +7,12 @@ Functionality:
 import json
 from datetime import datetime
 
-import yt_dlp
 from home.src.download.subscriptions import (
     ChannelSubscription,
     PlaylistSubscription,
 )
 from home.src.download.thumbnails import ThumbManager
-from home.src.download.yt_cookie import CookieHandler
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap, IndexPaginate
 from home.src.index.playlist import YoutubePlaylist
 from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig
@@ -133,28 +132,11 @@ class PendingList(PendingIndex):
 
     def __init__(self, youtube_ids=False):
         super().__init__()
-        self.process_config()
+        self.config = AppConfig().config
         self.youtube_ids = youtube_ids
         self.to_skip = False
         self.missing_videos = False
 
-    def process_config(self):
-        """add user config to yt_obs"""
-        config = AppConfig().config
-        if config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
-            cookie_path = CookieHandler().use()
-            self.yt_obs.update({"cookiefile": cookie_path})
-
-    def close_config(self):
-        """remove config after task finished"""
-        config = AppConfig().config
-        if config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
-            CookieHandler().hide()
-            try:
-                del self.yt_obs["cookiefile"]
-            except KeyError:
-                pass
-
     def parse_url_list(self):
         """extract youtube ids from list"""
         self.missing_videos = []
@@ -235,8 +217,6 @@ class PendingList(PendingIndex):
             query_str = "\n".join(bulk_list)
             _, _ = ElasticWrap("_bulk").post(query_str, ndjson=True)
 
-        self.close_config()
-
     def _notify_add(self, idx):
         """send notification for adding videos to download queue"""
         progress = f"{idx + 1}/{len(self.missing_videos)}"
@@ -256,11 +236,10 @@ class PendingList(PendingIndex):
 
     def get_youtube_details(self, youtube_id):
         """get details from youtubedl for single pending video"""
-        try:
-            vid = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(self.yt_obs).extract_info(youtube_id)
-        except yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError:
-            print(f"{youtube_id}: failed to extract info")
+        vid = YtWrap(self.yt_obs, self.config).extract(youtube_id)
+        if not vid:
             return False
+
         if vid.get("id") != youtube_id:
             # skip premium videos with different id
             print(f"{youtube_id}: skipping premium video, id not matching")
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/subscriptions.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/subscriptions.py
index 75aede2..973c76e 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/subscriptions.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/subscriptions.py
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ Functionality:
 - handle playlist subscriptions
 """
 
-import yt_dlp
 from home.src.download import queue  # partial import
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 from home.src.es.connect import IndexPaginate
 from home.src.index.channel import YoutubeChannel
 from home.src.index.playlist import YoutubePlaylist
@@ -17,10 +17,7 @@ class ChannelSubscription:
     """manage the list of channels subscribed"""
 
     def __init__(self):
-        config = AppConfig().config
-        self.es_url = config["application"]["es_url"]
-        self.es_auth = config["application"]["es_auth"]
-        self.channel_size = config["subscriptions"]["channel_size"]
+        self.config = AppConfig().config
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_channels(subscribed_only=True):
@@ -39,23 +36,18 @@ class ChannelSubscription:
 
     def get_last_youtube_videos(self, channel_id, limit=True):
         """get a list of last videos from channel"""
-        url = f"https://www.youtube.com/channel/{channel_id}/videos"
         obs = {
-            "default_search": "ytsearch",
-            "quiet": True,
             "skip_download": True,
             "extract_flat": True,
         }
         if limit:
-            obs["playlistend"] = self.channel_size
+            obs["playlistend"] = self.config["subscriptions"]["channel_size"]
 
-        try:
-            chan = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(obs).extract_info(url, download=False)
-        except yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError:
-            print(f"{channel_id}: failed to extract videos, skipping.")
+        channel = YtWrap(obs, self.config).extract(channel_id)
+        if not channel:
             return False
 
