ytdl-org/youtube-dl · error · ExtractorError

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

Error message

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

What it means

Raised by VimeoBaseInfoExtractor._get_video_password when the target video presents a password form but the caller supplied no --video-password / videopassword param. It is a configuration precondition: the video is private-but-link-accessible and Vimeo requires the per-video password before serving data. expected=True.

Source

Thrown at youtube_dl/extractor/vimeo.py:79

        self._set_vimeo_cookie('vuid', vuid)
        try:
            self._download_webpage(
                self._LOGIN_URL, None, 'Logging in',
                data=urlencode_postdata(data), headers={
                    'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
                    'Referer': self._LOGIN_URL,
                })
        except ExtractorError as e:
            if isinstance(e.cause, compat_HTTPError) and e.cause.code == 418:
                raise ExtractorError(
                    'Unable to log in: bad username or password',
                    expected=True)
            raise ExtractorError('Unable to log in')

    def _get_video_password(self):
        password = self._downloader.params.get('videopassword')
        if password is None:
            raise ExtractorError(
                'This video is protected by a password, use the --video-password option',
                expected=True)
        return password

    def _verify_video_password(self, url, video_id, password, token, vuid):
        if url.startswith('http://'):
            # vimeo only supports https now, but the user can give an http url
            url = url.replace('http://', 'https://')
        self._set_vimeo_cookie('vuid', vuid)
        return self._download_webpage(
            url + '/password', video_id, 'Verifying the password',
            'Wrong password', data=urlencode_postdata({
                'password': password,
                'token': token,
            }), headers={
                'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
                'Referer': url,
            })

View on GitHub (pinned to 956b8c5855)

Solutions

Supply the password: --video-password SECRET on the CLI, or {'videopassword': '...'} in params for API use.
If the password is correct but you still fail later, see the 'Wrong video password' error (check-password returning false).
Store passwords out of shell history (prompt or netrc-style secret files) when scripting.
For embed URLs, the password check goes through _verify_player_video_password — same param name applies.

Example fix

# before
youtube_dl 'https://vimeo.com/12345678'
# after
youtube_dl --video-password 'hunter2' 'https://vimeo.com/12345678'

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

params = ydl.params
if needs_password_check(url) and not params.get('videopassword'):
    fail_fast('this video is password-protected: pass --video-password before extracting')

Try / catch

try:
    ydl.extract_info(url)
except ExtractorError as e:
    if e.expected and '--video-password' in str(e):
        prompt_and_set_video_password_then_retry_once()
    else:
        raise

Prevention

Collect per-video passwords alongside URL lists in job configuration.
Prompt for the video password up front when you know the target is protected.
Distinguish the video password from the account password in tooling.

When it happens

Trigger: Extracting a Vimeo URL whose page contains the pw_form / password check while self._downloader.params.get('videopassword') is None — i.e. forgot the option in CLI or API params.

Common situations: Event recordings, client-review uploads, and paid-course videos shared with a password; batch scripts not passing --video-password; API users omitting 'videopassword' in params.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of ytdl-org/youtube-dl@956b8c5855 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e8d7732c610e20cb. Report an issue: GitHub.