RealPlayer Downloader Broken Again

Michael Coffino

• January 01, 2026 04:21

All downloads getting VIDEO NOT AVAILABLE message when trying to download a video under YouTube. This started on Tuesday at 2am 12/30/25 Eastern time and is continuing today. Either YouTube made another software update that broke the downloader, or YouTube is fooling around with their Server and it's rejecting all downloads. The downloader works fine when downloading videos outside of YouTube, so a change in the middle of the night by YouTube appears to be the problem. It makes sense cause the early hours of the morning is usually the maintenance window for technicians. I hope the RealNetworks technical staff can resolve this quickly, they usually do after they recognize that their code is broken again.

 

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  tim jones

  • January 02, 2026 10:11

  I have just removed and re installed Real Player for exactly the same reason.Once again it has totally stopped downloading YouTube videos,whereas it works on any other platform...this is very frustrating

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  Michael Coffino

  • January 02, 2026 14:16

  The Downloader Developers work in Seattle Washington (Pacific Time Zone), so I have to wait until 1PM Eastern Time before they start working at 10AM Pacific time. YouTube doesn't care about the Downloader product and will never extend the courtesy to let them know when YouTube Developers change their code or data. YouTube doesn't want people downloading music and videos, they want you to watch them on their platform and not make a downloaded copy. The Downloader Developers will fix the problem but won't notify anyone that it is fixed. One time it will be broke and the next time you try it, it will work. I always check to see if the problem is fixed multiple times of the day.  The frustrating part is that we don't know if they read our problem description and are working the problem, or they're not aware that the problem exists. We can only hope that the problem will be resolved soon.

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  Michael Coffino

  • January 06, 2026 07:41

  Thank you Developers for fixing the problem. I'm sure YouTube Developers will break the downloader on their next software update, and the cycle will start all over again.

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