-        last_videos = [(i["id"], i["title"]) for i in chan["entries"]]
+        last_videos = [(i["id"], i["title"]) for i in channel["entries"]]
         return last_videos
 
     def find_missing(self):
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 3a7244e..0000000
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_cookie.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-"""
-functionality:
-- import yt cookie from filesystem
-- make cookie available for yt-dlp
-"""
-
-import os
-
-import yt_dlp
-from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig
-from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
-
-
-class CookieHandler:
-    """handle youtube cookie for yt-dlp"""
-
-    CONFIG = AppConfig().config
-    CACHE_PATH = CONFIG["application"]["cache_dir"]
-    COOKIE_FILE_NAME = "cookies.google.txt"
-    COOKIE_KEY = "cookie"
-    COOKIE_PATH = "cookie.txt"
-
-    def import_cookie(self):
-        """import cookie from file"""
-        import_path = os.path.join(
-            self.CACHE_PATH, "import", self.COOKIE_FILE_NAME
-        )
-        with open(import_path, encoding="utf-8") as cookie_file:
-            cookie = cookie_file.read()
-
-        RedisArchivist().set_message(self.COOKIE_KEY, cookie, expire=False)
-
-        os.remove(import_path)
-        print("cookie: import successfully")
-
-    def use(self):
-        """make cookie available in FS"""
-        cookie = RedisArchivist().get_message(self.COOKIE_KEY)
-        if isinstance(cookie, dict):
-            print("no cookie imported")
-            raise FileNotFoundError
-
-        if os.path.exists(self.COOKIE_PATH):
-            return self.COOKIE_PATH
-
-        with open(self.COOKIE_PATH, "w", encoding="utf-8") as cookie_file:
-            cookie_file.write(cookie)
-
-        print("cookie: made available")
-        return self.COOKIE_PATH
-
-    def hide(self):
-        """hide cookie file if not in use"""
-        try:
-            os.remove(self.COOKIE_PATH)
-        except FileNotFoundError:
-            print("cookie: not available")
-            return
-
-        print("cookie: hidden")
-
-    def revoke(self):
-        """revoke cookie"""
-        self.hide()
-        RedisArchivist().del_message(self.COOKIE_KEY)
-        print("cookie: revoked")
-
-    def validate(self):
-        """validate cookie using the liked videos playlist"""
-        try:
-            _ = self.use()
-        except FileNotFoundError:
-            return False
-
-        url = "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=LL"
-        yt_obs = {
-            "quiet": True,
-            "skip_download": True,
-            "extract_flat": True,
-            "cookiefile": self.COOKIE_PATH,
-        }
-        try:
-            response = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(yt_obs).extract_info(url)
-        except yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError:
-            print("failed to validate cookie")
-            response = False
-
-        return bool(response)
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_base.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b32d536
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+"""
+functionality:
+- base class to make all calls to yt-dlp
+- handle yt-dlp errors
+"""
+
+import os
+from io import StringIO
+
+import yt_dlp
+from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
+
+
+class YtWrap:
+    """wrap calls to yt"""
+
+    OBS_BASE = {
+        "default_search": "ytsearch",
+        "quiet": True,
+        "check_formats": "selected",
+        "socket_timeout": 2,
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, obs_request, config=False):
+        self.obs_request = obs_request
+        self.config = config
+        self.build_obs()
+
+    def build_obs(self):
+        """build yt-dlp obs"""
+        self.obs = self.OBS_BASE.copy()
+        self.obs.update(self.obs_request)
+        self.add_cookie()
+
+    def add_cookie(self):
+        """add cookie if enabled"""
+        if self.config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
+            cookie_io = CookieHandler(self.config).get()
+            self.obs["cookiefile"] = cookie_io
+
+    def download(self, url):
+        """make download request"""
+        with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(self.obs) as ydl:
+            try:
+                ydl.download([url])
+            except yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError:
+                print(f"{url}: failed to download.")
+                return False
+
+        return True
+
+    def extract(self, url):
+        """make extract request"""
+        try:
+            response = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(self.obs).extract_info(url)
+        except (yt_dlp.utils.ExtractorError, yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError):
+            print(f"{url}: failed to get info from youtube")
+            response = False
+
+        return response
+
+
+class CookieHandler:
+    """handle youtube cookie for yt-dlp"""
+
+    def __init__(self, config):
+        self.cookie_io = False
+        self.config = config
+
+    def get(self):
+        """get cookie io stream"""
+        cookie = RedisArchivist().get_message("cookie")
+        self.cookie_io = StringIO(cookie)
+        return self.cookie_io
+
+    def import_cookie(self):
+        """import cookie from file"""
+        cache_path = self.config["application"]["cache_dir"]
+        import_path = os.path.join(cache_path, "import", "cookies.google.txt")
+        with open(import_path, encoding="utf-8") as cookie_file:
+            cookie = cookie_file.read()
+
+        RedisArchivist().set_message("cookie", cookie, expire=False)
+
+        os.remove(import_path)
+        print("cookie: import successful")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def revoke():
+        """revoke cookie"""
+        RedisArchivist().del_message("cookie")
+        print("cookie: revoked")
+
+    def validate(self):
+        """validate cookie using the liked videos playlist"""
+        obs_request = {
+            "skip_download": True,
+            "extract_flat": True,
+        }
+        response = YtWrap(obs_request, self.config).extract("LL")
+        return bool(response)
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py
index 7ec06b5..e82b6c5 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/yt_dlp_handler.py
@@ -9,12 +9,10 @@ functionality:
 import os
 import shutil
 from datetime import datetime
-from time import sleep
 
