[BUG]: Unknow Source 403 Error

[wowiyay]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - which I could contribute my information to.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one bug.

Affected version

stable 26.11 [Latest version ]

Device Type

Smart TV/Box

Affected Android

Android TV 4.4

Steps to reproduce the bug

I just installed SmartTube and After watching 1min~ on a vid it says Unknow source

Actual behavior

No response

Additional information

No response

[universal87]

Hi
I have been experiencing the 403 unknown source error as well for a few days on my fire stick HD device. However I have no problems on an android phone. The videos are playing nicely on it! Initially the phone also had this problem but that seems to have gone now but the fire stick device is still showing that error. I am running the latest beta release 26.26 on both the fire stick as well as the Android phone.

[Ralphie32]

With 26.26 beta Videos will play for about 20 - 30 seconds then show a 403 error then it will fix itself again for another 10 seconds and keep repeating the error 403 two or three times and play then show the error two or three times and continue to play for 10 - 15 seconds and on and on like this

With 25.87 Stable at least half if not more videos will play. At first I will get a 403 error once or twice but the videos will play without any problems as long as I don't close the app. A lot of videos will show the please sign in thing though. I didn't update because I have seen people have the 403 error with 26.11 stable

[sky0matic]

Same error happening on every video's I'm trying to watch today.

Unknown Source Error
Reponse code: 403
Don't close the player. Applying the fix...

Sometimes it autofixes itself sometimes it stays like that for a while so I just give up on that video.

I'm on the latest update on an Nvidia Shield 2019 which is also up-to-date.

[nomonoru]

I have the same bug with the two latest beta version on chromcast. It's not YouTube related since this bug is not happening on pipepipe app on the same device.

[null001-png]

I also have the same issue as the above users, doesn't happen on all videos

[dd32]

Duplicate of #4385 #4366

[joximijanum]

Yeah same with mine.

[Root-FTW]

Same here

[vaibhavkys]

same here

[BendakSK]

Same issue

[Birdflipper]

Ditto

[Devlore]

I reboot my Nvidia shield and the app works now. v26.11

[jetflux]

Same issue, Tried reinstall/wipe app came back. Sometimes it works for a whole video, but next video back again.
Reboot works but then after 1-3 videos back again. probably google messing with the ads system again?.
Asked a couple of friends, same issue.

[alimbada]

59 seconds into any video I'm getting a 403 error.

Edit: with debug info enabled I can see the buffer counting down to 0 after 30 seconds. Looks like it isn't able to fetch additional chunks after the first minute.

[Grumpy-Githubr]

Same issue for me starting on Feb 18th 2025

Error msg
——————
Unknown Source Error
Reponse code: 403
Don't close the player. Applying the fix...

Smart Tube Beta ver: 26.27

• UPDATE: Feb 19th 2025
• Restarting my Nvidia Shield resolved the issue.
• Tech support 101 'have you tried turning it off and on?' but I thought, that's dumb, there's no way that would fix the issue but...

[jetflux]

I think I found the issue, disabling sponsor block fix the "Response code : 403 error.
Seems that sponsorblock makes the problem?!?!?.
haven't had any problems since disabling it.

[vaibhavkys]

I think I found the issue, disabling sponsor block fix the "Response code : 403 error. Seems that sponsorblock makes the problem?!?!?. haven't had any problems since disabling it.

I've tried it already didn't work but imma do it again just to check if it fixes anything

[MSerj]

same here, started yesterday aswell. Latest stable. Restart of device didn't helped. TV box on Android 11

[beejj]

same issue started after updating older nvidia shield to latest shield version. Beta has same issue

[lesiki]

I was just coming here to add my +1, because videos haven't played for the past few days.

I opened a video to copy the exact error message (below).

Response code: 403
Don't close the player. Applying the fix...

...and suddenly, as I was typing this, the video played! And the next video I picked played without any error. So strange, I'm certain I had left it to "apply the fix" for 10+ minutes before.

[MarkKirathe]

Same issue....videos don’t play beyond 20 seconds. All videos have the same problem. I tried installing previous versions, but it didn’t resolve.

[Sacohen9665]

I started getting an "Unknown Source error. Response code: 403" about a week ago. Maybe a few days less.
I did a Google search on Error 403 in SmartTube and the suggestion was to clear the cache and the data, which I did and it didn't seem to help.

I uninstalled the app and re-installed the stable app from your website (Downloader cod 28544) version 26.11 and continue to have the "Unknown Source error. Response code: 403" .
OnN Walmart Onn 4K Pro system (ONN is up to date and running Andriod TV 12 Snow Cone) I don't see an option to "Apple the fix" like others are talking about.

I saw that I had the beta version installed too, so I deleted that and still have the same issue.

The longest I've gotten a video to play before the error came up is 4:15 minutes.

It's a shame this is happening.
I love this app and would hate to have to start using something else.

[MSerj]

This testing build works if you are really blocked (as was i). Otherwise you can wait for next beta and/or stable that will include the fix.
https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/releases/download/latest/SmartTube_beta_testing.apk

[Sacohen9665]

This testing build works if you are really blocked (as was i). Otherwise you can wait for next beta and/or stable that will include the fix. https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/releases/download/latest/SmartTube_beta_testing.apk

This seems to have worked.
I’ll rest it a little more and see.

[furkanahmedzia]

On latest release beta that problem 403 error not fixed as well but I've tried installing in smartphone it works but not working in Android TV more than 5-10 sec

[joximijanum]

Downloaded update through app beta build 27.34 no more error.

[Sacohen9665]

On latest release beta that problem 403 error not fixed as well but I've tried installing in smartphone it works but not working in Android TV more than 5-10 sec

This testing link has worked fine for me for the past day and a half.
https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/releases/download/latest/SmartTube_beta_testing.apk

[rwardensky]

Mine still does not work with the testing beta. Any other suggestions?

[universal87]

The latest update seems to have solved it for me on fire stick HD device.