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VLC Media Player has long been a favorite tool for users who want a simple, free way to play media and even stream or download online videos. Among its more advanced capabilities, VLC allows users to download YouTube videos by entering the video’s URL directly into the player. However, many users recently have encountered an issue where the VLC YouTube download functionality suddenly stops working. If you’re one of those affected, don’t worry — the problem has been identified and can be solved with a few practical steps.
Why VLC YouTube Downloads Stop Working
When you try to stream or download a YouTube video using VLC, the media player uses a script file in its system called youtube.lua to interpret and access video URLs. YouTube is constantly updating its infrastructure, including how videos are encoded and delivered. This means the script often becomes outdated quickly, causing VLC to fail when attempting to access a YouTube video. If you’ve noticed messages like “Your input can’t be opened” or VLC simply crashes, this could likely be the root cause.
Fortunately, the solution is straightforward and only requires updating a specific file within your VLC installation.
How to Fix VLC YouTube Download Not Working
Follow these steps carefully to update the script and restore VLC’s YouTube download capabilities:
- Download the latest youtube.lua script:
Visit the official VLC GitHub repository and download the updatedyoutube.luafile. The file is often updated by the VLC community or staff to accommodate YouTube’s changes. You can find it by searching GitHub for “vlc youtube.lua”. - Locate your VLC Lua playlist directory:
The file must be placed in VLC’s playlist scripts folder. This path differs based on your operating system:- Windows:
C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\lua\playlist\ - macOS:
/Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/share/lua/playlist/ - Linux:
/usr/lib/vlc/lua/playlist/
- Windows:
- Replace the old script:
After locating the playlist folder, find the currentyoutube.luafile. Rename the old file (for backup) and paste the new file into the directory. - Restart VLC and test:
Close VLC completely and restart it. Try entering a YouTube video URL to ensure the issue has been resolved.
Alternative: Use an Official Update
In some cases, merely updating VLC itself can solve the issue. VLC updates frequently fix bugs and bring support for new video streaming protocols. Here’s how you can ensure you’re on the latest version:
- Open VLC
- Click on “Help” in the top menu
- Select “Check for Updates”
- Follow on-screen instructions to install any available updates
After updating, try downloading a YouTube video again to check if the issue has been resolved.
What if the Problem Persists?
Sometimes, even after replacing the script and updating VLC, the YouTube download may still not work. This can be due to additional security measures or regional limitations enforced by YouTube, or internal caching in VLC itself. Here are a few other actions you can take:
- Clear VLC cache files or reinstall the software entirely
- Try a VPN if you suspect regional restrictions
- Use third-party tools like youtube-dl or yt-dlp as a workaround
Also, for users who frequently download YouTube videos for offline viewing, relying solely on VLC might not always be the best option due to the dynamic changes from YouTube. Tools like youtube-dl, while more complex, are updated more regularly by developers specifically for YouTube video extraction.
Final Thoughts
While VLC Media Player remains an excellent tool for general media playback and streaming, its YouTube download functionality is highly dependent on a small but critical script file. Changes on YouTube’s backend can easily disrupt this feature, but with a quick manual update, the issue is typically resolved. By staying informed and maintaining your VLC installation, you can ensure uninterrupted access to your favorite online videos.
Always be cautious when downloading content from online platforms—make sure it does not violate terms of service or infringe on copyright laws.