[Bug]: [BAD_HTTP_STATUS: 403] Potential causes: IP block or streaming URL deciphering failed

[Gevaarlijk]

Guidelines

• I have encountered this bug in the latest release of FreeTube.
• I have encountered this bug in the official downloads of FreeTube.
• I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the bug report I want to file, without success.
• I have searched the documentation for information that matches the description of the bug I want to file, without success.
• This issue contains only one bug.

Describe the bug

When I try to play a video as of today it says:

[Bug]: [BAD_HTTP_STATUS: 403] Potential causes: IP block or streaming URL dechipering failed

And does not play.

Expected Behavior

Play without error

Issue Labels

content not loading

FreeTube Version

0.23.0

Operating System Version

Windows 11

Installation Method

.apk (Alpine Linux Package)

Primary API used

Local API

Last Known Working FreeTube Version (If Any)

No response

Additional Information

No response

Nightly Build

• I have encountered this bug in the latest nightly build.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Duplicate of #6385

[raf-r]

I have the same problem. Ubuntu 24.04 Flatpak v0.23.0 Beta. I'm not using a VPN.

[Gevaarlijk]

The search on this platform doesn't work as intended since searching for my issue doesn't give that duplicate topic (or any) as a result.

[Gevaarlijk]

Also the other topic seems to talk about a VPN but I'm not running any VPN. I would write in that topic but it's locked. This is inefficient.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Hmm interesting we'll investigate. Issue stays closed until reproduced

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

@Gevaarlijk are you using tor?

[jovial-snyder]

@Gevaarlijk are you sure you are using 0.23.0? I am asking because I had the same problem with 0.22.1 (without VPN) and now with 0.23.0 this is fixed (but #6678 still remains). In addition to that the information you provided (Operating System Version and Installation Method don't match)

[Gevaarlijk]

Not using any kind of VPN, no Tor either.

Issue seems to come and go now. Sometimes a video will start and then crash with this error and sometimes it will run and then again sometimes it won't start at all.

[Gevaarlijk]

@Gevaarlijk are you sure you are using 0.23.0? I am asking because I had the same problem with 0.22.1 and now with 0.23.0 this is fixed (but #6385 still remains). In addition to that the information you provided (Operating System Version and Installation Method don't match)

The issue started on 0.22.1. today. I then downloaded 0.23.0 thinking the new version would fix it but the same still happens.

[Gevaarlijk]

Note: I see that the other thread has been around for weeks. I did not have any problems in December or January up until today and used 0.22.1 almost daily.

[0Raik]

Same issue with both 0.22.1 and 0.23.0 with Windows and Manjaro latest.
I can get a new IP in a few hours so I might try that.

[Gevaarlijk]

As for OS. I use Windows 11, tried both normal install and portable which I think is new with the latest version?

[jn64]

I am getting the same error on v0.23.1 flatpak, Fedora 41

• All videos do not play
• with DASH format
• on local API only (no fallback to Invidious)
• no VPN, Tor, PiHole, or anything else unusual about network

I was not affected in v0.22.1 at any point in the past month.
v0.22.1 (rpm) still works now on the same machine/IP with same settings (local API, no fallback, DASH format).

Workaround

Workaround mentioned here to use Legacy format works:

• It must be set in FreeTube Settings > Player > Default video format; then all videos play with Legacy format.
• Changing the format under an individual video doesn't work (potentially a different bug to report?)

Screenshot

Left is v0.23.1 flatpak, right is v0.22.1 rpm on the same machine at the same time

---

Btw it's hard to find this issue because of typo dechipering -> deciphering.

Recommend renaming issue to fix the typo, and reopening this as the main issue for v0.23.0 / v0.23.1.

[riverpiers]

@jn64, I had the same situation on win10 on FT_v0.22.1n5313(portable.zip)
YT probably blocks older versions of Shak. player and only the latest version of the player in the FT application solves the problem. Versions: FT_v0.22.1n5542-> FT_v0.23.0n5557+

[jn64]

I have the same problem. Ubuntu 24.04 Flatpak v0.23.0 Beta. I'm not using a VPN.

@raf-r You do not have the same problem according to your screenshot. Check #6713.

YT probably blocks older versions of Shak. player and only the latest version of the player in the FT application solves the problem

@riverpiers I have the problem on the newer version v0.23.1 built 8 hours ago, not the older version v0.22.1 (i.e. the opposite of your hypothesis).

[absidue]

@jn64 Sounds like you are in the unique situation where YouTube isn't enforcing potoken's for the iOS client for you yet (like they are with everyone else) but that they are fully enforcing the new potoken stuff that they are still rolling out slowly and isn't in FreeTube yet as we haven't managed to get it to work yet. As you are in that unique situation I would suggest that you stick on the older version for now and take advantage of it until it breaks.

[jn64]

@absidue noted thanks. Btw rename this issue to fix the typo dechipering -> deciphering. Makes this issue invisible when copy-pasting the full error.

[Wolferey]

I am still getting this issue on Win10 22H2 on the latest v0.23.1 beta .exe (x64). No VPN, pihole etc.

