Trouble with Downloads from Youtube via Mozilla Firefox

[ducttape45]

I have been experiencing a most perplexing problem with Mozilla Firefox lately and I'm hoping that maybe someone here will have the answer I'm looking for.

I have an addon/extension called "Download Youtube Videos as MP4s." Basically, it allows me to download Youtube videos in either an FLV or MP4 format. This comes in quite handy for saving data/information regarding political matters.

Lately, however, something, somewhere, somehow, has been messing that up. If I click on the download button, instead of getting a "Save As" context menu, the webpage goes blank, a very long URL is displayed in the address bar, and that's it. Nothing downloads. I've even tried different downloaders and none of them worked. The only way I've been able to get around this is create a new profile and transfer all of my data. This method resets everything and I can continue on.

However, this has happened to me TWICE now, and it is most upsetting. Has anyone else encountered this problem? I find it hard to believe that I'm the only one but I haven't found anything on the Internet that addresses this problem because I don't know how to term the problem so that a search engine picks it up.

If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks.

[AppyPappy]

It has to do with the commercials.

Watch the commercial. When the video starts, restart the video so there is no commercial. Then do the download.

[WhirlwindAttack]

I also block google with NoScript.

[GeronL]

Youtuber downloader seems to work fine for me

[cynwoody]

Well, here's a point of data:

I have a downloading add-on installed in Firefox.

I just tried it with this video. Trying to download the MP4 1080p version, I got an error similar to what you describe. However, I was able to download the MP4 720p version without a problem.

Trying the same thing in Chrome with another extension, I got a "server error" attempting the 1080p download and success with the 720p.

So, perhaps there is no 1080p version, but Youtube is claiming there is. Or perhaps the extension is misreading what Youtube is advertising it has.

[ottbmare]

Firefox has generally been a pain in the hinder parts lately. I got so disgusted I moved temporarily to Chrome until they get themselves straightened out.

[Wuli]

I don’t know if this will help or even if it pertains to the same video download addon in firefox, however, for the firefox “Video Downloand Helper” addon, this was posted on its description page:

---

If you are having problems downloading videos from YouTube, please check this link:

http://bugzilla.downloadhelper.net:8080/show_bug.cgi?id=536

UPDATE July 19th 2013:

For today’s youtube changes, please follow this procedure for downloading videos that currently generate empty files:

- Open url “about:config”
- Create a new parameter called “dwhelper.yt-sig-perm-85” of type String
- Set its value to “[[2,8],[0,1],[9,21],[65,66],[22,65],[84,85],[66,82],[21,22]]”
(without the quotes).
- Reload the youtube page (no need to restart Firefox) and you should be done.

UPDATE July 22nd 2013:

4.9.18 is waiting for approval at Mozilla. This version automatically adapts to YouTube signature changes (responsible for empty downloads) and fixes a few bugs like video variant ordering and removal of audioless or videoless variants.

UPDATE July 24th 2013:

YouTube changed their signature last night.

Version 4.9.19 is waiting for approval at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/versions/

Note that since 4.9.18, Video DownloadHelper automatically learns the new signatures, but your first downloads just after a signature change may fail. Just reload the YouTube video page, wait for the video to start playing after the ad and retry downloading a few times (generally 1 to 4 attempts are enough to generate the signature).

UPDATE July 26th 2013:

YouTube changed their signature permutation method again last night.

4.9.19 and 4.9.20 has been removed from the Mozilla review pool.

Current working version is 4.9.21a1 (soon to be submitted to Mozilla as 4.9.21): http://www.downloadhelper.net/install-beta.php?version=4.9.21a1

Details here: http://bugzilla.downloadhelper.net:8080/show_bug.cgi?id=536

---

which is at:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/

[GeronL]

My program (FireFox/Linux) downloads everything in FLV and MP4 formats

[GeronL]

at the same time, even if I don’t want it to

[LegendHasIt]

Yep: Download Helper.

It is what I use. works great.

[Kirkwood]

“Legitimate advice please. I’m not gonna open my computer up to Google so they can ransack my data for the criminal in the WH.”

In case you didn’t know, YouTube is Google.

[TChad]

a very long URL is displayed in the address bar,

You can check that URL at VirusTotal:

https://www.virustotal.com/#url

I would also do a Google search for info about that URL. Search for the URL and add the word virus to the search string. It may be that a particular virus is known for sending browsers to that URL.

Here's another downloader:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/

To use Video Download Helper in FF: Click Tools > Download Helper > Media, and select the file you want to download.

I haven't found anything on the Internet that addresses this problem because I don't know how to term the problem so that a search engine picks it up.

If malware is trying to redirect your browser to a site not of your choosing, that is called browser hijacking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_hijacking

I would definitely run a full virus scan.

[Jed Eckert]

FWIW you can download youtube videos without extra add ons by going here: Youtube Downloader

Been using it awhile, no problems so far.

[Terry L Smith]

I use “1-click Youtube Download”. It works. I have “download Helper”, but I think that YT has redone some things, again.

I can click on the videos on the side and play them, but when i wish to down load them, it shows the LAST one downloaded, and will re-download that, but not what is presently playing.

Yes, it is frustrating.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

I’m running FF 25.0 and downloading MP4’s and FLV’s works for me.

Try re-installing the YT DL extension and/or upgrading to the latest version of FF

[TigersEye]

If you’re worried about Google you might want to stay off of Youtube. Google has basically taken Youtube over. My first thought was that is where your problem is not your browser. For several days after the new Youtube-Google+ format was installed I couldn’t post on YT and had other troubles there.

[Fire_on_High]

Try YoutubeMP3 Podcaster instead. They’ve recently updated it and it’s working again, until YT finds a way to break it once more.

[Sarajevo]

Mozilla has become bloatware and opens its legs for any addon that comes into the room...

And Chrome doesn't? I erased Chrome from my machine. It was giving me more problems and hogging more memory than IE.

[ShadowAce]

[rarestia]

I’m not gonna open my computer up to Google so they can ransack my data for the criminal in the WH.

You realize that YouTube is owned by Google now, right?

That being said, this sounds more like Google closed an API into the YouTube system. This is likely a permanent "break" insomuch as Google doesn't want content taken from them.

If you can do this in another browser, I'm wrong, but I would bet this is likely a Firefox extension that will no longer function.

[ducttape45]

IF you want, I can send you an email with some snap shots of the screen. I sent an email to the creator of the plugin in question and he was as baffled as I was.

If you agree, send me your email via Freepmail and I'll forward you the information. Thanks for your help.