diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd7d31c13..20be11468 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -668,11 +668,6 @@ Then simply run `make`. You can also run `make yt-dlp` instead to compile only t
                                      bestvideo+bestaudio), output to given
                                      container format. One of mkv, mp4, ogg,
                                      webm, flv. Ignored if no merge is required
-    --allow-unplayable-formats       Allow unplayable formats to be listed and
-                                     downloaded. All video post-processing will
-                                     also be turned off
-    --no-allow-unplayable-formats    Do not allow unplayable formats to be
-                                     listed or downloaded (default)
 
 ## Subtitle Options:
     --write-subs                     Write subtitle file
@@ -1470,6 +1465,8 @@ These options are not intended to be used by the end-user
 
     --test                           Download only part of video for testing extractors
     --youtube-print-sig-code         For testing youtube signatures
+    --allow-unplayable-formats       List unplayable formats also
+    --no-allow-unplayable-formats    Default
 
 
 #### Old aliases
diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index a422674f5..a6e4c6177 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -497,6 +497,12 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
             self.report_warning(
                 'Python version %d.%d is not supported! Please update to Python 3.6 or above' % sys.version_info[:2])
 
+        if self.params.get('allow_unplayable_formats'):
+            self.report_warning(
+                'You have asked for unplayable formats to be listed/downloaded. '
+                'This is a developer option intended for debugging. '
+                'If you experience any issues while using this option, DO NOT open a bug report')
+
         def check_deprecated(param, option, suggestion):
             if self.params.get(param) is not None:
                 self.report_warning('%s is deprecated. Use %s instead' % (option, suggestion))
@@ -827,6 +833,14 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
         except UnicodeEncodeError:
             self.to_screen('Deleting existing file')
 
+    def raise_no_formats(self, has_drm=False, forced=False):
+        msg = 'This video is DRM protected' if has_drm else 'No video formats found!'
+        expected = self.params.get('ignore_no_formats_error')
+        if forced or not expected:
+            raise ExtractorError(msg, expected=has_drm or expected)
+        else:
+            self.report_warning(msg)
+
     def parse_outtmpl(self):
         outtmpl_dict = self.params.get('outtmpl', {})
         if not isinstance(outtmpl_dict, dict):
@@ -2151,11 +2165,12 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
         else:
             formats = info_dict['formats']
 
+        if not self.params.get('allow_unplayable_formats'):
+            formats = [f for f in formats if not f.get('has_drm')]
+        info_dict['__has_drm'] = len(info_dict.get('formats') or ['']) > len(formats)
+
         if not formats:
-            if not self.params.get('ignore_no_formats_error'):
-                raise ExtractorError('No video formats found!')
-            else:
-                self.report_warning('No video formats found!')
+            self.raise_no_formats(info_dict.get('__has_drm'))
 
         def is_wellformed(f):
             url = f.get('url')
@@ -2219,7 +2234,7 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
 
         # TODO Central sorting goes here
 
-        if formats and formats[0] is not info_dict:
+        if not formats or formats[0] is not info_dict:
             # only set the 'formats' fields if the original info_dict list them
             # otherwise we end up with a circular reference, the first (and unique)
             # element in the 'formats' field in info_dict is info_dict itself,
@@ -2232,8 +2247,9 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
             self.list_thumbnails(info_dict)
         if self.params.get('listformats'):
             if not info_dict.get('formats') and not info_dict.get('url'):
-                raise ExtractorError('No video formats found', expected=True)
-            self.list_formats(info_dict)
+                self.to_screen('%s has no formats' % info_dict['id'])
+            else:
+                self.list_formats(info_dict)
         if self.params.get('listsubtitles'):
             if 'automatic_captions' in info_dict:
                 self.list_subtitles(
@@ -2410,6 +2426,8 @@ class YoutubeDL(object):
             self.to_stdout(json.dumps(self.sanitize_info(info_dict)))
 
     def dl(self, name, info, subtitle=False, test=False):
+        if not info.get('url'):
+            self.raise_no_formats(info.get('__has_drm'), forced=True)
 
         if test:
             verbose = self.params.get('verbose')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/brightcove.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/brightcove.py
index f3d955d6b..bb68dc481 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/brightcove.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/brightcove.py
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ class BrightcoveNewIE(AdobePassIE):
                     error.get('message') or error.get('error_subcode') or error['error_code'], expected=True)
             elif (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
                     and sources and num_drm_sources == len(sources)):
-                raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
 
