Troubleshooting

When a download fails, Spoolfield shows a short message and, often, a button that takes you to the fix. Here’s what each one means.

To open Settings, click the settings button at the top right of Spoolfield, or press Ctrl + ,.

Start here: update the download engine

Sites change how they work all the time. Spoolfield checks for engine updates every day and installs them by itself. If a download fails because a site changed, it updates and tries again on its own.

Open Settings › Downloads.
Under Download engine, click Update now.
Back in the queue, click Retry next to the clip that failed.

You’ll see Sign-in required to download, The site asked to confirm you’re not a bot, This video is age-restricted or This video is private. Spoolfield can use the sign-in from your browser:

Sign in to the site in Firefox, Edge or Chrome, and check that the video plays there.
In Spoolfield, open Settings › Downloads and, under Browser cookies, choose that browser.
Click Retry next to the clip.

The cookies are read on your device and sent only to the site the clip comes from. Spoolfield can only download what your account can already see. Set Browser cookies back to Off whenever you like.

If you see Couldn’t read browser cookies, close that browser completely and retry, or switch to Firefox.

“The site refused the download”

Spoolfield has already tried updating its engine. Wait a few minutes, then retry. If it keeps happening, send us the log.

Other messages

This link isn’t supported: Check that you copied the whole link. Spoolfield works with YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Reddit, Pinterest, Dailymotion and Truth Social.
This video was removed or no longer exists: Open the link in your browser to check.
This video isn’t available in your country: The owner limited where it can be watched, and Spoolfield follows that.
Live streams can’t be downloaded until they end: Wait for the stream to finish, then retry.
There’s no video at this link: It may be a photo or slideshow post. Choose MP3 if you only need the audio.
Can’t connect to the internet: Check your connection, then retry.
Some engine files are missing: Open Settings › Downloads to see which file is missing under Download engine, then reinstall Spoolfield from the download page.
Downloading needs Spoolfield Pro: Your Lite plan converts files on your device. Click Upgrade to Pro to save videos and audio from sites and to use AI apps.
Your free trial or subscription has ended: Buy Spoolfield, or sign in if you already have a plan. See Use your plan on a new device.

Setup asks about Microsoft Edge WebView2

Spoolfield’s window runs on Microsoft Edge WebView2. Windows 11 has it built in, but some Windows 10 PCs don’t. If Setup offers to get it, click Yes, install it from Microsoft’s page, then open Spoolfield.

Disk and folder problems

Not enough disk space: free up some space, or save to another drive. Click Change folder on the message, or open Settings › Downloads and click Change under Save folder.
Can’t find a file? The folder under Save to is where it went. Click Open folder, or Show in folder next to the clip in the queue.
Whole playlists go into a subfolder named after the playlist.

Send us the log

Open Settings › Downloads and click Open log folder.
Email the newest file to [email protected] with the error message and, if you’re happy to share it, the link that failed.

The log folder is inside the folder Spoolfield is installed in, usually %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Spoolfield\logs.