[GH-ISSUE #759] Cannot download from Youtube #9286

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opened 2026-04-24 15:25:20 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 8 comments
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Originally created by @Bakuthecat on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt/issues/759

bug description

Hello. For some reason I'm unable to download any video from YouTube. Any time I try to download one, it gives me an error saying "i can't access this video. it may be restricted on youtube's side. have you pasted the right link?"

I have been pasting the right links as told, but it still gives me that error. What's causing this?

reproduction steps

  1. Go to youtube.com
  2. Copy any link from the site
  3. Go to cobalt.tools
  4. Paste link from Youtube
  5. See error that says "i can't access this video. it may be restricted on youtube's side. have you pasted the right link?"

screenshots

The error whenever I try to paste a link to a Youtube video.
Capture

No response

platform information

Windows 10 Home, Microsoft Edge Version 128

additional context

No response

Originally created by @Bakuthecat on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt/issues/759 ### bug description Hello. For some reason I'm unable to download any video from YouTube. Any time I try to download one, it gives me an error saying "i can't access this video. it may be restricted on youtube's side. have you pasted the right link?" I have been pasting the right links as told, but it still gives me that error. What's causing this? ### reproduction steps 1. Go to youtube.com 2. Copy any link from the site 3. Go to cobalt.tools 4. Paste link from Youtube 5. See error that says "i can't access this video. it may be restricted on youtube's side. have you pasted the right link?" ### screenshots The error whenever I try to paste a link to a Youtube video. ![Capture](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8d77470c-29e3-447a-8303-156d30b69283) ### links _No response_ ### platform information Windows 10 Home, Microsoft Edge Version 128 ### additional context _No response_
GiteaMirror added the main instance issue label 2026-04-24 15:25:20 -05:00
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@cg505 commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024):

been seeing this today and maybe yesterday?

from da network tab:

POST to https://api.cobalt.tools/session (no payload) gives 400 with

{"status":"error","error":{"code":"error.api.auth.not_configured"}}

(maybe this is expected?)

POST to https://api.cobalt.tools/ (e.g. {"url":"blahblah","videoQuality":"720","alwaysProxy":true or absent}) gives 400 with

{"status":"error","error":{"code":"error.api.content.video.unavailable","context":{"service":"youtube"}}}

verified that the video I'm testing with (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXhjLUPyxw8) is available

it does sporadically work, idk what the difference is

<!-- gh-comment-id:2357304134 --> @cg505 commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024): been seeing this today and maybe yesterday? from da network tab: POST to https://api.cobalt.tools/session (no payload) gives 400 with ``` {"status":"error","error":{"code":"error.api.auth.not_configured"}} ``` (maybe this is expected?) POST to https://api.cobalt.tools/ (e.g. `{"url":"blahblah","videoQuality":"720","alwaysProxy":true or absent}`) gives 400 with ``` {"status":"error","error":{"code":"error.api.content.video.unavailable","context":{"service":"youtube"}}} ``` verified that the video I'm testing with (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXhjLUPyxw8) is available it does sporadically work, idk what the difference is
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@lostdusty commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024):

/session endpoint has nothing to do with this issue. This is happening because the cookies used by cobalt expired, youtube likely changed something about what its returning, and cobalt is wrongly saying that the video is privated (or other similar issue), instead of saying the cookies expired

<!-- gh-comment-id:2357314449 --> @lostdusty commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024): `/session` endpoint has nothing to do with this issue. This is happening because the cookies used by cobalt expired, youtube likely changed something about what its returning, and cobalt is wrongly saying that the video is privated (or other similar issue), instead of saying the cookies expired
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@wukko commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024):

oops

<!-- gh-comment-id:2357398333 --> @wukko commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024): oops
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@BentleyBentayga commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024):

image
having the same problem WHEN IM TRYING TO DOWNLOAD THE MAIN TRAILER OF MICKEY 17 😭😭😭

<!-- gh-comment-id:2357415637 --> @BentleyBentayga commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024): ![image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cb0da2e3-6502-4430-b29c-0786e90cf53c) having the same problem WHEN IM TRYING TO DOWNLOAD THE MAIN TRAILER OF MICKEY 17 😭😭😭
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@wukko commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024):

please be patient im working on it

<!-- gh-comment-id:2357416407 --> @wukko commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024): please be patient im working on it
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@wukko commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024):

i've refreshed dummy accounts for youtube and the issue is now resolved

<!-- gh-comment-id:2357455031 --> @wukko commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2024): i've refreshed dummy accounts for youtube and the issue is now resolved
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@Acceleration2299 commented on GitHub (May 30, 2025):

Uhhh, Apologies for the Necro? idk how this works.

Cobalt's new processing queue seems to be "fucked", for lack of better explanation. I tried to download a song, didn't work, tried to download a short, didn't work. Tried a music video, Also didnt work, All of these have returned- shit i lost them.

I tried again, and now the site only returns this.
Image

I will note, that i'm using multiple plugins on firefox, namely uBlock Origin, SponsorBlock, Return YT Dislike, and Privacy Badger. If this is relevant.

<!-- gh-comment-id:2920872324 --> @Acceleration2299 commented on GitHub (May 30, 2025): Uhhh, Apologies for the Necro? idk how this works. Cobalt's new processing queue seems to be "fucked", for lack of better explanation. I tried to download a song, didn't work, tried to download a short, didn't work. Tried a music *video*, Also didnt work, All of these have returned- shit i lost them. I tried again, and now the site only returns this. ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/25152a8b-f4a5-448d-aa14-bc93c991e022) I will note, that i'm using multiple plugins on firefox, namely uBlock Origin, SponsorBlock, Return YT Dislike, and Privacy Badger. If this is relevant.
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@Acceleration2299 commented on GitHub (May 30, 2025):

Image

<!-- gh-comment-id:2920875382 --> @Acceleration2299 commented on GitHub (May 30, 2025): ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/76ec61d4-a888-4681-834e-727330bfca14)
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