If it helps, it seems to happen most if I open the video from the subscriptions tab, but if I open the channel in a new window and click the video from there, it plays fine.

[0Raik]

@0Raik
Compiled directly from GIT using Pamac Manjaro latest and now works perfectly. Eager for the new release.
Also v0.23.1.exe beta in Windows 10 worked for me.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Like mentioned already please refrain from commenting as we are already actively investigating this issue. Please just upvote the issue.

To the users that wanted to help out troubleshoot this by providing info: We will reach out to you when we have concrete troubleshooting steps.

Temporary workaround, for the best viewing experience I recommend doing one of the following things:

1:

• Set Primary API to Invidious in the General Settings
• Select an Instance that is near to you, see https://api.invidious.io/. Make sure to pick one that has a check mark in the API field. Also make sure you start typing the instance name in the Current Invidious Instance field under the General Settings with https:// and it should list instances as suggestions.
• Disable Fallback to Non-Preferred Backend on Failure in the General Settings
• Disable Proxy Videos Through Invidious in the Player settings

2:

• Open videos using an external player of your choice. Go to Settings -> External Player to set it up.

Note

Try other Invidious instances when an instance isnt working. Some Invidious instances if not all are IP blocked by YouTube.

[uncharted-user]

Guys, please don't fight with devs. Please remember, they are not our employees. We will hopefully get a fix as they recognize the issue. Even if we don't, we have nothing to do. Please do not burn them out from this project.

[tgrafk12]

Like mentioned already please refrain from commenting as we are already actively investigating this issue. Please just upvote the issue.

To the users that wanted to help out troubleshoot this by providing info: We will reach out to you when we have concrete troubleshooting steps.

Temporary workaround, for the best viewing experience I recommend doing one of the following things:

1:

* Set Primary API to Invidious in the General Settings

* Select an Instance that is near to you, see https://api.invidious.io/. Make sure to pick one that has a check mark in the API field. Also make sure you start typing the instance name in the Current Invidious Instance field under the General Settings with `https://` and it should list instances as suggestions.

* Disable Fallback to Non-Preferred Backend on Failure in the General Settings

* Disable Proxy Videos Through Invidious in the Player settings

2:

* Open videos using an external player of your choice. Go to Settings -> External Player to set it up.

Note

Try other Invidious instances when an instance isnt working. Some Invidious instances if not all are IP blocked by YouTube.

I just tried this and its currently not working as well.

Ive attempted to use it without a VPN, and with Cloudflare Warp (Sometimes it works as a VPN, but not all the time)

Please let me know if I can try anything else and bug report back to fix this :>

[Cyborgscode]

Bug confirmed for Fedora Build 0.23.1Beta

And yes, external Players working fine, so YT detects and disallows FT . Not the first time, not the last time YT will block FT & Co.

[faxotherapy]

I think we should stop pressuring the devs. I can't thank them enough for their hard work in maintaining the app. FreeTube is an insanely top app and I confess it'd be very difficult for me to live without it. Please, shall we give them enough time to fix the issue as they have a life outside of tinkering with the app in an attempt to make everyone happy.

[Xelbayria]

Bug confirmed for Fedora Build 0.23.1Beta

And yes, external Players working fine, so YT detects and disallows FT . Not the first time, not the last time YT will block FT & Co.

Yea I suspected this. I've used external players as an alternative video.

---

faxotherapy is right about DEVs, it's not easy to find the cause of the issue and fix it. That can take time because YT is making it a challenge for DEV to solve. it's no different from what they did to DEV of Adblocks.

---

EDIT:
👇🏻, galure couldn't have said it better than I could. It's not the first time I had a problem like above. I had to wait until the DEV managed to fix the issue. it happened before. and it won't be the last time. Youtube is causing problems and they don't care. Unfortunately, There's nothing we can do because there is no good rival that can challenge Youtube

[galure]

Hey, devs, sending some love and thanks for the hard work and for one of the most amazing app out there. You are heroes.

On my end : Flathub v0.23.1, using a VPN. I have some videos working, but only in the "live" tab. I don't know why, seems random at first glance.

And for people complaining : Freetube is not the problem. YouTube is the problem. Freetube is the solution.
It happened before, it'll happen again, this is not our first rodeo. Let the devs do their magic and hold the line.

[Gamonin]

I understand that's a cat and mouse game, and YT has MASSIVE ressources for devs and research.
Till now FT always managed to evade all measures to stop it.
Can't take very long for everything to work fine again.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

We appreciate all the love. Locking this issue for now and will keep everyone updated with posts here.

Will unlock when we require users to perform test.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

UPDATE:

This has been identified as an issue that is occurring due to a problem with an upstream dependency. Its currently being addressed over there. Hopefully pulling the upstream update when its available will resolve everything

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

UPDATE:

Upstream fix has been merged.
We are currently testing the fix.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

UPDATE: We have tested the fix on our end and we will put out a hotfix release ASAP.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

UPDATE:

v0.23.2 has been released! You can download the latest version using the following methods:

• GitHub release page
• Through our website

Thank you for being patient and happy watching 📺!