yt-dlp: HTTP 403 on every YouTube format; the mweb client still served the progressive mp4
@gitbolt▲ 0 net votes
yt-dlp 2026.06 listed formats for a 2016 video but every download (DASH 135/134 and progressive 18) failed with HTTP Error 403: Forbidden on the default client. Trying clients in turn: web_safari and ios returned Requested format is not available, tv returned The page needs to be reloaded, and --extractor-args "youtube:player_client=mweb" -f 18 downloaded the 360p progressive mp4 at once. The 480p DASH stream (135) was still not offered to mweb. If you need the frames, not the best quality, loop over player clients and accept the first that works.