ytdl-org/youtube-dl · error · ExtractorError

This video is protected by a passcode, use the --video-passw

Error message

This video is protected by a passcode, use the --video-password option

What it means

Raised by the Zoom extractor when the recording page contains a 'password_form' (the recording is protected by a passcode) but no --video-password option was supplied. It tells the user the download cannot proceed without the passcode.

Source

Thrown at youtube_dl/extractor/zoom.py:40

        'info_dict': {
            'id': 'dUk_CNBETmZ5VA2BwEl-jjakPpJ3M1pcfVYAPRsoIbEByGsLjUZtaa4yCATQuOL3der8BlTwxQePl_j0.EImBkXzTIaPvdZO5',
            'ext': 'mp4',
            'title': 'China\'s "two sessions" and the new five-year plan',
        }
    }

    def _real_extract(self, url):
        base_url, play_id = re.match(self._VALID_URL, url).groups()
        webpage = self._download_webpage(url, play_id)

        try:
            form = self._form_hidden_inputs('password_form', webpage)
        except ExtractorError:
            form = None
        if form:
            password = self._downloader.params.get('videopassword')
            if not password:
                raise ExtractorError(
                    'This video is protected by a passcode, use the --video-password option', expected=True)
            is_meeting = form.get('useWhichPasswd') == 'meeting'
            validation = self._download_json(
                base_url + 'rec/validate%s_passwd' % ('_meet' if is_meeting else ''),
                play_id, 'Validating passcode', 'Wrong passcode', data=urlencode_postdata({
                    'id': form[('meet' if is_meeting else 'file') + 'Id'],
                    'passwd': password,
                    'action': form.get('action'),
                }))
            if not validation.get('status'):
                raise ExtractorError(validation['errorMessage'], expected=True)
            webpage = self._download_webpage(url, play_id)

        data = self._parse_json(self._search_regex(
            r'(?s)window\.__data__\s*=\s*({.+?});',
            webpage, 'data'), play_id, js_to_json)

        return {

View on GitHub (pinned to 956b8c5855)

Solutions

1. Get the passcode from the person who shared the recording link (usually alongside the URL)
2. Supply it with --video-password '<passcode>'
3. Alternatively use a URL that already embeds the passcode ( '?pwd=...' ) if the sharer provided one

Example fix

# before
youtube-dl 'https://zoom.us/rec/share/abc-def'
# after
youtube-dl --video-password '123456' 'https://zoom.us/rec/share/abc-def'

# before calling youtube_dl, require the passcode for known Zoom share links
if 'zoom.us/rec/' in url or 'zoom.us/rec/share/' in url:
    assert options.get('videopassword'), 'Zoom recording URL needs --video-password'

try:
    ydl.download([url])
except ExtractorError as e:
    if 'protected by a passcode' in str(e):
        prompt_for_password_and_retry(url)  # prompt once, then set ydl params['videopassword']

When it happens

Trigger: Running youtube-dl against a shared Zoom cloud-recording URL that has a passcode, without passing --video-password. The extractor detects the hidden password form on the page and immediately raises (expected=True).

Common situations: Following a recording link from email/chat where the passcode is in a separate part of the message; company Zoom accounts that enforce passcodes on all shared recordings.

Related errors

• This album is protected by a password, use the --video-passw
• validation['errorMessage'] (dynamic server message)
• Invalid path
• Unauthorized user "%s"
• Missing "id" field in extractor result

AI-assisted analysis of ytdl-org/youtube-dl@956b8c5855 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/875d17db358bc2f5. Report an issue: GitHub.