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To fix FFmpeg’s “Invalid data found when processing input” error, first identify the exact input FFmpeg rejected, then check whether the failure began during YouTube extraction, file download, or a later merge or conversion. The message is FFmpeg’s invalid-input-data error, not a diagnosis of one specific cause: the FFmpeg Project documents it as “Invalid data found when processing input” (error-code documentation).
Find which stage failed
Read the log from the beginning, not just the final error. FFmpeg may be opening a remote YouTube URL, parsing a file that yt-dlp saved, or merging separate audio and video inputs after a download. The fix depends on which operation failed. For example, yt-dlp issue reports show an FFmpeg error after an nsig extraction failed warning during section downloads, and a different error when FFmpeg later rejects an audio input during a stream-copy merge (yt-dlp issue reports).
- Extractor or download stage: Look for warnings before FFmpeg starts, including signature or format-extraction errors, and check whether the download was declared complete.
- Local input parsing: Find the filename in FFmpeg’s “Error opening input” message. This is the file to inspect.
- Merge or post-processing: Check the FFmpeg command and each input listed. A completed download does not establish that every file can be parsed or copied into the selected output container.
Note whether you used yt-dlp options such as --download-sections; trimming or section downloads can change which stage is involved.
Probe the exact file FFmpeg rejected
Run ffprobe against the named input, substituting its actual path:
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ffprobe -hide_banner -v error -show_format -show_streams "input-file"ffprobe is included with FFmpeg. It reports recognized container and stream information when it can parse the file. Keep the output, filename and extension, file size, and yt-dlp’s completion status together while diagnosing.
- No usable format or streams: Confirm the file is actually media data and not a partial transfer or a non-media response. If the download is incomplete or unusable, reacquire it with an up-to-date yt-dlp rather than repeatedly trying remuxing or re-encoding commands on the same bytes.
- Streams are detected: Use the reported format and streams to investigate the specific operation and output format. Do not assume the extension is the cause or rename the file blindly.
- FFmpeg was given a URL: Determine whether it was given a playable media stream or a YouTube page URL. The full command and preceding extraction output are needed to distinguish that from a damaged local file.
The probe narrows the question; by itself it does not identify why an upstream download or later operation failed.
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Update yt-dlp and its YouTube support components
If the log points to YouTube extraction or the download is incomplete, update yt-dlp and retry. Use the update route that matches how you installed it:
- Release binary:
yt-dlp -U - Stable has the problem: yt-dlp recommends trying nightly before filing a bug report; for its binary, use
yt-dlp --update-to nightly. - Package-manager installation: Update yt-dlp through that package manager rather than mixing installation methods.
- pip installation: Repeat the pip installation or upgrade command you used to install yt-dlp.
yt-dlp lists yt-dlp-ejs as required for full YouTube support. If the log specifically shows extractor or signature problems, check that this component is available and current as well. Installation and update guidance is in the yt-dlp README.
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Match FFmpeg version advice to the media and error
There is no one FFmpeg version change that fixes every invalid-data error. yt-dlp’s known-issues notes give targeted recommendations for particular cases:
| When the case matches | Maintainer guidance |
|---|---|
Live, post-live, or DASH video affected by duplicate ftyp data and the FFmpeg 6.1 regression |
Use FFmpeg 6.1.1 or later, or a master build at revision N-112916 or later. |
| HDR VP9 video in MP4 affected by the separately listed issue | Use FFmpeg 7.0.1 or latest master. |
These are issue-specific workarounds, not a general guarantee. First confirm the media type and observed failure match the note; do not downgrade, force a format, or re-encode without evidence that the change addresses your case.
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If the error remains, share enough evidence to diagnose it
A final error line is not enough to select a root cause. Before asking for help or filing a report, collect:
- The exact command you ran and the complete verbose output, including warnings before FFmpeg’s final error.
- yt-dlp, FFmpeg, and ffprobe versions.
- The selected format or formats, the exact failed input filename, and whether yt-dlp reported a completed download.
- Whether the video is live or post-live, whether it is HDR VP9, and whether you used section trimming.
- ffprobe output for the rejected local file, if there is one.
Redact cookies, authorization data, and signed stream URLs before sharing logs. The yt-dlp issue template requests verbose output; its reports illustrate why the extraction warning, selected formats, FFmpeg invocation, and versions matter.
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