[Bug]: Videos don't load, player continuously flickers

[mooreye]

Guidelines

• [X] I have encountered this bug in the latest release of FreeTube.
• [X] I have encountered this bug in the official downloads of FreeTube.
• [X] I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the bug report I want to file, without success.
• [X] I have searched the documentation for information that matches the description of the bug I want to file, without success.
• [X] This issue contains only one bug.

Describe the bug

I get

NotSupportedError: The element has no supported sources.

on every video. It keeps flickering between a full-sized and thumbnail-sized player, and never loads (it flickers like was shown here: https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube/issues/5452).

Local API is selected as backend, fallback to non-prefered is enabled. Invidious proxy is disabled.

Expected Behavior

vid loads

Issue Labels

API issue, content not loading, feature stopped working

FreeTube Version

v0.21.1 Beta

Operating System Version

Fedora 40

Installation Method

Flathub

Primary API used

Local API

Last Known Working FreeTube Version (If Any)

0.21.1 Beta

Additional Information

on same version, it used to work fine. Today issues started.

Nightly Build

• [ ] I have encountered this bug in the latest nightly build.

[mkalinski]

I have started to get this problem a few minutes ago for every video as well.

Proxying through invidious stops the flickering but also fails with the message: NotSupportedError: Failed to load because no supported source was found.

However, the video does play when opened on the same invidious instance via web browser, so it seems like the problem may be in Freetube

EDIT: This comment has a better workaround.

[stripe1000]

Same issue, just verifying this is happening to me as well

[ArthurKun21]

VIDEOJS: ERROR: (CODE:4 MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED) The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. qn {code: 4, message: 'The media could not be loaded, either because the …rk failed or because the format is not supported.'}

renderer.js:2 Unable to play dash formats.  Reverting to legacy formats...

renderer.js:2 Uncaught (in promise) TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'ready')
    at renderer.js:2:1797362

[VHF2688]

Same happening to Zorin 17.1 (.deb) version

[ArthurKun21]

To make it easier for the devs, let's just upvote the main post

[garfhub]

Same issue, just verifying this is happening to me as well

[Gorrrg]

Same issue. The player reloads the videos over and over again. A few days ago videos would load in very low resolution until I reloaded them with ctrl-r, but now it's totally broken.

Switching from Local API to Invidious fixed the issue for now. But Invidious instances are unreliable so it won't last.

[Feuerstahl]

Same issue for me. I switched back to invidious instance with no luck. I got this error message:

SyntaxError: Unexpected end of JSON input

Edit: Livestreams are working

[philobyte]

Exact same problem as given by Keru4 above.

Switching to Invidious does not fix the problem for me: My subscriptions page will not load at all, and most videos will either not load caused by error code "Error: Could not get channel info." or "TypeError: Failed to fetch". Other videos will not load for a long time and then fall back to Local API flickering.

[VideoGames1000]

Switching to Invidious seems to have resolved the issue (temporarily and tempermentally) but I can confirm that with Local API the player flickers trying to load, and opening the dev console with F12 shows that it's repeatedly 403ing, making me think it might be Youtube fucking with things yet again.

I haven't exactly delved into the code or read through the log (because it keeps spamming itself to all hell) nor do I really know shit, but maybe this much helps somewhat?

[profucius]

Same issue. Switching from Local API to Invidious API does seem to fix it. Would like to switch back to Local API once it is fixed, as I have too many subscriptions for the Invidious API to work properly.

[BillowingHillock]

Same issue. As others have said switching to individuous API seems to fix the problem.

[LowryConor]

Same for me but switching to invidious instance (at least invidious.fdn.fr) did not fix.

Live videos like Sky News work fine

[Psychocrysma]

Having this issue as well. Switching to Invidious makes the page load indefinitely for me, until it switches back to local api and starts doing this again.

[4yman-0]

5459 #5458 #5457

make sure you searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues.

[david-0609]

It seems like youtube is doing something weird currently and that is impacting FreeTube, Newpipe and Invidious. Invidious instances only provide "medium" resolution and like FreeTube, Newpipe is broken as well

[SeoReadeHenn]

I had this issue inconsistently with some videos yesterday, which was fixed by refreshing by going to the homepage and back. Today it happens to all videos and refreshing doesn't fix it.

