A download failed
What the common messages mean and what usually fixes them.
Lynx updates its download engine every day and, when a download fails, updates it and tries once more by itself. So when you see a failure, something else is usually going on. Try these in order.
1. Try again
Right-click the row and choose Try Again. Sites sometimes fail for a moment.
2. Check the link
Open the link in your browser. If the video is private, deleted, age-restricted or blocked in your country, Lynx can’t get it either.
3. Common messages
| What Lynx says | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The site took too long to answer. | The connection dropped or the site is slow | Check your connection and choose Try Again |
| This video is private or needs you to be signed in. | The video isn’t public | Only public videos, or ones you have permission to save, can be downloaded |
| This video is no longer available. | It was removed, or is blocked in your country | Nothing Lynx can change |
| This site isn’t supported yet. | Lynx can’t find a video on that page | Try the link of the video itself; a direct link to a file always works. Videos behind copy protection (DRM) can’t be downloaded |
| Lynx’s download engine isn’t responding. | The part of Lynx that downloads stopped | Quit Lynx (⌘Q) and open it again |
| HTTP Error 403 | The site refused the request | Wait a few minutes and try again — Lynx updates its engine for these |
4. A big file keeps stopping
Some servers don’t like many connections. Lower Settings › Downloads › Parts per file and try again.
5. Tell us
If a site that used to work stops working, send us the link. We check, and when it’s the engine, a fix usually arrives within a day — automatically.
Updated September 25, 2026