Fix: WhatsApp Download Command Not Working
Fix video download issues. Supported platforms, URL format, file size limits, and geo-restrictions.
!download fails or times out. Usually one of: URL not supported, content geo-blocked, source DRM-protected, or yt-dlp engine update needed.
Confirm the symptoms
- "Could not download" reply.
- Long pause then no reply.
- Audio comes through but video does not.
30-second quick fix
- Try !download --audio (audio-only often succeeds where video fails).
- Try a different source URL (TikTok, YouTube, IG).
Root causes
1. Geo-blocked content
BotWave server region may not have access to the content.
- Different source or use a public proxy.
2. Private/age-gated content
YouTube age-gated requires cookies on the server.
- BotWave operators configure cookies (see API key setup).
3. yt-dlp out of date
YouTube changes frequently; engine needs updating.
- Self-resolving; we update server-side weekly.
4. Source platform outage
TikTok occasionally rate-limits BotWave's server region.
- Wait and retry.
Detailed resolution
- 1
Test with a known-working URL
Try a popular YouTube short, eliminates URL-specific issues.
- 2
Try --audio
Audio path is more forgiving than video.
- 3
Wait an hour and retry
Many issues self-heal as upstream platforms rotate.
- 4
If persistent, message support
support@botwave.online with the failing URL.
Expected result
Video downloads successfully.
Frequently asked questions
Does BotWave cache downloaded videos?
No, streamed through and discarded.
Still stuck?
Open a support ticket from the dashboard and we will look at your session logs directly.
Other troubleshooting guides
WhatsApp Download Command Failed
How to fix "WhatsApp Download Command Failed". Step-by-step troubleshooting guide with solutions.
WhatsApp Bot Not Sending Media
How to fix "WhatsApp Bot Not Sending Media". Step-by-step troubleshooting guide with solutions.