To fix FFmpeg’s “Invalid data found when processing input” error, first identify the exact input named in the error and inspect it with ffprobe. The message is FFmpeg’s generic invalid-input-data error, not a diagnosis: the failure may originate in YouTube extraction, a partial or non-media download, or a later merge or post-processing step. The right fix depends on which stage failed.
What the error means
The FFmpeg Project assigns the message “Invalid data found when processing input” to AVERROR_INVALIDDATA. It means FFmpeg could not process the input data it encountered; by itself, it does not identify why that data was unusable. See the FFmpeg error-code documentation.
With a YouTube download, the error can appear after different operations. yt-dlp may have trouble extracting or downloading a stream; FFmpeg may reject a saved file; or a merge or other post-processing command may fail on one of its inputs. For example, yt-dlp issue reports describe both a section-download failure preceded by an nsig extraction failed warning and a completed download whose audio input fails in a later stream-copy merge. Those are distinct failure paths, even if the final error looks similar. See the yt-dlp issue tracker.
Find which stage failed
- Read the log above the final error. Find the first warning or failed command, not just the last line. Note whether FFmpeg was opening a remote YouTube URL, a local file after download, or separate audio and video files for a merge. Record whether you used
--download-sections. - Identify the exact rejected input. Copy the filename or URL from FFmpeg’s error. If the failure is in a merge, determine whether it names the audio or video input.
- Check whether the download completed. Preserve the file size and yt-dlp’s completion message. A partial transfer or a response that is not media data should be downloaded again; trying repeated remux or re-encode commands will not make unusable bytes into a valid media file.
- Use the operation and media type to narrow the path. An extractor or signature warning points toward yt-dlp’s extraction stage. A local file that cannot be parsed points toward the saved input. A failure after successful downloads points toward the particular merge or post-processing operation.
Probe the exact input with ffprobe
Run this against the file FFmpeg says it cannot process, replacing input-file with the actual path:
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ffprobe -hide_banner -v error -show_format -show_streams "input-file"
- If ffprobe reports no usable format or streams: check that the file is actually media data and that the download completed. If it is partial, empty, or a non-media response, reacquire it with an up-to-date yt-dlp and inspect the new file.
- If ffprobe identifies a format and streams: note the detected format and streams, then investigate the operation that failed. A filename extension alone does not establish the file’s actual format; do not rename it blindly.
- If the rejected input is remote: preserve the full log and determine whether yt-dlp extraction or the remote input-opening step failed before treating it as a corrupt local download.
For ffprobe options and output fields, consult the FFprobe documentation.
Update yt-dlp and its YouTube extraction components
If the log points to YouTube extraction, update yt-dlp before retrying. For the release binary, use yt-dlp -U. If stable still fails, yt-dlp recommends trying nightly; its documented binary command is:
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yt-dlp --update-to nightly
If you installed yt-dlp with pip or a package manager, update it through the same installation method. yt-dlp also lists yt-dlp-ejs as required for full YouTube support, so check that it is installed and current when the log indicates an extractor or signature problem. See the yt-dlp project README and its extractor documentation.
Apply FFmpeg version fixes only when the issue matches
There is no single FFmpeg version change that fixes every invalid-data error. yt-dlp’s maintained known-issues page gives targeted guidance for particular media and version combinations:
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- Live, post-live, or DASH video with duplicate
ftypdata: yt-dlp describes a regression in FFmpeg 6.1 and recommends FFmpeg 6.1.1 or later, or a master build at revisionN-112916or later. - HDR VP9 in MP4: for this separate issue, yt-dlp recommends FFmpeg 7.0.1 or the latest master build.
These are issue-specific recommendations, not a general guarantee. Match the video type and observed failure to the relevant entry before changing FFmpeg. See yt-dlp’s known issues and issue reports.
Common symptoms and next steps
| What you see | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
An nsig extraction failed warning before FFmpeg errors while opening inputs |
The extraction stage and yt-dlp version | Update yt-dlp and its YouTube extraction components, then retry and review the full log. |
| yt-dlp says the download completed, but FFmpeg rejects a file during a later merge | The exact audio or video input named in the merge command; probe it with ffprobe | If it is incomplete or not recognized as media, reacquire it. If it has valid streams, investigate the merge operation and any matching version-specific issue. |
| ffprobe detects streams, but a remux or post-processing step still fails | The command, selected formats, and first error in the log | Diagnose that operation rather than changing the extension or applying an unrelated FFmpeg downgrade. |
| The failed video is live, post-live, DASH, or HDR VP9 in MP4 | Whether its media type and FFmpeg version match a documented known issue | Apply only the corresponding version recommendation above. |
What to include if you need help
If the targeted checks do not resolve it, share enough evidence to distinguish extraction, input parsing, and post-processing. yt-dlp issue templates request verbose output; its issue reports show why the selected formats, extraction warnings, and FFmpeg command line matter. Before posting logs, remove cookies, authorization data, and signed stream URLs.
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- The exact command and complete verbose output, including lines before the final error.
- yt-dlp, FFmpeg, and ffprobe versions.
- The selected format or formats and the exact failed input filename.
- Whether the video is live or post-live, uses HDR VP9 in MP4, or was downloaded with section trimming enabled.
- Whether yt-dlp declared the download complete and, if the input is local, its file size and ffprobe output.
Without the command, versions, log, and rejected input, an individual root cause cannot be determined from the error text alone.
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