ytdl-org/youtube-dl · error · ExtractorError

%s. Use --username and --password or --netrc to provide acco

Error message

%s. Use --username and --password or --netrc to provide account credentials.

What it means

Error "%s. Use --username and --password or --netrc to provide account credentials." thrown in ytdl-org/youtube-dl.

Source

Thrown at youtube_dl/extractor/common.py:1012

    def report_extraction(self, id_or_name):
        """Report information extraction."""
        self.to_screen('%s: Extracting information' % id_or_name)

    def report_download_webpage(self, video_id):
        """Report webpage download."""
        self.to_screen('%s: Downloading webpage' % video_id)

    def report_age_confirmation(self):
        """Report attempt to confirm age."""
        self.to_screen('Confirming age')

    def report_login(self):
        """Report attempt to log in."""
        self.to_screen('Logging in')

    @staticmethod
    def raise_login_required(msg='This video is only available for registered users'):
        raise ExtractorError(
            '%s. Use --username and --password or --netrc to provide account credentials.' % msg,
            expected=True)

    @staticmethod
    def raise_geo_restricted(msg='This video is not available from your location due to geo restriction', countries=None):
        raise GeoRestrictedError(msg, countries=countries)

    def raise_no_formats(self, msg, expected=False, video_id=None):
        if expected and (
                self.get_param('ignore_no_formats_error') or self.get_param('wait_for_video')):
            self.report_warning(msg, video_id)
        elif isinstance(msg, ExtractorError):
            raise msg
        else:
            raise ExtractorError(msg, expected=expected, video_id=video_id)

    # Methods for following #608
    @staticmethod

View on GitHub (pinned to 956b8c5855)

Solutions

1. Provide account credentials with --username and --password, or use a --netrc file.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at youtube_dl/extractor/common.py:1012 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of ytdl-org/youtube-dl@956b8c5855 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/eff33431882fd5ea. Report an issue: GitHub.