[durakraft]

Also found my way here, live streams works everything else flickers like crazy, windows 11 64bits

[Infinality]

Possibly youtube cracking down on 3rd party apps that circumvent their ad revenue? They were talking about this a few months ago and I was wondering if we'd see impacts to Freetube.

[profucius]

SmartTube for android has also been struggling lately, that dev has been releasing updates near daily to keep the app working. Google is shifting the tectonic plates around to address losses in ad-revenue.

[cyberdev1x]

I just started having this problem an hour ago. I may have found a temp fix for now. I went into settings, player settings, and toggled "proxy video through invidious". This seems to have gotten the videos to play for me. When I go back into the settings and toggle off "proxy video through invidious" I start to get the same endless loop again. Toggle it back on and the videos are playing just find now.

[karolyi]

@cyberdev1x that way the invidious instances will get throttled/banned by youtube and over time you'll end up with the same problem, videos not playing.

It was only a question of time until youtube makes a move against freetube and the likes, and this will always be a cat and mouse game. The ball now is again at the freetube devs' field.

[diego10arg]

Same issue here, hope you can fix it :-)

[CharaDr33murr]

Yeah, same issue. Probably YouTube cracking down on 3rd party apps. Invidious API just makes the videos load indefinitely.

[endorses]

Another workaround that works for me is setting mpv as External Player in External Player Settings. Clicking the 'Open in mpv' icon that appears when hovering a thumbnail then plays the video in mpv.

[garfhub]

Another workaround that works for me is setting mpv as External Player in External Player Settings. Clicking the 'Open in mpv' icon that appears when hovering a thumbnail then plays the video in mpv.

I would go with that temp. but sadly i get an error "JavaScript error occures in the main process" with every external player i tried.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Like @ArthurKun21 mentioned already please refrain from commenting as we are already working on a fix. Please just upvote the issue.

Temporary workaround, for the best viewing experience I recommend doing the following things:

• Set Primary API to Invidious in the General Settings
• Select an Instance that is near to you, see https://api.invidious.io/. Make sure to pick one that has a check mark in the API field. Also make sure you start typing the instance name in the Current Invidious Instance field under the General Settings with https:// and it should list instances as suggestions.
• Disable Fallback to Non-Preferred Backend on Failure in the General Settings
• Disable Proxy Videos Through Invidious in the Player settings

[!NOTE] Try other Invidious instances when an instance isnt working. Some Invidious instances are IP blocked by YouTube.

[!NOTE] Playback will work like you are used to after this issue is fixed in our upcoming hotfix/minor release but the flickering issue wont be fully resolved. In some rare cases users can still experience this, see https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube/issues/1442. This will be fully fixed in our upcoming major release.

[DavidAcrata]

Same issue.

[garfhub]

Temporary workaround:

For the best viewing experience I recommend doing the following things:

* Set Primary API to Invidious in the General Settings

* Select an Instance that is near to you, see https://api.invidious.io/. Make sure to pick one that has a checkmark in the API field. Also make sure you start typing the instance name with `https://` and it should list instances as suggestions.

* Disable Fallback to Non-Preferred Backend on Failure in the General Settings

* Disbale Proxy Videos Through Invidious in the Player settings

Thank you! That works currently with https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/

[pafurijaz]

Same here few hours ago worked well, I use the AppImage with Ubuntu LTS NotSupportedError: Failed to load because no supported source was found.

Maybe it's YouTube that Have changed something, via web Invidious works..

[Contmotore]

Same issue in Windows 11

[ACR-Jeff]

Void Linux running v0.21.1 Beta with Local API having the same issue, Flickers and then spinning. Nothing plays.

Switched to Invidious API and choose an available instance Is what I have chosen https://invidious.darkness.services Getting this error Invidious API (click to copy) Error: This channel does not exist. Even after receiving the error videos play again.

[rjdg14]

Videos do not currently seem to be loading in FreeTube at all even with Invidious mode switched on, yet they work fine in a web browser on the same Invidious instance (inv.tux.pizza).

[ACR-Jeff]

Videos do not currently seem to be loading in FreeTube at all even with Invidious mode switched on, yet they work fine in a web browser on the same Invidious instance (inv.tux.pizza).

