[Bug]: No videos are playing, always getting "[BAD_HTTP_STATUS: 403] Potential causes: IP block or streaming URL deciphering failed"

[circuitsystem]

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

I dont mess around with proxy's or vpn's or anything like that, just freetube flatpak. It's been working fine last few months but suddenly today, videos arent playing, and all are stating "[BAD_HTTP_STATUS: 403] Potential causes: IP block or streaming URL deciphering failed"

Expected Behavior

what i expect to happen is for videos to....play....

Issue Labels

feature stopped working

FreeTube Version

v0.23.1 Beta

Operating System Version

Linux Mint 22.1

Installation Method

Flathub

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.

[Amine-dd]

real fuck youtube

[sensiblepuffin]

I just tested the nightly and it's happening there too.

0.23.1
PopOS
Not using a VPN

[Kurpaph]

Also on Windows 11 24H2
FreeTube 0.23.1
No video is playing.
No VPN, no nothing.
I really need music while I work.

[kyhou]

yep, the same here on my machine, directly on youtube works normally

edit: I'm on Windows 10
FreeTube v0.23.1

[circuitsystem]

update: this isnt just aa problem with the flathub version, its also doing this on the deb64 package download off the website

[jaxk49]

Also on Windows 10
FreeTube 0.23.1
No VPN.

And it's happening more and more.

[amreo]

Also on Manjaro, flatpak
v0.23.1beta
no VPN

[laclcia]

tested on v0.22.1-nightly-5390 Beta and can confirm experiencing the same bug.

videos do open and play properly in MPV and in VLC with the "open in [software[" button.

happens regardless of if VPN is used or not (tested both and tested multiple endpoints across the world)

OS: Arch linux
kernel: Linux 6.12.12-zen2-xanmod1-1
DE: KDE Plasma 6.3.0
pakage source: AUR freetube-nightly
build time: 20th feb 2025 at 13:45.

[rowancape]

Also on Windows 10 22H2

[Serasul1984]

Also on Windows 10
FreeTube 0.23.1
No VPN

happens here to, no video is working anymore
restart the router doesnt helped

[neoroms]

Same. I guess they really want to pin us down :((

[RootBeerFan]

Same here, I think its not platform related because I use freetube on linux and windows and both have the same issue. Since 2-3 Weeks this was already present but only for each 10th video or so. Now its really every video. Freetube stopped working for playing the videos tbh.

[Amine-dd]

vpn changes nothing

[woody-cool]

Same here, tried under several OSes, nothing playing

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

Duplicate of #6701

[BurntEmbers]

Step to reproduce properly: Open the program and literally try to watch any video while not using a VPN. Why would you close this? Several people have reported the exact same thing and people are opening up duplicate requests every ten or so minutes.

[woody-cool]

Step to reproduce properly: Open the program and literally try to watch any video while not using a VPN. Why would you close this? Several people have reported the exact same thing and people are opening up duplicate requests every ten or so minutes.

Totally agree with you - the issue is not resolved so shouldn't be closed