Troubleshooting Guide

YouTube Downloader Not Working — What to Try

Follow this troubleshooting guide to resolve failed video downloads, stuck playlist batches, or connection timeouts.

Common Symptoms & Solutions

Page Refreshed During Download

PulseDL runs server-side background processing. If you refresh or close the tab, log back in and navigate to History to download completed files.

Age-Restricted Video Error

YouTube restricts videos requiring age verification login. PulseDL cannot bypass YouTube age restrictions or private video access.

At a glance

Guest and registered limits for formats, quality, and recovery. Compare Guest and Registered.

Install required
No — runs in the browser
Guest quality limit
Up to 1080p (no account needed)
Registered quality limit
Up to 2160p (4K)
Playlist features
Playlist analyzer, video selection, and bulk download
Supported formats
Video: MP4 and WebM · Audio: MP3, AAC, and WAV
If you refresh
Downloads continue on the server; recover completed files from History
Account required
Not required for guest downloads up to 1080p
Responsible use
Only download content you are authorized to download — see Terms

Troubleshooting FAQs

Why did my YouTube video download fail or get stuck?

Downloads can stall due to YouTube stream URL changes, temporary network drops, age-restricted video settings, or daily quota limits. Refreshing the browser does not cancel PulseDL server jobs — active jobs can be recovered from History.

Can PulseDL download age-restricted or private YouTube videos?

No. PulseDL requires standard public or unlisted YouTube video access. Age-restricted media requiring account sign-in or private videos cannot be processed.

Responsible use

Whether a download is permitted depends on the content, your rights to use it, the platform’s terms, and applicable law. Only download content you are authorized to download — for example your own uploads, material you have permission to save, Creative Commons content, or other uses allowed where you live. This is not legal advice. See Terms of Service and our Copyright page.