How to Fix the “Private Content,” “Video Unavailable,” and CAPTCHA Errors

Sometimes, you may encounter error messages like “Private content – login required,” “Video unavailable,” “Sign in to confirm you are not a bot,” or “CAPTCHA detected” in 4K Video Downloader Plus or 4K YouTube to MP3 even when trying to download public YouTube videos. This can be confusing, but these errors typically don’t mean the video itself is private or unavailable.

Why This Happens

These messages usually result from restrictions applied by YouTube to your account or IP address. YouTube may temporarily limit access if it detects:

• A large number of downloads in a short period
• Repeated use of the same IP address or account for multiple downloads
• Suspicious activity patterns

You may also encounter similar errors when attempting to watch videos directly on YouTube, not just in the 4K Download apps.

What to Do

• Try a different supported website. Check if the issue is specific to YouTube by downloading from another supported platform. If other sites work but YouTube does not, it’s likely that your IP address or YouTube account is temporarily restricted.

• Test YouTube in Incognito mode. Here is how to do it:

  1. Open your web browser in Incognito or private mode:
     • Chrome/Edge: Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or ⌘ + Shift + N (macOS).
     • Firefox: Press Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + P (macOS).
  2. Go to YouTube and try to watch the video directly.
     If you see a CAPTCHA or a “Video unavailable” message, your access is likely restricted by YouTube.
  3. Open the built-in browser in 4K Video Downloader Plus or 4K YouTube to MP3 and try to play the same video.
  4. If a CAPTCHA appears, complete it and then check if the video becomes available for download.

• Log in to YouTube within the app. In the app’s Control Panel, log in to your YouTube account. If already logged in, sign out and log in again to refresh the connection.

  You may also try a different YouTube account to see if that resolves the issue.

• Change your IP address. If logging in doesn’t fix the issue, try changing your IP address:

  1. Use a VPN. This is the most effective method. The following VPN services are known to work well with 4K Video Downloader Plus and 4K YouTube to MP3:
     • ExpressVPN
     • KeepSolid VPN
     • StrongVPN
     • Surfshark
     • CyberGhost
     • IPVanish
     • NordVPN
     
     If you are located in China, users have reported good results with:
     • Juzifast
     • ClashVerge
     
     
  2. Switch to a different internet connection. Use your mobile phone as a personal hotspot or connect to another Wi-Fi network.
  3. Restart your router. Sometimes, simply rebooting your router can assign a new IP address and resolve the issue.

• Wait and try again later. These restrictions are often temporary and may resolve on their own after some time.

Still Need Help?

If the problem persists, please contact our support team. Please include:

• The specific link(s) causing the issue
• A screenshot of the error or behavior
• The version number of your application
• Whether you’re logged into YouTube via our app
• Your operating system and its build
• The steps you’ve already tried

Most issues can be resolved using the methods described above, but our support team is always ready to provide further assistance if needed.