I tried the inv.tux.pizza and had the same issue, Try switching to another instance. What worked for me https://invidious.darkness.services

[Shadow8472]

I have been observing this on Linux (EndeavourOS), but I usually can hit back and forward to clear it. Not so on my sister's Win 10 machine -- even with https://invidious.darkness.services.

[semliki]

Like @ArthurKun21 mentioned already please refrain from commenting as we are already working on a fix. Please just upvote the issue.

Temporary workaround, for the best viewing experience I recommend doing the following things:

* Set Primary API to Invidious in the General Settings

* Select an Instance that is near to you, see https://api.invidious.io/. Make sure to pick one that has a check mark in the API field. Also make sure you start typing the instance name in the Current Invidious Instance field under the General Settings with `https://` and it should list instances as suggestions.

* Disable Fallback to Non-Preferred Backend on Failure in the General Settings

* Disable Proxy Videos Through Invidious in the Player settings

Note

Try other Invidious instances when an instance isnt working. Some Invidious instances are IP blocked by YouTube.

Note

Playback will work like you are used to after this issue is fixed in our upcoming hotfix/minor release but the flickering issue wont be fully resolved. In some rare cases users can still experience this, see #1442. This will be fully fixed in our upcoming major release.

[Sorry to notify due to quote reply] I can confirm having the bug, and that changing to invidious fixes the problem temporarily.

FreeTube v0.21.1 macOS 13.6.7

[ACR-Jeff]

After commenting above I noticed your reply not to comment, I apologize,

Yet I figured this was important, Void Linux running v0.21.1 Beta, I am getting an error on screen and thought I would share it, In hopes it may help solve this issue. With this issue follows no subscriptions showing on Freetube, While the invidious instance is available in the list on invidious instance website, Changing to another instance solves it. Appears YT is blocking invidious instances after a period of time? This isn't the first time today that I have had to change instances even while they appear active on Invidious website. I am guessing they are blocking connections after a certain time frame?

SyntaxError: Unexpected token '<', "<!DOCTYPE "... is not valid JSON

Thank you for such a great software.

[NikNikovsky]

@ACR-Jeff @rjdg14 Just switch the primary API to the default Individous API

[ACR-Jeff]

@ACR-Jeff @rjdg14 Just switch the primary API to the default Individous API

Default? What is the default you speak of? Judging from api.invidious.io website that's provided via the general tab in freetube there is no default instance. Maybe I have missed something? It also depends on your location. It appears YT is targeting the invidious instances or api.

[CJUK1985]

I do hope that this gets fixed as I use FreeTube to download music, sports highlights and the occassional movie while all the while staying free from the Google trap but if it isn't fixed then so be it. I shall not be joining YouTube officially. Also, to those above claiming to have fixed it at their end, they are clearly lying.

[Cyborgscode]

2. Workaround: just play it externally.

MPV as external player works great.

[rjdg14]

@ACR-Jeff @rjdg14 Just switch the primary API to the default Individous API

It gives the error "TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'primaries')" regardless of the instance when in Invidious mode with fallback to the default API disabled. Loading the video by the Invidious instance website does seem to still work.

[choc1024]

YouTube won the war. We lost. FreeTube, Piped, Invidious all stopped working.

[choc1024]

We shal now enable our adblockers, Adguard home, pihole, and go to www.youtube.com. we can only hope for the best. :( snif...

[choc1024]

im having the same problem

[CJUK1985]

Fuck Google

[choc1024]

Fuck Google

that might be true, but they are winning the war we are all just simple, weak infantry soldiers the developers are the generals and commanders but google has tanks google has the law on their side

if we don't do something then we are doomed to extinction and we will be forced to use YouTube. We will be enslaved by google, forced to watch and waste hours of our lives worth of ads in order for them to get rich

we need a miracle SCP-001

[zephiii]

@ACR-Jeff @rjdg14 Just switch the primary API to the default Individous API

Getting notification spam when trying to use it.

[senolfndk]

same problem

[CJUK1985]

You know what you can do if this is the end of Freetube and the others like it? NOT USE YOUTUBE AND GET ON WITH LIFE WITHOUT IT. Really is that simple.