-import yt_dlp
 from home.src.download.queue import PendingList
 from home.src.download.subscriptions import PlaylistSubscription
-from home.src.download.yt_cookie import CookieHandler
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap, IndexPaginate
 from home.src.index.channel import YoutubeChannel
 from home.src.index.playlist import YoutubePlaylist
@@ -41,7 +39,6 @@ class DownloadPostProcess:
         self.auto_delete_all()
         self.auto_delete_overwrites()
         self.validate_playlists()
-        self.pending.close_config()
 
     def auto_delete_all(self):
         """handle auto delete"""
@@ -174,11 +171,10 @@ class VideoDownloader:
             if not youtube_id:
                 break
 
-            try:
-                self._dl_single_vid(youtube_id)
-            except yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError:
-                print("failed to download " + youtube_id)
+            success = self._dl_single_vid(youtube_id)
+            if not success:
                 continue
+
             vid_dict = index_new_video(
                 youtube_id, video_overwrites=self.video_overwrites
             )
@@ -293,9 +289,6 @@ class VideoDownloader:
             self.obs["ratelimit"] = (
                 self.config["downloads"]["limit_speed"] * 1024
             )
-        if self.config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
-            cookie_path = CookieHandler().use()
-            self.obs["cookiefile"] = cookie_path
 
         throttle = self.config["downloads"]["throttledratelimit"]
         if throttle:
@@ -359,13 +352,7 @@ class VideoDownloader:
             if youtube_id in file_name:
                 obs["outtmpl"] = os.path.join(dl_cache, file_name)
 
-        with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(obs) as ydl:
-            try:
-                ydl.download([youtube_id])
-            except yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError:
-                print("retry failed download: " + youtube_id)
-                sleep(10)
-                ydl.download([youtube_id])
+        success = YtWrap(obs, self.config).download(youtube_id)
 
         if self.obs["writethumbnail"]:
             # webp files don't get cleaned up automatically
@@ -375,6 +362,8 @@ class VideoDownloader:
                 file_path = os.path.join(dl_cache, file_name)
                 os.remove(file_path)
 