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/ceskatelevize.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/ceskatelevize.py
index b2ebfdadd..5e04d38a2 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/ceskatelevize.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/ceskatelevize.py
@@ -147,9 +147,6 @@ class CeskaTelevizeIE(InfoExtractor):
                 is_live = item.get('type') == 'LIVE'
                 formats = []
                 for format_id, stream_url in item.get('streamUrls', {}).items():
-                    if (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
-                            and 'drmOnly=true' in stream_url):
-                        continue
                     if 'playerType=flash' in stream_url:
                         stream_formats = self._extract_m3u8_formats(
                             stream_url, playlist_id, 'mp4', 'm3u8_native',
@@ -158,6 +155,9 @@ class CeskaTelevizeIE(InfoExtractor):
                         stream_formats = self._extract_mpd_formats(
                             stream_url, playlist_id,
                             mpd_id='dash-%s' % format_id, fatal=False)
+                    if 'drmOnly=true' in stream_url:
+                        for f in stream_formats:
+                            f['has_drm'] = True
                     # See https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/12119#issuecomment-280037031
                     if format_id == 'audioDescription':
                         for f in stream_formats:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
index 734651193..85ac4857e 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/common.py
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
                                  width : height ratio as float.
                     * no_resume  The server does not support resuming the
                                  (HTTP or RTMP) download. Boolean.
+                    * has_drm    The format has DRM and cannot be downloaded. Boolean
                     * downloader_options  A dictionary of downloader options as
                                  described in FileDownloader
                     RTMP formats can also have the additional fields: page_url,
@@ -1024,6 +1025,9 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
             return self._downloader.params.get(name, default, *args, **kwargs)
         return default
 
+    def report_drm(self, video_id, partial=False):
+        self.raise_no_formats('This video is DRM protected', expected=True, video_id=video_id)
+
     def report_extraction(self, id_or_name):
         """Report information extraction."""
         self.to_screen('%s: Extracting information' % id_or_name)
@@ -1752,9 +1756,7 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
 
     def _sort_formats(self, formats, field_preference=[]):
         if not formats:
-            if self.get_param('ignore_no_formats_error'):
-                return
-            raise ExtractorError('No video formats found')
+            return
         format_sort = self.FormatSort()  # params and to_screen are taken from the downloader
         format_sort.evaluate_params(self._downloader.params, field_preference)
         if self.get_param('verbose', False):
@@ -1992,9 +1994,7 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
         if '#EXT-X-FAXS-CM:' in m3u8_doc:  # Adobe Flash Access
             return formats, subtitles
 
-        if (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
-                and re.search(r'#EXT-X-SESSION-KEY:.*?URI="skd://', m3u8_doc)):  # Apple FairPlay
-            return formats, subtitles
+        has_drm = re.search(r'#EXT-X-SESSION-KEY:.*?URI="skd://', m3u8_doc)
 
         def format_url(url):
             return url if re.match(r'^https?://', url) else compat_urlparse.urljoin(m3u8_url, url)
@@ -2040,6 +2040,7 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
                 'protocol': entry_protocol,
                 'preference': preference,
                 'quality': quality,
+                'has_drm': has_drm,
             } for idx in _extract_m3u8_playlist_indices(m3u8_doc=m3u8_doc)]
 
             return formats, subtitles
@@ -2573,8 +2574,6 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
                         extract_Initialization(segment_template)
             return ms_info
 
-        skip_unplayable = not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
-
         mpd_duration = parse_duration(mpd_doc.get('mediaPresentationDuration'))
         formats = []
         subtitles = {}
@@ -2585,12 +2584,8 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
                 'timescale': 1,
             })
             for adaptation_set in period.findall(_add_ns('AdaptationSet')):
-                if skip_unplayable and is_drm_protected(adaptation_set):
-                    continue
                 adaption_set_ms_info = extract_multisegment_info(adaptation_set, period_ms_info)
                 for representation in adaptation_set.findall(_add_ns('Representation')):
-                    if skip_unplayable and is_drm_protected(representation):
-                        continue
                     representation_attrib = adaptation_set.attrib.copy()
                     representation_attrib.update(representation.attrib)
                     # According to [1, 5.3.7.2, Table 9, page 41], @mimeType is mandatory
@@ -2662,6 +2657,8 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
                             'acodec': 'none',
                             'vcodec': 'none',
                         }
+                    if is_drm_protected(adaptation_set) or is_drm_protected(representation):
+                        f['has_drm'] = True
                     representation_ms_info = extract_multisegment_info(representation, adaption_set_ms_info)
 
                     def prepare_template(template_name, identifiers):
@@ -2848,9 +2845,6 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
         """
         if ism_doc.get('IsLive') == 'TRUE':
             return [], {}
-        if (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
-                and ism_doc.find('Protection') is not None):
-            return [], {}
 
