YouTube video won't play (errors 150/153)

If a YouTube video shows an error instead of playing — often 150 or 153 — YouTube itself is refusing to let it play inside another app. It isn't a fault with your screen or with impressBox. Here's why it happens and the reliable way around it.

Why it happens

Some YouTube videos are set by their owner so they can't be played outside YouTube. When impressPlayer tries to show one, YouTube returns an error such as 150 or 153. This can also change over time — a video that played yesterday can start refusing today — and it's decided entirely by YouTube, so there's no setting on our side that can force it to play.

The reliable fix: add the video as a file

If the video matters, don't depend on the YouTube link. Download the clip and add it as a normal video file instead:

  1. Download the video as an MP4, ideally 1920×1080 (Full HD).

  2. Add it to your content the same way you add any file. See Adding content to your library and Supported media & video encoding.

  3. Put it in your playlist in place of the YouTube link and publish.

A file you host yourself always plays — there are no embedding rules to get in the way, and it keeps playing even if the internet drops.

Good to know

  • The block is random: the same video can play on one screen and fail on another, and a video that worked before can start failing later. A failed embed can interrupt the screen — which is exactly why uploading the video as a file is the dependable fix.

  • Double-check the link is correct and the video is public — a private, unlisted, or deleted video won't play either. See Add a web page, URL or YouTube video.

  • Only download and reuse videos you have the right to use.

Next steps: back to the content basics in Adding content, or if you're still stuck, email support.