diff --git a/internal/dl/ytdlp.go b/internal/dl/ytdlp.go
index 05a1129..3bbff6c 100644
--- a/internal/dl/ytdlp.go
+++ b/internal/dl/ytdlp.go
@@ -220,6 +220,9 @@ func (c *Client) StartDownload(job *domain.DownloadJob, downloadDir string) (<-c
 	// Use explicit format string if set (video+audio combination)
 	if job.FormatString != "" {
 		args = append(args, "-f", job.FormatString)
+		if job.Container != "" {
+			args = append(args, "--merge-output-format", job.Container)
+		}
 	} else {
 		// Build format string for merge
 		switch job.MediaType {
@@ -243,8 +246,8 @@ func (c *Client) StartDownload(job *domain.DownloadJob, downloadDir string) (<-c
 	outputPath := filepath.Join(downloadDir, job.ID+"_%(id)s.%(ext)s")
 	args = append(args, "--output", outputPath)
 
-	// Progress reporting
-	args = append(args, "--newline", "--no-progress")
+	// Progress reporting (--newline for line-based, no --no-progress so we get actual output)
+	args = append(args, "--newline")
 
 	// Language selection if specified
 	if job.Language != "" {
@@ -337,6 +340,40 @@ func CancelDownload(job *domain.DownloadJob) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ytdlpSearchResult holds a single flat search result from yt-dlp.
+type ytdlpSearchResult struct {
+	Title string `json:"title"`
+	URL   string `json:"url"`
+}
+
+// SearchYoutube searches YouTube via yt-dlp ytsearch and returns the first result URL and title.
+func (c *Client) SearchYoutube(query string) (url, title string, err error) {
+	args := []string{
+		"--flat-playlist", "-J", "--no-download",
+		"--no-warnings",
+		"ytsearch1:" + query,
+	}
+	if c.cookiesFile != "" {
+		args = append(args, "--cookies", c.cookiesFile)
+	}
+
+	out, err := c.run(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("youtube search failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var info struct {
+		Entries []ytdlpSearchResult `json:"entries"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(out, &info); err != nil {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("parse search result: %w", err)
+	}
+	if len(info.Entries) == 0 {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("no results found")
+	}
+	return info.Entries[0].URL, info.Entries[0].Title, nil
+}
+
 func (c *Client) run(args []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	cmd := exec.Command(c.binaryPath, args...)
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
diff --git a/internal/handler/download.go b/internal/handler/download.go
index eefbc56..d7305c3 100644
--- a/internal/handler/download.go
+++ b/internal/handler/download.go
@@ -65,17 +65,34 @@ func (h *Handler) handleURLInput(ctx context.Context, chatID int64, text string,
 	info, err := h.YtDlp.GetMediaInfo(url)
 	if err != nil {
 		errMsg := err.Error()
-		switch {
-		case strings.Contains(errMsg, "Unsupported URL") || strings.Contains(errMsg, "is not a valid URL"):
-			h.sendText(ctx, chatID, "This URL is not supported.")
-		case strings.Contains(errMsg, "HTTP Error 403") || strings.Contains(errMsg, "cookies"):
-			h.sendText(ctx, chatID, "This content requires authentication (cookies).")
-		case strings.Contains(errMsg, "live"):
-			h.sendText(ctx, chatID, "Cannot download live streams.")
-		default:
-			h.sendText(ctx, chatID, fmt.Sprintf("Error: %s", errMsg))
+
+		// DRM content (Spotify, etc.): fall back to YouTube search
+		if strings.Contains(errMsg, "DRM") {
+			youtubeURL, ytTitle, searchErr := h.YtDlp.SearchYoutube(text)
+			if searchErr != nil {
+				h.sendText(ctx, chatID, fmt.Sprintf("This content is DRM protected and no YouTube alternative was found: %s", errMsg))
+				return
+			}
+			h.sendText(ctx, chatID, fmt.Sprintf("This content is DRM protected. Found on YouTube: %s", ytTitle))
+			info, err = h.YtDlp.GetMediaInfo(youtubeURL)
+			if err != nil {
+				h.sendText(ctx, chatID, fmt.Sprintf("YouTube fallback failed: %s", err.Error()))
+				return
+			}
+			url = youtubeURL
+		} else {
+			switch {
+			case strings.Contains(errMsg, "Unsupported URL") || strings.Contains(errMsg, "is not a valid URL"):
+				h.sendText(ctx, chatID, "This URL is not supported.")
+			case strings.Contains(errMsg, "HTTP Error 403") || strings.Contains(errMsg, "cookies"):
+				h.sendText(ctx, chatID, "This content requires authentication (cookies).")
+			case strings.Contains(errMsg, "live"):
+				h.sendText(ctx, chatID, "Cannot download live streams.")
+			default:
+				h.sendText(ctx, chatID, fmt.Sprintf("Error: %s", errMsg))
+			}
+			return
 		}
-		return
 	}
 
 	if info.IsPlaylist {
@@ -571,6 +588,17 @@ func formatLabelForDisplay(f domain.Format) string {
 		}
 		return label
 	}
+	// Audio-only with no bitrate: show format ID + extension
+	if f.IsAudioOnly {
+		label := f.ID
+		if f.Extension != "" {
+			label += " (" + f.Extension + ")"
+		}
+		if f.Filesize > 0 {
+			label += fmt.Sprintf(" (%s)", formatBytes(f.Filesize))
+		}
+		return label
+	}
 	return f.ID
 }