[BUG] Downloading Videos from xHamster not possible anymore!

[xIExodusIx]

Bug Description
Downloading Videos from xHamster not possible anymore since beginning 02.2026!

Using yt-dlp (latest nightly (nightly@2026.02.12.233641)) in a terminal works fine!

So I think it is not a yt-dlp problem.

I tried to uninstall an reinstall ytdownloader but this doesn't solve the problem!

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. paste xHamster-url to ytdownloader and ckick on download.

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Info (please complete the following information):

• Operating system: Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena" xfce
• App version: 3.20.2
• Package version (flatpak/snap/other): flatpak

[aandrew-me]

Well as you said, you're using the nightly release, but the program uses the stable release of yt-dlp.
However you can make ytDownloader use your nightly yt-dlp. You need to set the YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH environment variable to the path of your yt-dlp executable.
Also since you're using the flatpak version, you need to keep in mind the permission restrictions

[xIExodusIx]

Hi Andrew,
thanks for your help. Where and how can I set the YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH enviroment variable?
Can't find something like that in the Preferences of ytDownloader.

[aandrew-me]

You can use Flatseal for that

[xIExodusIx]

I have set "YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH=/usr/local/bin" but that doesn't work.
I tried also "YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH=/usr/local/bin/" and "YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH=/usr/local/bin/yt-dlp" with same result.
When restarting ytDownloader I get the message: "YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH is set, but no file exists there."
Don't know whats going on here??
There is a file with name "yt-dlp". I think it is a python file, but I'm not sure.

[aandrew-me]

Maybe because of permissions. The app doesn't have permission to access that directory.
Flatseal also allows you to give the app filesystem permissions

[xIExodusIx]

So I have installed flatseal and will now play with the settings. At this moment I can't get ytDownloader to work.
Always the same message, dosn't matter witch permissions I set.
Before 02.2026 ytDownloader worked right out of the Box. No permissions to set, no yt-dlp to update, but now it becomes more and more complicatetd. Thats nothing for a Linux-Newbe.

[aandrew-me]

Well it should be working out of the box. I gave you instructions in case you wanted to use the nightly version. You just have to wait till the update is pushed for yt-dlp. Then everything will work again

[xIExodusIx]

Okay, but sorry where is the difference between nightly, master and stable?
I have only one yt-dlp (this is a nightly) file that is locatetd in /usr/local/bin.
That file is named yt-dlp and not yt-dlp-nightly, yt-dlp-master or yt-dlp-stable or similar.
How should the yt-dlp be named for that ytDownloader will find it in the path?
Why ytDownloader says path is set but no file were found.
Or what is the corrct entry in flatseal for the enviroment variable "YTDOWNLOADER_YTDLP_PATH".
My entries (see above) will not work.
It shouldn't matter which yt-dlp branch is installed for ytDownloader. It should work with all of them without any problems.
I also gave permissons to the whole filesystem (filesystem=host) but this changes nothing. ytDownloader will not work!

[aandrew-me]

In simple words, stable build which has been tested and released for everybody, while nightly build is experimental and master is in between those.

Try copying that yt-dlp executable to your home directory and then try specifying the path