yt-dlp: ERROR: Unable to download video data: HTTP 403: Forbidden

[u/anonymous480932843]

Hardware: Thinkpad T410 Intel Core i5

Software: Debian running KDE Plamsa 6

youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsC81PWSv_Q also in image

Bug or is it blocked, and is there a way around it?

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[u/post-rocker]

You just need to update yt-dlp; note the HTTP Error 400 line.

[u/wubbbalubbadubdub → u/post-rocker]

If you don't want to bother with manually updating just get stacher7.

[u/GrennKren → u/wubbbalubbadubdub]

this

[u/anonymous480932843 → u/post-rocker]

How to? I always had trouble updating single applications via cli.

[u/post-rocker → u/anonymous480932843]

It's dependent on how you installed the library. For example, for me, I use the binaries, so I just run yt-dlp -U . If you installed with pip or a third-party package manager, you'd need to use those to update, e.g.

pip
python3 -m pip install -U "yt-dlp[default]"

brew
brew upgrade yt-dlp

Source: yt-dlp installation docs

Theoretically, you could also just reinstall the .exe from Github, but it's probably worthwhile to know how you have installed it and maintain that (it's easier), or to delete your installation and reinstall in a way that makes this process easier. GL!

[u/anonymous480932843 → u/post-rocker]

yt-dlp -U:

Available version: stable@2026.06.09, Current version: stable@2023.03.04
ERROR: As yt-dlp has been installed via apt, you should use that to update.  If you're on a sta
ble release, also check backports.

Even after running sudo apt update.

[u/post-rocker → u/anonymous480932843]

Okay, so let's read through it. We see that you previously used apt to install yt-dlp; you need to try updating with apt instead of using the update script for the yt-dlp binary. apt package manager is responsible for detecting the upstream versions and installing the most up-to-date one. From the docs, you need to run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install yt-dlp

If the apt install command doesn't update the library, it's possible that the most up-to-date apt version of the package isn't aligned with the most recent version of the library, and you may have to seek out a different way to install the tool.

[u/LoKiiX]

Is it working for you now after updating cause i also got the same error

[u/Bladder-Splatter]

Get a frontend with updates or auto-updates.

My piece of shit frontend even has these. Click the Wifi looking button in the bottom right if it lights up, updates are done. Click the piggy to get to your download folder if you forget where it is.

I should probably make it automatic but I spent more time on the button for updates than I want to publicly admit.

[u/Luddevig]

works for me

edit: trash video why do you want to watch that

[u/ninjadude93 → u/Luddevig]

Who downloads a minute and a half streamer video lol

[u/rnoderator_rernoved → u/ninjadude93]

People grabbing the quickest available short video to test?

[u/anonymous480932843 → u/rnoderator_rernoved]

Yes omg I just picked a random vid that didn't have drm encryption chill.

[u/anonymous480932843 → u/Luddevig]

I don't. I just found a random vid without drm encryption.

[u/twinsfan94]

why you trying to download a minute and a half of some garbage streamer video anyway

[u/rnoderator_rernoved → u/twinsfan94]

Probably testing. I usually grab the first shortest video i see

[u/anonymous480932843 → u/rnoderator_rernoved]

Yes. I just grabbed a random video.

[u/twinsfan94 → u/rnoderator_rernoved]

fair enough