Common Issues

Network and YouTube Restrictions

AntiBotException: "Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot"

This is a server-side block from YouTube. It happens when your IP address is flagged for "abnormal behavior" (too many requests in a short time, often caused by NAT or importing many subscriptions).

Solutions:

1. Change your IP: Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or restart your router to get a new dynamic IP.
2. Use a VPN: We recommend using a high-quality service like Proton VPN.
   • Note: We are not affiliated with this service; this recommendation is based on community tests showing its reliability.
3. Switch Region: If you are using a VPN and still get the error, simply change the server to another country. This provides a new IP that is likely not flagged by YouTube.
4. Orbot (Tor): Using Orbot allows you to rotate through different exit nodes across the world until the block is bypassed.
5. Login: Logging into your YouTube account within PipePipe remains a stable way to avoid this exception if you don't want to use a VPN.

Video Playback: "The page needs to be reloaded"

This is currently the most reported issue. Users see a popup or an error log stating: org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.exceptions.ContentNotAvailableException: The page needs to be reloaded.

Why is this happening?

YouTube frequently performs "A/B testing" on its player logic. This means they change how video data is sent to the client. Since PipePipe is a "wrapper" that extracts this data, any change on YouTube's side can break the extraction process.

The Fix (Version 4.7.8+)

The developer has already released a fix in version 4.7.8. However, many users are still experiencing the bug because of how they update the app.

Step-by-Step Resolution

1. Verify your current version Go to Settings > About in PipePipe. If you see version 4.7.7 or lower, you are affected by this bug.

2. The F-Droid Delay If you installed PipePipe via F-Droid, you might notice that 4.7.8 is not available yet. F-Droid takes about 7 days to review and publish new versions.

   Solution

   Consult our Installation Guide to learn how to install updates immediately using Obtainium or GitHub.

3. Updating immediately To fix the error right now, do not wait for F-Droid. Download the APK directly from the Official GitHub Releases.

How to prevent this in the future

To avoid being blocked for a week every time YouTube makes a change, the community recommends using Obtainium. This tool tracks the GitHub repository directly and provides updates the minute the developer hits "Publish," bypassing the F-Droid delay entirely.

Application fails to install

Make sure your device meets the System Requirements.

Android Auto

PipePipe does not appear in Android Auto

Since PipePipe is not available on the Google Play Store, Android Auto hides it by default for security reasons.

Solution:

1. Open Android Auto settings on your phone.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap the Version section 10 times until a popup says "Developer mode enabled".
3. Tap the three dots (menu) in the top right corner and select Developer settings.
4. Scroll down and check the box for Unknown sources.
5. Restart Android Auto (or disconnect and reconnect your phone to your car).

Interface and Player

Minimized player bar or "Enqueue" option is missing

Sometimes, when starting a video directly in background or popup mode, the player bar at the bottom doesn't appear, making it impossible to manage your queue.

Solution:

• This was a major bug fixed in version 4.7.2.
• If you are still seeing this, it confirms you are on an outdated version. Please update to at least 4.7.8 using the methods described in the Installation Guide.

Video buffering followed by a crash

If your video suddenly starts buffering and the app eventually crashes (common on Xiaomi/MIUI devices), it is likely a hardware synchronization issue.

Solution:

1. Go to Settings > Advanced > ExoPlayer Settings.
2. Enable the option Always use ExoPlayer video output surface setting workaround.
3. Restart the application.
4. If it still happens, a full device reboot is recommended.

Crash when playing downloaded videos

If PipePipe crashes when you try to open a downloaded file, it is usually a permission conflict with your external video player.

Solution:

• Permissions: Ensure your video player app has "Files and Media" permissions granted in Android Settings.
• Recommended Player: Use a robust player like VLC or Just (Video) Player. They handle Android's Scoped Storage better than many stock gallery apps.
• Alternative: Instead of playing from PipePipe, try opening the video directly from your phone's File Manager.