[YouTube] MPEG-4 720p stream of some videos is not loading

[Taratect]

Checklist

• I am using the latest version - x.xx.x
• I checked, but didn't find any duplicates (open OR closed) of this issue in the repo.
• I have read the contribution guidelines given at https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/blob/HEAD/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md.
• This issue contains only one bug. I will open one issue for every bug report I want to file.

Steps to reproduce the bug

These are the links I found videos where 720p to keep loading despite loading desc n comments:

https://youtu.be/GDKVtWikC50
https://youtu.be/YlXbDoysa1I

Actual behaviour

The video keeps on loading even tho there is a good connection and I can watch it seamlessly on other browser.

Expected behavior

The video should load fine.

Screenshots/Screen recordings

Logs

No log

Device info

• Android version/Custom ROM version: Android 10 (MIUI 11)
• Device model: Redmi 8

[EthanZeigler]

Another example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea9xIxbB1lA. Happy to provide any other information. Im on a google pixel 3 running the latest version as of this comment through fdroid. Just checked.

[opusforlife2]

@Taratect Both videos load at 720p for me. But the first video took some time before it started. And the second video took even longer (like 10+ and 15+ seconds).

@EthanZeigler Your video loaded instantly for me.

Sometimes Newpipe gets stuck loading a particular resolution, which a restart of the app (after swiping away from Recents) can fix. Sure it's not that?

[EthanZeigler]

It certainly could be, but that wasnt fixing it for me last night. If I can find a good way to reproduce this I will follow up with the procedure.

Its also possible this is an issue on YT's side given it was a specific resolution, wasn't directly after the release of an app update, multiple people experienced it, and I'm unable to find anything out of the ordinary right now.

[Taratect]

@opusforlife2 , ya I'm aware that restarting the app fixes some videos. I use this method because newpipe starts buffering after watching 3 or 4 vids. But the links I gave here didn't work for me at the time. Now I can play the vids though it lags a little.

The loading problem changes randomly and so it's hard to reproduce. Like one link I found is this which is still not loading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqViKzepqkY&t=509.

I think the problems lies in something else rather than individual videos. Also it's kinda annoying to restart the app after watching a few vids

[markochk]

The loading problem changes randomly and so it's hard to reproduce. Like one link I found is this which is still not loading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqViKzepqkY&t=509.

I'm also unable to open this video in 720p (1080p, 480p and other resolutions work fine).

Another video I've found that isn't loading in 720p is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaRcH8K7yY8

Newpipe version: 0.21.4
Android 9 (Custom ROM)
Device: Huawei Honor 6X

[opusforlife2]

I think the problems lies in something else rather than individual videos.

Probably.

[dev-a]

I confirm that I also have this problem
and it also happens when we change the quality
I did not try to switch to other formats like webm

[opusforlife2]

Whoops! So sorry guys. I actually absent-mindedly tested all the links with WebM, not MP4. I just opened all the links again after switching the format, and some videos are indeed giving me issues:

• Some open fine.
• Some need to first be loaded in a different resolution before going back to 720p.
• One that doesn't work for me no matter what I do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaRcH8K7yY8 discovered by @markochk

[AudricV]

So, I looked into the issue for videos tqViKzepqkY and WaRcH8K7yY8 (I can't do it for Ea9xIxbB1lA because it's now private) and it seems to be related to codecs. Before my explanation, let me explain that the extractor currently doesn't add the MPEG-4 720p stream which is video-only (itag 136) and uses the MPEG-4 720p with audio and video embedded in the same file (itag 22) (not present for musical videos). (This behavior will be reverted in TeamNewPipe/NewPipeExtractor#604.)

• the itag 22 of this video has the following MIME type: "video/mp4; codecs=\"avc1.64001F, mp4a.40.2\"". It is not playable, even if on my Windows computer in VLC or in my browsers.
• the itag 18 (MPEG-4 360p, with audio and video embedded in the same file) has the following MIME type: "video/mp4; codecs=\"avc1.42001E, mp4a.40.2\"". It plays fine on my browsers and in VLC.
• the itag 136 is also playable and has the following MIME type: "video/mp4; codecs=\"avc1.4d401f\""

I don't know if we can do something.

[opusforlife2]

This behavior will be reverted in TeamNewPipe/NewPipeExtractor#604

@TiA4f8R Will that not solve the issue?

[AudricV]

@opusforlife2 No, because we are still using video streams with audio and video embedded in the same file first, then video only streams mixed with audio only streams. So 360p and 720p video only streams are hidden and a change in the app will be needed to show these streams first.

[opusforlife2]

@TiA4f8R So that just means one more PR on the Newpipe side, right?

[Donkey-Doug]

Same for me, but the problem has now spread to all MP4 files. Only webp plays now.

Initially the problem was only for 720p for me as well.

[vehosah]

Same for me, but the problem has now spread to all MP4 files. Only webp plays now.

Initially the problem was only for 720p for me as well.

For me neither the webp works

[vehosah]

Actually nothing is working for me, neither cleaning cache works or restart the app works nor change the resolution works

[EthanZeigler]

I'm not able to replicate this anymore, but it's absolutely a real problem. The question is why. I feel like it must be a youtube-sided issue and not the app itself, or rather a weird response type that isn't consistent from YT itself.

[opusforlife2]

Could you all try #6537 to see if it solves this?

[opusforlife2]

Linking #8153 for posterity.

[Taratect]

Has anyone having buffering issues on 720p videos again lately? Idk why but some videos buffer at 720 but if I increase or lower the resolution, it plays without any problems.
The problem is seen in both mpeg and webm.

I found this url as an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1MU8DAT4ak&t=0

[EthanZeigler]

Yep, issue is back. Extremely long buffering times for mpeg 720p specifically. Not unplayable this time oddly but same vein of problem.

[Taratect]

I think I found a connection. Only videos that has 60fps option available are having this issue where 720p buffers and 720p60fps works fine in WebM and 3gp. Video is playable in MPEG 720p if there is no 60fps option is available. However speed is slower in mpeg (which results in buffering sometimes) than webm/3gp. But when there is 60fps is available you cannot watch the video in 720p as it buffers in every video format unless u change the resolution to 720p60, 1080p60, 480p.

PS: regular 1080p without 60fps is absent in videos that offers 60fps format.

[EthanZeigler]

I think I found a connection. Only videos that has 60fps option available are having this issue where 720p buffers and 720p60fps works fine in WebM and 3gp. Video is playable in MPEG 720p if there is no 60fps option is available. However speed is slower in mpeg (which results in buffering sometimes) than webm/3gp. But when there is 60fps is available you cannot watch the video in 720p as it buffers in every video format unless u change the resolution to 720p60, 1080p60, 480p.

PS: regular 1080p without 60fps is absent in videos that offers 60fps format.

Yep, this matches my experience. Nice find.

[AudricV]

The new issue described is different than the original one and is a duplicate of #10183. Closing again this issue as it was fixed.