YouTube is making it nearly impossible to download videos. With an updated yt-dlp, the video file would seem to begin downloading, but freeze at 1% complete. If I cancel the download and restart it, an error appears: "Did not get any blocks". Anybody else seeing this problem or know a solution?

submitted by In-the-clouds from (midi.moe)

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newinsightfulfun

[–]0_0 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

There seems to be a problem with the default format yt-dlp chooses to download for this particular video. You can download a low-res version using this command:

yt-dlp.exe -f 17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FUS1259dHM

If you want a better resolution you'll need to download ffmpeg and run this command:

yt-dlp.exe -f 231+140 --ffmpeg-location "c:\ffmpeg" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FUS1259dHM

Replace c:\ffmpeg with the folder path where the ffmpeg program is located.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The video downloads are acting normally today. Yesterday YouTube was giving errors for multiple videos: 403 Forbidden. But today, I am able to download them.

I appreciate the effort you put into your response. As you said, a lower-quality video was available, which I was able to download. (Today, the higher quality video is also available.)

If you would like to be able to use ffmpeg as a command, regardless of the folder it is found in, here is an excellent guide. If you already have ffmpeg installed, you can skip to step #3....

https://blog.gregzaal.com/how-to-install-ffmpeg-on-windows/

[–]jjj49er 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Seal is still working.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Seal

https://seal.en.uptodown.com/android

Seal is an app for downloading videos from YouTube and other platforms using yt-dlp

That's a mystery, since yt-dlp is what this post is about.

[–]Questionable 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I find that some videos have extra protection. So far, I've been able to use this website to download videos over the past five years, with only a few exceptions, and not always in the resolution desired.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing that link. It might be useful, so I bookmarked it. If my other tools fail, I will give that one a try.

[–]iamonlyoneman 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

don't use youtube, simple as. i don't even click links here that are youtube posts. fuck alphabet corp.

[–]DNase 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I agree. But sometimes the video info one needs is only found there. Downloading and uploading to a better video service is really the better way to fuck Alphabet, as it gives users the option to find it elsewhere. This thread is great for people who use this method to aid the anti-Alphabet crusade.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Newpipe downloads files without any problem.

[–]In-the-clouds[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I used to use youtube-dl, but /u/Drewski told me about yt-dlp which has performed better. But today I am not able to download any YouTube videos. Invidious also fails to download, same as savemp3. It looks like YouTube has changed something that is making it impossible for any service to download videos.