+        return success
+
     def move_to_archive(self, vid_dict):
         """move downloaded video from cache to archive"""
         videos = self.config["application"]["videos"]
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/channel.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/channel.py
index 06d0086..4761cd0 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/channel.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/channel.py
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ import re
 from datetime import datetime
 
 import requests
-import yt_dlp
 from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
 from home.src.download import queue  # partial import
 from home.src.download.thumbnails import ThumbManager
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap, IndexPaginate
 from home.src.index.generic import YouTubeItem
 from home.src.index.playlist import YoutubePlaylist
@@ -314,12 +314,8 @@ class YoutubeChannel(YouTubeItem):
             f"https://www.youtube.com/channel/{self.youtube_id}"
             + "/playlists?view=1&sort=dd&shelf_id=0"
         )
-        obs = {
-            "quiet": True,
-            "skip_download": True,
-            "extract_flat": True,
-        }
-        playlists = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(obs).extract_info(url)
+        obs = {"skip_download": True, "extract_flat": True}
+        playlists = YtWrap(obs, self.config).extract(url)
         all_entries = [(i["id"], i["title"]) for i in playlists["entries"]]
         self.all_playlists = all_entries
 
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/filesystem.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/filesystem.py
index 93a1bc4..c6f1caa 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/filesystem.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/filesystem.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import shutil
 import subprocess
 
 from home.src.download.queue import PendingList
-from home.src.download.yt_cookie import CookieHandler
 from home.src.download.yt_dlp_handler import VideoDownloader
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap
 from home.src.index.reindex import Reindex
@@ -309,12 +308,6 @@ def scan_filesystem():
 def reindex_old_documents():
     """daily refresh of old documents"""
     handler = Reindex()
-    if handler.config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
-        CookieHandler().use()
-    try:
-        handler.check_outdated()
-        handler.reindex()
-        RedisArchivist().set_message("last_reindex", handler.now, expire=False)
-    finally:
-        if handler.config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
-            CookieHandler().hide()
+    handler.check_outdated()
+    handler.reindex()
+    RedisArchivist().set_message("last_reindex", handler.now, expire=False)
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py
index 0940258..15e1264 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/generic.py
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ functionality:
 
 import math
 
-import yt_dlp
-from home.src.download.yt_cookie import CookieHandler
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 from home.src.es.connect import ElasticWrap
 from home.src.ta.config import AppConfig
 from home.src.ta.ta_redis import RedisArchivist
@@ -19,42 +18,22 @@ class YouTubeItem:
     index_name = False
     yt_base = False
     yt_obs = {
-        "quiet": True,
-        "default_search": "ytsearch",
         "skip_download": True,
-        "check_formats": "selected",
-        "socket_timeout": 3,
         "noplaylist": True,
     }
 
     def __init__(self, youtube_id):
         self.youtube_id = youtube_id
-        self.config = False
-        self.app_conf = False
-        self.youtube_meta = False
-        self.json_data = False
-        self._get_conf()
-
-    def _get_conf(self):
-        """read user conf"""
         self.config = AppConfig().config
         self.app_conf = self.config["application"]
-        if self.config["downloads"]["cookie_import"]:
-            cookie_path = CookieHandler().use()
-            self.yt_obs.update({"cookiefile": cookie_path})
+        self.youtube_meta = False
+        self.json_data = False
 
     def get_from_youtube(self):
         """use yt-dlp to get meta data from youtube"""
         print(f"{self.youtube_id}: get metadata from youtube")
-        try:
-            yt_item = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(self.yt_obs)
-            response = yt_item.extract_info(self.yt_base + self.youtube_id)
-        except (
-            yt_dlp.utils.ExtractorError,
-            yt_dlp.utils.DownloadError,
-        ):
-            print(f"{self.youtube_id}: failed to get info from youtube")
-            response = False
+        url = self.yt_base + self.youtube_id
+        response = YtWrap(self.yt_obs, self.config).extract(url)
 
         self.youtube_meta = response
 
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/playlist.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/playlist.py
index fce019d..69dc5db 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/index/playlist.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/index/playlist.py
@@ -18,12 +18,7 @@ class YoutubePlaylist(YouTubeItem):
 
     es_path = False
     index_name = "ta_playlist"
-    yt_obs = {
-        "default_search": "ytsearch",
-        "quiet": True,
-        "skip_download": True,
-        "extract_flat": True,
-    }
+    yt_obs = {"extract_flat": True}
     yt_base = "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list="
 
     def __init__(self, youtube_id):
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/helper.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/helper.py
index 5731115..3a7164d 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/helper.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/helper.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import unicodedata
 from datetime import datetime
 from urllib.parse import parse_qs, urlparse
 