         duration = int(ism_doc.attrib['Duration'])
         timescale = int_or_none(ism_doc.get('TimeScale')) or 10000000
@@ -2941,6 +2935,7 @@ class InfoExtractor(object):
                         'acodec': 'none' if stream_type == 'video' else fourcc,
                         'protocol': 'ism',
                         'fragments': fragments,
+                        'has_drm': ism_doc.find('Protection') is not None,
                         '_download_params': {
                             'stream_type': stream_type,
                             'duration': duration,
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/corus.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/corus.py
index 8f2706736..352951e20 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/corus.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/corus.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class CorusIE(ThePlatformFeedIE):
             formats.extend(self._parse_smil_formats(
                 smil, smil_url, video_id, namespace))
         if not formats and video.get('drm'):
-            self.raise_no_formats('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
         subtitles = {}
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/crackle.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/crackle.py
index 216e71311..2c9d28d2e 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/crackle.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/crackle.py
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ class CrackleIE(InfoExtractor):
                     'width': mfs_info['width'],
                     'height': mfs_info['height'],
                 })
-        if not formats and has_drm and not ignore_no_formats:
-            raise ExtractorError('The video is DRM protected', expected=True)
+        if not formats and has_drm:
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
         description = media.get('Description')
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/globo.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/globo.py
index dd8fae536..0cb3aa31b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/globo.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/globo.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class GloboIE(InfoExtractor):
             'http://api.globovideos.com/videos/%s/playlist' % video_id,
             video_id)['videos'][0]
         if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and video.get('encrypted') is True:
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
 
         title = video['title']
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/hotstar.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/hotstar.py
index e00e58646..8d8a8bd75 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/hotstar.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/hotstar.py
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ class HotStarIE(HotStarBaseIE):
         title = video_data['title']
 
         if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and video_data.get('drmProtected'):
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
+
         headers = {'Referer': 'https://www.hotstar.com/in'}
         formats = []
         subs = {}
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/ninecninemedia.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/ninecninemedia.py
index d1281167a..4aaf21a12 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/ninecninemedia.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/ninecninemedia.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor
 from ..utils import (
-    ExtractorError,
     float_or_none,
     int_or_none,
     parse_iso8601,
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ class NineCNineMediaIE(InfoExtractor):
 
         if (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
                 and try_get(content_package, lambda x: x['Constraints']['Security']['Type'])):
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(content_id)
 
         manifest_base_url = content_package_url + 'manifest.'
         formats = []
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/ninenow.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/ninenow.py
index 43b9c4e7e..0ee450cc5 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/ninenow.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/ninenow.py
@@ -66,11 +66,12 @@ class NineNowIE(InfoExtractor):
 
         video_data = common_data['video']
 
-        if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and video_data.get('drm'):
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
-
         brightcove_id = video_data.get('brightcoveId') or 'ref:' + video_data['referenceId']
         video_id = compat_str(video_data.get('id') or brightcove_id)
+
+        if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and video_data.get('drm'):
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
+
         title = common_data['name']
 
         thumbnails = [{
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/npo.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/npo.py
index 6984b76a9..ed547d04b 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/npo.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/npo.py
@@ -247,8 +247,7 @@ class NPOIE(NPOBaseIE):
 
         if not formats:
             if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and drm:
-                self.raise_no_formats('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
-            return
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
 
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/prosiebensat1.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/prosiebensat1.py
index 707146be7..e89bbfd27 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/prosiebensat1.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/prosiebensat1.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class ProSiebenSat1BaseIE(InfoExtractor):
             })[0]
 
         if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and video.get('is_protected') is True:
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(clip_id)
 
         formats = []
         if self._ACCESS_ID:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py
index 9f5bed4c4..27cd01801 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/rai.py
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ class RaiPlayIE(RaiBaseIE):
                     (lambda x: x['rights_management']['rights']['drm'],
                      lambda x: x['program_info']['rights_management']['rights']['drm']),
                     dict):
-                raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
 
         title = media['name']
         video = media['video']
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/ruutu.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/ruutu.py
index 6a78441ef..d9cf39d71 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/ruutu.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/ruutu.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class RuutuIE(InfoExtractor):
         if not formats:
             if (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
                     and xpath_text(video_xml, './Clip/DRM', default=None)):
-                self.raise_no_formats('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
             ns_st_cds = pv('ns_st_cds')
             if ns_st_cds != 'free':
                 raise ExtractorError('This video is %s.' % ns_st_cds, expected=True)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/shahid.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/shahid.py
index dc590129c..42de41a11 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/shahid.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/shahid.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class ShahidIE(ShahidBaseIE):
             'playout/new/url/' + video_id, video_id)['playout']
 
