Downloaded File Has 0 Bytes

Question

I'm trying to download a .mp3 music file from this URL to the project root directory but the downloaded file always has 0 bytes in size (it is blank). The download also immediately stops.

I'm using the following code:

import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.MalformedURLException;
import java.net.URL;

import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;

public class MusicDownloader
{
    public static void main(String[] arguments) throws MalformedURLException, IOException
    {
        download("https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary_download?vid=d0a68933f592c297", "Ponies and Balloons");
    }

    public static void download(String url, String fileName) throws MalformedURLException, IOException
    {
        FileUtils.copyURLToFile(new URL(url), new File(fileName + ".mp3"));
    }
}

In a browser, downloading the file manually works flawlessly. A download link from another website e.g. this one had no problems to be processed by the code. What could be the problem here?

Sending a valid user-agent String doesn't work either.

I haven't checked, but it's possible that Youtube is doing redirects and Apache Commons IO isn't following them. — Powerlord, Jul 30 '15 at 17:51
@Powerlord: Which code/approach would you suggest to consider/detect redirects? — BullyWiiPlaza, Jul 30 '15 at 18:13

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 30 '15 at 18:17

The problem is actually with your URL https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary_download?vid=d0a68933f592c297. It is actually issuing a redirect as Resource Temp Moved - 301 status code. So you need to pick its new URL. I tried using it HttpURLConnection to see that new redirected url is https://youtube-audio-library.storage.googleapis.com/d0a68933f592c297. You can use the below code :-

String urlString = "https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary_download?vid=d0a68933f592c297";
        URL url = new URL(urlString);
        HttpURLConnection huc = (HttpURLConnection)url.openConnection();
        int statusCode = huc.getResponseCode(); //get response code
        if (statusCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_MOVED_TEMP
                || statusCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_MOVED_PERM){ // if file is moved, then pick new URL
            urlString = huc.getHeaderField("Location");
            url = new URL(urlString);
            huc = (HttpURLConnection)url.openConnection();
        }
        System.out.println(urlString);  
        InputStream is = huc.getInputStream();
        BufferedInputStream bis = new BufferedInputStream(is);
        FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream("test.mp3");
        int i = 0;
        while ((i = bis.read()) != -1)
            fos.write(i);

The same effect you can check is available in FileUtils or not. I am sure, it should be . Cheers :)

You're amazing Sir! I'm getting status code `303 See Other` so I had to adapt your code but it works ;) — BullyWiiPlaza, Jul 30 '15 at 19:21
Thank you so much for the answer @AnkitNigam. I was having the same issue where the URLs were being redirected and your code worked perfectly. — evaldeslacasa, Feb 01 '16 at 16:31

score -3 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

-3

Because it is illegal and against Youtube Terms of Service

Youtube specifically blocks most generic ways of downloading mp3 off their site. A simple 10ish lines of code won't work or piracy would've been bigger than it already is.

If they catch you, you WILL be blocked

edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

Community

1
1

answered Jul 30 '15 at 17:33

Huang Chen

1,177
9
24

2

No, it isn't because it's their free audio library that anyone can download. They even provide download links themselves here: https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music – BullyWiiPlaza Jul 30 '15 at 17:34
using a third party program/alternative method is. That's what the link is for – Huang Chen Jul 30 '15 at 17:35
I honestly don't want to click download a 100 times. They should have made a way to just download everything and this is what I'm about to do – BullyWiiPlaza Jul 30 '15 at 17:36
I like your bio details on your profile page, :),but, your answer is totally incorrect – Am_I_Helpful Jul 30 '15 at 17:36
@BullyWiiPlaza why don't you work at Youtube and tell them that. – Huang Chen Jul 30 '15 at 17:43

Downloaded File Has 0 Bytes

2 Answers2