VLC YouTube Download not Working - Reasons and Solutions

Did you get the message – "VLC is unable to open the YouTube link. Check the log for details." Are you anxious after receiving this error message – "Your input can't be opened: VLC is unable to open MRL." Situations like VLC YouTube download not working mainly occur when you want to watch a YouTube video offline via VLC Media Player but cannot.

VLC Media Player is one of the most popular media players. It is often used to download videos from different platforms and watch them offline. However, several users have reported difficulties while downloading YouTube Videos on VLC. In this guide, EaseUS will discuss the different solutions to fix the VLC YouTube download not working.

Solution 1. Replace YouTube lua. File

One of the most straightforward solutions to fix the VLC not playing YouTube videos and other situations is to replace YouTube.lua file.

🐾You can replace the YouTube.Lua file by following the steps given below:

Step 1. Open Explorer on your system. Go to the address bar.

Step 2. Enter the following code:

Step 3. From the list of files, locate the YouTube.lua file. Click on it, and from the drop-down menu, choose Delete.

Step 4. Open the browser. Download the YouTube.lua file from the official link.

Step 5. Copy the YouTube.lua file, and then paste the file in the location given in Step 2.

The reason why you failed to use VLC Media Player to download YouTube videos on your laptop might be your misoperations. You can check the passage below to see if all the steps you tried are correct:

Step-by-Step: Download YouTube Videos with VLC | 2024

There's no need to worry if you don't know how to download YouTube videos with VLC Media Player. Read through the post and find the answers.

Solution 2. Update VLC Media Player to the Newest Version

An out-of-date version is one of the primary reasons for VLC YouTube Download not working. It is vital to update the VLC player to remedy the situation.

🐾For that, take a look at these steps:

Step 1. Open the VLC Media Player. Select the Help option from the top menu (On Windows). Choose Check for Updates.

Step 2. On Mac, click VLC Media Player followed by Check for Update from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen to update the tool.

Step 4. Close VLC Player, reopen VLC Media Player again, and see if the software works. 

Solution 3. Try the Recording Function of VLC

If the above solutions do not work, you can take advantage of the recording function of VLC. You can record YouTube videos with VLC.

🐾Follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch VLC Media Player. Select View, and then choose "Advanced Controls".

Step 2. Go to Media. Select Open Capture Device. It will open the recording setup dialogue.

Step 3. Choose Desktop from the Capture Mode option. You can also set the frame rate as your preference.

Step 4. Choose Play to start recording.

Step 5. Go to YouTube and opt to play the video you want to save.

Step 6. Press the Stop icon when the recording is done.

Solution 4. Reset "Cookies Forwarding"

The next solution to fix the VLC YouTube Download not working is to reset "Cookies Forwarding". However, this is a risky method and might lead to security risks. Please go ahead with this solution only if you think it's safe.

🐾Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1.  Launch VLC Media Player, and select Tools from the top menu.

Step 2. Click on Preferences. Choose Show Settings on the next window. Click on All.

Step 3. Select Input/Codecs from the left-side menu.

Step 4. Choose Access Modules. Then, select HTTPS.

Step 5. Now, unmark the Cookies Forwarding option. Tap on the Save button to keep the set.

Solution 5. Use VLC Media Player Alternative

You need to opt for a VLC Media Player alternative if nothing else works. For that, you can check out EaseUS Video Downloader. It is one of the most popular choices for video downloading in macOS and Windows. This software lets you download videos from several social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc. With this tool, you can download streaming videos from various websites. You can even watch the video while downloading it. There is no need to worry about internet access.

🌸EaseUS Video Downloader Feature:

• Convert video to audio with a built-in converter
• Downloading YouTube videos in Ultra HD, 4K, 480P, 360P, 720P, 1080P, and 1920P resolutions
• Download YouTube videos with subtitles
• Download numerous videos, TV shows, animations, music, etc., simultaneously

🐾Follow the steps given below to use EaseUS Video Downloader for YouTube video downloading:

Step 1. Copy the YouTube URL and click "Paste Link" on EaseUS Video Downloader.

Step 2. Customize the video format and quality from the dropdown.

Step 3. Wait for the downloading process to finish and then click "Open" to check the YouTube video.

Disclaimer: This guide is compiled for personal fair use ONLY. EaseUS is in no way collaborated or affiliated with YouTube and never advocates any copyright infringement action. The end-user should be solely responsible for their behavior.

Reasons VLC YouTube Download is not Working

Several reasons can lead to the VLC YouTube Download not working. Knowing more about the causes is vital to applying the right solutions.

Take a look at the possible causes: 

• Cookies Forwarding: It is one of the primary reasons for the VLC YouTube Download not working. You need to disable it to fix the issue.
• Out-of-date VLC version: If your VLC Media Player is not up-to-date, it can create several problems. One of them is the incompatibility of the YouTube feature.
• Hardware Decoding: If the Hardware Decoding option is turned on, you will find YouTube videos not playing correctly.
• Issues with YouTube.lua file: Corruption of the YouTube.lua file is one of the most common causes of the VLC YouTube Download not working.

Final Thoughts

Without a doubt, VLC Media Player is a famous media player favored by millions across the globe. With this media player, you can download and watch videos with ease. However, multiple users have reported that the VLC YouTube Download is not working.

Though several causes lead to the problem, there are multiple solutions. For starters, you can replace YouTube.lua files, reset Cookies Forwarding, use the Recording Function, etc.

However, if none of these solutions work, you can always opt for an alternative. The EaseUS Video Downloader is an efficient yet reliable YouTube video downloader for Windows/Mac that allows users to seamlessly download videos from different platforms. Check out EaseUS Video Downloader now!

FAQs About VLC YouTube Download Not Working

1. Why is my downloaded video not playing on VLC?

One of the common causes of the downloaded video not playing on VLC is the corruption of the file. If the video is damaged during the downloading process, the VLC media player will not play it as it cannot read the data.

2. How can I convert YouTube mp4 to MP3 with VLC?

To convert YouTube mp4 to MP3 with VLC, take a look at these steps: 

• Step 1. Open VLC Media Player. Go to the Media tab.
• Step 3. Select Convert/Save. Then, choose the File tab.
• Step 5. Go to +Add, and choose the MP4 file that you want to convert.
• Step 7. Choose Open. It will import the file. Press the Convert/Save option.
• Step 9. In the next window, go to Settings. From the drop-down menu, choose MP3.
• Step 11. Click on Save. Press the Start button to convert the file.

3. How to fix corrupted YouTube videos?

You need to opt for excellent video recovery software to fix corrupted YouTube videos. Check out the features and weigh the pros and cons of the tool before you choose it.