YouTube refuses to provide data, asking for a login to confirm the requester is not a bot.

[dougpanders-sudo]

Checklist

• I am able to reproduce the bug with the latest version given here: CLICK THIS LINK.
• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - which I could contribute my information to.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.
• I have read and understood the AI policy. The content of this bug report is not generated by AI.

Affected version

28.1

Steps to reproduce the bug

All that needs to be done is clicking on any video. Sometimes this issue will occur. It usually lasts for a while, thus forcing a wait.

Expected behavior

It is expected for the video to load and play as it's supposed to.

Actual behavior

The video will not load while this issue is in effect. Not even closing and reopening the app will help. Even if the issue resolves itself, the issue will eventually come back later.

Screenshots/Screen recordings

Logs

Exception

• User Action: requested stream
• Request: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QbhlEA4ZsQ
• Content Country: US
• Content Language: en-US
• App Language: en_US
• Service: YouTube
• Timestamp: 2026-01-25T12:55:53.562-05:00
• Package: org.schabi.newpipe
• Service: YouTube
• Version: 0.28.1
• OS: Linux Android 16 - 36

Crash log

org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.exceptions.SignInConfirmNotBotException: YouTube probably temporarily blocked this IP, got error LOGIN_REQUIRED: "Sign in to confirm that you're not a bot"
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.services.youtube.extractors.YoutubeStreamExtractor.checkPlayabilityStatus(YoutubeStreamExtractor.java:941)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.services.youtube.extractors.YoutubeStreamExtractor.throwExceptionIfPlayerResponseNotValid(YoutubeStreamExtractor.java:990)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.services.youtube.extractors.YoutubeStreamExtractor.fetchHtml5Client(YoutubeStreamExtractor.java:959)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.services.youtube.extractors.YoutubeStreamExtractor.onFetchPage(YoutubeStreamExtractor.java:858)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.Extractor.fetchPage(Extractor.java:60)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.stream.StreamInfo.getInfo(StreamInfo.java:77)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.stream.StreamInfo.getInfo(StreamInfo.java:72)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.util.ExtractorHelper.$r8$lambda$bVfA-5gb6gDc8jcAgcGWG5oH0FE(ExtractorHelper.java:118)
	at org.schabi.newpipe.util.ExtractorHelper$$ExternalSyntheticLambda3.call(R8$$SyntheticClass:0)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.single.SingleFromCallable.subscribeActual(SingleFromCallable.java:43)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Single.subscribe(Single.java:4855)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.single.SingleDoOnSuccess.subscribeActual(SingleDoOnSuccess.java:35)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Single.subscribe(Single.java:4855)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.maybe.MaybeFromSingle.subscribeActual(MaybeFromSingle.java:41)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Maybe.subscribe(Maybe.java:5377)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.maybe.MaybeConcatArray$ConcatMaybeObserver.drain(MaybeConcatArray.java:153)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.maybe.MaybeConcatArray$ConcatMaybeObserver.request(MaybeConcatArray.java:78)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.flowable.FlowableElementAtMaybe$ElementAtSubscriber.onSubscribe(FlowableElementAtMaybe.java:66)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.maybe.MaybeConcatArray.subscribeActual(MaybeConcatArray.java:42)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Flowable.subscribe(Flowable.java:16149)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.flowable.FlowableElementAtMaybe.subscribeActual(FlowableElementAtMaybe.java:36)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Maybe.subscribe(Maybe.java:5377)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.maybe.MaybeToSingle.subscribeActual(MaybeToSingle.java:46)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Single.subscribe(Single.java:4855)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.operators.single.SingleSubscribeOn$SubscribeOnObserver.run(SingleSubscribeOn.java:89)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Scheduler$DisposeTask.run(Scheduler.java:644)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.schedulers.ScheduledRunnable.run(ScheduledRunnable.java:80)
	at io.reactivex.rxjava3.internal.schedulers.ScheduledRunnable.call(ScheduledRunnable.java:71)
	at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:317)
	at java.util.concurrent.ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor$ScheduledFutureTask.run(ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor.java:348)
	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1154)
	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:652)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:1563)

---

Affected Android/Custom ROM version

Android 16

Affected device model

Pixel 7a

Additional information

No response

[ASDFZXCVLMAO]

Idk why happend that but if u use a vpn sometimes fix it (or well for me works).

[dougpanders-sudo]

Idk why happend that but if u use a vpn sometimes fix it (or well for me works).

Unfortunately, I don't have a VPN at the moment. One won't be obtainable anytime soon either as I have other things ongoing IRL.

[danuker]

This is a duplicate of #11139. YouTube has probably tightened its non-official client detection. It is a cat and mouse game.