ERROR: Could not write header for output file #0

[rugk]

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Make sure you are using the latest version: run youtube-dl --version and ensure your version is 2016.06.02. If it's not read this FAQ entry and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected.

• I've verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2016.06.02

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If the purpose of this issue is a bug report, site support request or you are not completely sure provide the full verbose output as follows:

Add -v flag to your command line you run youtube-dl with, copy the whole output and insert it here. It should look similar to one below (replace it with your log inserted between triple ```):

$ youtube-dl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BTTiWkdT8Q -v
[debug] System config: []
[debug] User config: []
[debug] Command-line args: [u'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BTTiWkdT8Q', u'-v']
[debug] Encodings: locale UTF-8, fs UTF-8, out UTF-8, pref UTF-8
[debug] youtube-dl version 2016.06.02
[debug] Python version 2.7.5+ - Linux-3.11-2-amd64-x86_64-with-LinuxMint-1-debian
[debug] exe versions: ffmpeg 2.1.1, ffprobe 2.1.1
[debug] Proxy map: {'no': 'localhost,127.0.0.0/8,::1'}
[youtube] 4BTTiWkdT8Q: Downloading webpage
[youtube] 4BTTiWkdT8Q: Downloading video info webpage
[youtube] 4BTTiWkdT8Q: Extracting video information
[youtube] 4BTTiWkdT8Q: Downloading MPD manifest
[debug] Invoking downloader on u'https://r1---sn-1gi7zn7z.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id=e014d389691d4fc4&itag=248&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&mv=m&ms=au&pl=24&mm=31&mn=sn-1gi7zn7z&initcwndbps=13902500&nh=IgphcjAxLnpyaDA0KgkxMjcuMC4wLjE&ratebypass=yes&mime=video/webm&gir=yes&clen=461970219&lmt=1436981017080235&dur=2923.720&mt=1464816325&upn=FE0yQ2iG4Oo&sver=3&key=dg_yt0&signature=51F6A75B78A877A974EC67C8B8E4EE8A5712C82F.5561F101214E93EBA07EF6BE566EB2D0F8E5C051&fexp=9407157,9416126,9416778,9416891,9418777,9422596,9428398,9429743,9431012,9431677,9432362,9432772,9433096,9433114,9433380,9433946,9433999,9435361,9435527,9435697,9435876,9436618,9436957,9437066,9437323,9437553,9437711,9437742&ip=185.32.221.150&ipbits=0&expire=1464838234&sparams=ip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source,requiressl,mv,ms,pl,mm,mn,initcwndbps,nh,ratebypass,mime,gir,clen,lmt,dur'
[download] Zero days - security leaks for sale (VPRO Backlight)-4BTTiWkdT8Q.f248.webm has already been downloaded
[download] 100% of 440.57MiB
[debug] Invoking downloader on u'https://r1---sn-1gi7zn7z.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id=e014d389691d4fc4&itag=251&source=youtube&requiressl=yes&mv=m&ms=au&pl=24&mm=31&mn=sn-1gi7zn7z&initcwndbps=13902500&nh=IgphcjAxLnpyaDA0KgkxMjcuMC4wLjE&ratebypass=yes&mime=audio/webm&gir=yes&clen=45688386&lmt=1436974398524798&dur=2923.821&mt=1464816325&upn=FE0yQ2iG4Oo&sver=3&key=dg_yt0&signature=1D9647DBFF58C7A7E2E98C14978BA4B9D200D06C.67CE6CCCFD0C7C6C3311CA331D5CD7E0D945B531&fexp=9407157,9416126,9416778,9416891,9418777,9422596,9428398,9429743,9431012,9431677,9432362,9432772,9433096,9433114,9433380,9433946,9433999,9435361,9435527,9435697,9435876,9436618,9436957,9437066,9437323,9437553,9437711,9437742&ip=185.32.221.150&ipbits=0&expire=1464838234&sparams=ip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source,requiressl,mv,ms,pl,mm,mn,initcwndbps,nh,ratebypass,mime,gir,clen,lmt,dur'
[download] Zero days - security leaks for sale (VPRO Backlight)-4BTTiWkdT8Q.f251.webm has already been downloaded
[download] 100% of 43.57MiB
[ffmpeg] Merging formats into "Zero days - security leaks for sale (VPRO Backlight)-4BTTiWkdT8Q.webm"
[debug] ffmpeg command line: ffmpeg -y -i 'file:Zero days - security leaks for sale (VPRO Backlight)-4BTTiWkdT8Q.f248.webm' -i 'file:Zero days - security leaks for sale (VPRO Backlight)-4BTTiWkdT8Q.f251.webm' -c copy -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 'file:Zero days - security leaks for sale (VPRO Backlight)-4BTTiWkdT8Q.temp.webm'
ERROR: Could not write header for output file #0 (incorrect codec parameters ?): Invalid argument
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl/youtube_dl/YoutubeDL.py", line 1782, in post_process
    files_to_delete, info = pp.run(info)
  File "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py", line 445, in run
    self.run_ffmpeg_multiple_files(info['__files_to_merge'], temp_filename, args)
  File "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py", line 168, in run_ffmpeg_multiple_files
    raise FFmpegPostProcessorError(msg)
FFmpegPostProcessorError
...
<end of log>

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Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

Downloading this video failed with ERROR: Could not write header for output file #0.

System: Linux Mint Debian Edition

[dstftw]

Update ffmpeg.

[rugk]

old in the repos I think...

But instead of such a bad error message youtube-dl might show an error message such as ffmpeg is too old, please upgrade it.
This would be much better...

[yan12125]

@dstftw How about asking users to use the latest ffmpeg if FFmpegPostProcessorError is raised?