-import yt_dlp
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import YtWrap
 
 
 def clean_string(file_name):
@@ -184,14 +184,12 @@ class UrlListParser:
     @staticmethod
     def extract_channel_name(url):
         """find channel id from channel name with yt-dlp help"""
-        obs = {
-            "default_search": "ytsearch",
-            "quiet": True,
+        obs_request = {
             "skip_download": True,
             "extract_flat": True,
             "playlistend": 0,
         }
-        url_info = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(obs).extract_info(url, download=False)
+        url_info = YtWrap(obs_request).extract(url)
         try:
             channel_id = url_info["channel_id"]
         except KeyError as error:
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/ta_redis.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/ta_redis.py
index 0e9c23f..e13a997 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/ta_redis.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/ta/ta_redis.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import json
 import os
 
 import redis
-from home.src.ta.helper import ignore_filelist
 
 
 class RedisBase:
@@ -95,27 +94,6 @@ class RedisArchivist(RedisBase):
 
         return all_messages
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def monitor_cache_dir(cache_dir):
-        """
-        look at download cache dir directly as alternative progress info
-        """
-        dl_cache = os.path.join(cache_dir, "download")
-        all_cache_file = os.listdir(dl_cache)
-        cache_file = ignore_filelist(all_cache_file)
-        if cache_file:
-            filename = cache_file[0][12:].replace("_", " ").split(".")[0]
-            mess_dict = {
-                "status": "message:download",
-                "level": "info",
-                "title": "Downloading: " + filename,
-                "message": "",
-            }
-        else:
-            return False
-
-        return mess_dict
-
 
 class RedisQueue(RedisBase):
     """dynamically interact with the download queue in redis"""
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/views.py b/tubearchivist/home/views.py
index 22d219a..bd5a2ea 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/views.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/views.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from django.contrib.auth.forms import AuthenticationForm
 from django.http import JsonResponse
 from django.shortcuts import redirect, render
 from django.views import View
-from home.src.download.yt_cookie import CookieHandler
+from home.src.download.yt_dlp_base import CookieHandler
 from home.src.es.index_setup import get_available_backups
 from home.src.frontend.api_calls import PostData
 from home.src.frontend.forms import (
@@ -795,18 +795,19 @@ class SettingsView(View):
     def post(self, request):
         """handle form post to update settings"""
         user_form = UserSettingsForm(request.POST)
+        config_handler = AppConfig()
         if user_form.is_valid():
             user_form_post = user_form.cleaned_data
             if any(user_form_post.values()):
-                AppConfig().set_user_config(user_form_post, request.user.id)
+                config_handler.set_user_config(user_form_post, request.user.id)
 
         app_form = ApplicationSettingsForm(request.POST)
         if app_form.is_valid():
             app_form_post = app_form.cleaned_data
             if app_form_post:
                 print(app_form_post)
-                updated = AppConfig().update_config(app_form_post)
-                self.post_process_updated(updated)
+                updated = config_handler.update_config(app_form_post)
+                self.post_process_updated(updated, config_handler.config)
 
         scheduler_form = SchedulerSettingsForm(request.POST)
         if scheduler_form.is_valid():
@@ -819,7 +820,7 @@ class SettingsView(View):
         return redirect("settings", permanent=True)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def post_process_updated(updated):
+    def post_process_updated(updated, config):
         """apply changes for config"""
         if not updated:
             return
@@ -827,9 +828,9 @@ class SettingsView(View):
         for config_value, updated_value in updated:
             if config_value == "cookie_import":
                 if updated_value:
-                    CookieHandler().import_cookie()
+                    CookieHandler(config).import_cookie()
                 else:
-                    CookieHandler().revoke()
+                    CookieHandler(config).revoke()
 
 
 def progress(request):