Help

Troubleshooting

Fixes for the problems people run into most.

Downloads suddenly fail: YouTube changes often. Settings › Tools › Install & Update All fixes most problems.
"Sign in to confirm you're not a bot": YouTube shows this to some networks, especially VPNs. Sign in, and the app uses your sign-in for these.
A video came out in 360p: See 360p and SABR. Use Re-download in HD on the video.
Suggestions are empty or the sign-in disappeared: After an update, macOS asks for Keychain access. If that prompt is denied or closed, the app can't read your saved sign-in until it asks again. Quit and reopen the app and choose Always Allow. Your sign-in is kept while it waits for access.
"Contacting YouTube" takes a while: Signed-in downloads solve YouTube's player challenges first, which can take 10 to 40 seconds on slow or VPN connections.
The app won't open the first time: Follow step 3 of the install guide.
Importing from Safari fails: Give VideoLibrary Full Disk Access in System Settings › Privacy & Security, or import from another browser.
A library says Disconnected: Plug the drive back in. Its videos come back on their own.

Still stuck? Open Settings › Help › Open Debug Log and attach it to an issue on GitHub (see best practices).