         if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and playout.get('drm'):
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
 
         formats = self._extract_m3u8_formats(re.sub(
             # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/mediapackage/latest/ug/manifest-filtering.html
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/sonyliv.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/sonyliv.py
index 60181f06d..c3ed44275 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/sonyliv.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/sonyliv.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class SonyLIVIE(InfoExtractor):
         content = self._call_api(
             '1.5', 'IN/CONTENT/VIDEOURL/VOD/' + video_id, video_id)
         if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and content.get('isEncrypted'):
-            raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
         dash_url = content['videoURL']
         headers = {
             'x-playback-session-id': '%s-%d' % (uuid.uuid4().hex, time.time() * 1000)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/toggle.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/toggle.py
index 3f4f6e827..eb873495f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/toggle.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/toggle.py
@@ -155,8 +155,7 @@ class ToggleIE(InfoExtractor):
             for meta in (info.get('Metas') or []):
                 if (not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats')
                         and meta.get('Key') == 'Encryption' and meta.get('Value') == '1'):
-                    self.raise_no_formats(
-                        'This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                    self.report_drm(video_id)
             # Most likely because geo-blocked if no formats and no DRM
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/tv2.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/tv2.py
index f3480de56..e9da11f86 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/tv2.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/tv2.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class TV2IE(InfoExtractor):
                         'filesize': int_or_none(item.get('fileSize')),
                     })
         if not formats and data.get('drmProtected'):
-            self.raise_no_formats('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+            self.report_drm(video_id)
         self._sort_formats(formats)
 
         thumbnails = [{
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/vidio.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/vidio.py
index 2f5ea5c0b..571448bf2 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/vidio.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/vidio.py
@@ -247,8 +247,7 @@ class VidioLiveIE(VidioBaseIE):
         formats = []
         if stream_meta.get('is_drm'):
             if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats'):
-                self.raise_no_formats(
-                    'This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
         if stream_meta.get('is_premium'):
             sources = self._download_json(
                 'https://www.vidio.com/interactions_stream.json?video_id=%s&type=livestreamings' % video_id,
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/wakanim.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/wakanim.py
index baa87e27a..c956d616e 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/wakanim.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/wakanim.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from .common import InfoExtractor
 from ..utils import (
-    ExtractorError,
     merge_dicts,
     urljoin,
 )
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ class WakanimIE(InfoExtractor):
                 r'encryption%3D(c(?:enc|bc(?:s-aapl)?))',
                 m3u8_url, 'encryption', default=None)
             if encryption in ('cenc', 'cbcs-aapl'):
-                raise ExtractorError('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
 
         formats = self._extract_m3u8_formats(
             m3u8_url, video_id, 'mp4', entry_protocol='m3u8_native',
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/wat.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/wat.py
index 0f1d08da3..9ff4523db 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/wat.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/wat.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class WatIE(InfoExtractor):
         extract_formats({delivery.get('format'): delivery.get('url')})
         if not formats:
             if delivery.get('drm'):
-                self.raise_no_formats('This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
             manifest_urls = self._download_json(
                 'http://www.wat.tv/get/webhtml/' + video_id, video_id, fatal=False)
             if manifest_urls:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
index c686d828c..375eca8f8 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -2793,8 +2793,7 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
 
         if not formats:
             if not self.get_param('allow_unplayable_formats') and traverse_obj(streaming_data, (..., 'licenseInfos')):
-                self.raise_no_formats(
-                    'This video is DRM protected.', expected=True)
+                self.report_drm(video_id)
             pemr = get_first(
                 playability_statuses,
                 ('errorScreen', 'playerErrorMessageRenderer'), expected_type=dict) or {}
diff --git a/yt_dlp/options.py b/yt_dlp/options.py
index ef821eb11..56ab001be 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/options.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/options.py
@@ -580,13 +580,11 @@ def parseOpts(overrideArguments=None):
     video_format.add_option(
         '--allow-unplayable-formats',
         action='store_true', dest='allow_unplayable_formats', default=False,
-        help=(
-            'Allow unplayable formats to be listed and downloaded. '
-            'All video post-processing will also be turned off'))
+        help=optparse.SUPPRESS_HELP)
     video_format.add_option(
         '--no-allow-unplayable-formats',
         action='store_false', dest='allow_unplayable_formats',
-        help='Do not allow unplayable formats to be listed or downloaded (default)')
+        help=optparse.SUPPRESS_HELP)
 
     subtitles = optparse.OptionGroup(parser, 'Subtitle Options')
     subtitles.add_option(