Encountering 'file tunnel is empty' Issue When Attempting Self Hosting #957

New Issue

GiteaMirror · 2025-11-09T10:02:42-06:00

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:42 -06:00

Originally created by @Andy-Mckelvey05 on GitHub (Oct 4, 2025).

problem description

I'm trying to get self hosting working on my machine, i have been the only person using it, so i don't suspect I'm getting blocked from YouTube's end.
the yml listed below worked for me about a week ago, but today its giving me a 'file tunnel is empty, try again in a few minutes' issue.
it consistently lags at 33% and then gives that error, so the web must be getting some data from the API right? (i don't have much technical knowledge on stuff like this so some guidance would be greatly appreciated)

I've tried for a few hours now to get it working but with no success, has anyone encountered an issue like this or know how to fix it?

your instance configuration

services:
  cobalt-api:
    image: ghcr.io/imputnet/cobalt:11
    init: true
    read_only: true
    restart: unless-stopped
    container_name: cobalt-api
    ports:
      - 9000:9000
    environment:
      API_URL: "http://localhost:9000/"

  cobalt-web:
    container_name: cobalt-web
    restart: unless-stopped
    build:
      context: https://github.com/NotNite/cobalt-web-docker.git
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
      additional_contexts:
        cobalt-src: https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt.git
      args:
        WEB_HOST: "http://localhost:3000/"
        WEB_DEFAULT_API: "http://localhost:9000/"
    ports:
      - 3000:3000

Originally created by @Andy-Mckelvey05 on GitHub (Oct 4, 2025). ### problem description I'm trying to get self hosting working on my machine, i have been the only person using it, so i don't suspect I'm getting blocked from YouTube's end. the yml listed below worked for me about a week ago, but today its giving me a 'file tunnel is empty, try again in a few minutes' issue. it consistently lags at 33% and then gives that error, so the web must be getting some data from the API right? (i don't have much technical knowledge on stuff like this so some guidance would be greatly appreciated) <img width="477" height="175" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/28b9a222-c8ea-4bf8-98ad-3e0fe7d7bb08" /> <img width="479" height="164" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/8ae8ce29-d53d-4004-bbf7-38f217bc7a8c" /> I've tried for a few hours now to get it working but with no success, has anyone encountered an issue like this or know how to fix it? ### your instance configuration ```shell services: cobalt-api: image: ghcr.io/imputnet/cobalt:11 init: true read_only: true restart: unless-stopped container_name: cobalt-api ports: - 9000:9000 environment: API_URL: "http://localhost:9000/" cobalt-web: container_name: cobalt-web restart: unless-stopped build: context: https://github.com/NotNite/cobalt-web-docker.git dockerfile: Dockerfile additional_contexts: cobalt-src: https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt.git args: WEB_HOST: "http://localhost:3000/" WEB_DEFAULT_API: "http://localhost:9000/" ports: - 3000:3000 ```

GiteaMirror added the instance hosting help label 2025-11-09 10:02:42 -06:00

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:42 -06:00

@gabbott507 commented on GitHub (Oct 4, 2025):

I spun up my own self hosted instance today to try and get YouTube working but am having the exact same error. Hoping to find a fix.

@gabbott507 commented on GitHub (Oct 4, 2025): I spun up my own self hosted instance today to try and get YouTube working but am having the exact same error. Hoping to find a fix.

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:42 -06:00

@IayZBoy commented on GitHub (Oct 4, 2025):

Having this error as well.
No idea how or why it is happening
Other community instances are working just fine
All i want to be able to do is download a video from youtube

@IayZBoy commented on GitHub (Oct 4, 2025): Having this error as well. No idea how or why it is happening Other community instances are working just fine All i want to be able to do is download a video from youtube

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:43 -06:00

@YEEYEE58 commented on GitHub (Oct 8, 2025):

I'm having the same issue, but I can only download the first batch of episodes I downloaded when I set it up, and no others

@YEEYEE58 commented on GitHub (Oct 8, 2025): I'm having the same issue, but I can only download the first batch of episodes I downloaded when I set it up, and no others

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:43 -06:00

@dxcvvxd commented on GitHub (Oct 12, 2025):

bump, same here

@dxcvvxd commented on GitHub (Oct 12, 2025): bump, same here

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:43 -06:00

@CmdrSharp commented on GitHub (Oct 17, 2025):

Same issue. Used to work fine, but stopped working some time ago.

@CmdrSharp commented on GitHub (Oct 17, 2025): Same issue. Used to work fine, but stopped working some time ago.

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:43 -06:00

@creasydude commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2025):

same

@creasydude commented on GitHub (Oct 19, 2025): same

GiteaMirror commented

2025-11-09 10:02:44 -06:00

@d7eeem commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2025):

For shorts it download normally but full Videos it will result in file tunnel is empty

Locally hosted gui and api

@d7eeem commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2025): For shorts it download normally but full Videos it will result in file tunnel is empty <img width="603" height="1311" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d80c6837-1277-469d-b648-ee9dab2749ed" /> Locally hosted gui and api

Sign in to join this conversation.

1 Participants

Notifications

Due Date

No due date set.

Dependencies

No dependencies set.

Reference: github-starred/cobalt#957