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Why a video link won't download, and how to fix it

Almost every failed download comes down to one of a handful of causes, and most of them are visible from the link itself before you even press Download.

1. The content is not public

A downloader can only fetch what the platform serves to a logged-out visitor. That rules out:

  • TikTok videos set to Friends or Only me, and videos from private accounts.
  • Instagram posts from private accounts, and all Stories.
  • Posts from protected X accounts.
  • YouTube videos that are private, members-only or age-restricted.

Quick check: open the link in a private browser window. If you cannot watch it there, no download tool can fetch it.

2. It is the wrong kind of link

A downloader needs the link to one specific post, not to a profile, a search or a feed.

  • TikTok: use the video's Share → Copy link, not the creator's profile link.
  • YouTube: a playlist link with &list= works only for the video named by v=; a channel link does not work at all.
  • Instagram: links containing /reel/ or /p/ work; profile links do not.
  • X: the link must contain /status/. If the video is inside a quoted post, open the quoted post and copy its link instead.

See how to copy a video link on each platform for the exact menu paths.

3. The post has no video

Photo posts, TikTok photo carousels and text-only posts carry no video stream. downmy handles video, and the original sound on TikTok, so these come back as an error rather than an empty file.

4. The video was deleted or blocked in a region

Deleted posts disappear from the platform's servers; there is nothing left to fetch. Region-blocked videos are not served to the location the request comes from. Neither can be worked around by a public downloader.

5. The live stream is still running

A YouTube live stream can be downloaded once it has ended and the replay is published. While it is live, there is no finished file.

6. The result page expired

Resolved links are kept for 30 minutes. If you leave the result page open longer and then press a button, you will see an "expired" message. Paste the link again; resolving is quick.

7. An HD YouTube download stopped midway

HD YouTube files are merged on the server before they are sent. Closing the tab or locking the phone during that wait can cancel the transfer. Keep the page in the foreground, or pick a lower quality, which merges faster.

Still failing?

Platforms change their pages from time to time and a working link can fail briefly while the resolver catches up. Try again a little later, or try the same post's link copied from the website instead of the app.

Last updated: 2026-10-23

Try it

X (Twitter) Paste a post link from X or Twitter and get the video back as MP4 at the best resolution that post provides.

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