Feature request: Allow a strm file to contain a HTTP address

[tOLJY 50]

The idea is that I would like to mirror YouTube videos I am intending to watch in emby. Pretty straightforward using nfo files. Would be perfect if I could add strm files or other with the URL to YouTube itself - causing the tv to open that URL in the associated app itself.

Just using YouTube itself is of course an option but I have a large library of videos/subscriptions to watch and YouTube organises itself poorly.

[Luke 42109]

Hi, I haven’t tested but there’s a chance YouTube might work on the 4.9 beta server. 

If not we can make it work.

[tOLJY 50]

I have tested this and don't believe it is working in 4.9.1.80 server with 3.5.16 android client.

[tOLJY 50]

Are we any closer to this one? Really all it needs to be is allowing you to open a hyperlink or all link and let the app (YouTube) and android handle the rest right?

Edited Sunday at 06:30 AM by tOLJY

[Luke 42109]

Hi, YouTube URLs should work in strm.

[tOLJY 50]

I must be missing something then

I have a link in a strm file and when I click play it shows a black video player and nothing plays...

Edited Sunday at 07:41 AM by tOLJY

[Happy2Play 9794]

Doesn't look like Emby can probe the stream in my test.

026-02-28 23:46:37.172 Info MediaProbeManager: ProcessRun 'ffprobe' Execute: C:\Users\Media\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system\ffprobe.exe -i "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUYMqRjNxhM" -threads 0 -v info -print_format json -show_streams -show_chapters -show_format -show_data
2026-02-28 23:46:37.192 Debug MediaProbeManager: ProcessRun 'ffprobe' Started.
2026-02-28 23:46:38.239 Info DynamicHlsService-0HNJNCQIT7849:0000002C: AppendExtraLogData - Read graph file: C:\Users\Media\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata\logs\ffmpeg-transcode-fa50e0c6-72ab-4c5f-80a3-f3fa66eb2de8_1graph.txt
2026-02-28 23:46:38.245 Info MediaProbeManager: ProcessRun 'ffprobe' Process exited with code 0
2026-02-28 23:46:38.257 Info DynamicHlsService-0HNJNCQIT7849:0000002C: AppendExtraLogData - Deserialized GraphData fileStream: 6,187.00 bytes Graph Count: 1
2026-02-28 23:46:38.258 Info DynamicHlsService-0HNJNCQIT7849:0000002C: AppendExtraLogData - File Deleted
2026-02-28 23:46:38.260 Error App: Error in ffprobe
	*** Error Report ***
	Version: 4.10.0.4
	Command line: C:\Users\Media\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system\EmbyServer.dll -noautorunwebapp
	Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10.0.26300
	OS/Process: x64/x64
	Framework: .NET 8.0.22
	Runtime: C:/Users/Media/AppData/Roaming/Emby-Server/system/System.Private.CoreLib.dll
	Processor count: 8
	Data path: C:\Users\Media\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\programdata
	Application path: C:\Users\Media\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\system
	Emby.Server.MediaEncoding.Unified.Ffmpeg.FfRunException: Emby.Server.MediaEncoding.Unified.Ffmpeg.FfRunException: ffprobe failed - streams and format are both null: -i "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUYMqRjNxhM" -threads 0 -v info -print_format json -show_streams -show_chapters -show_format -show_data
ffprobe version 5.1-emby_2023_06_25_p4 Copyright (c) 2007-2022 the FFmpeg developers and softworkz for Emby LLC
	  built with gcc 12.2.0 (Rev10, Built by MSYS2 project)
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUYMqRjNxhM: Invalid data found when processing input
	
	
{
	
	}
	

	   at Emby.Server.MediaEncoding.Probing.MediaProbeManager.GetMediaInfoInternal(MediaSourceInfo mediaSource, String inputPath, String primaryPath, MediaProtocol protocol, Boolean extractChapters, Boolean isAudio, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Providers.MediaInfo.FFProbeVideoInfo.ProbeVideo[T](MetadataResult`1 metadataResult, MetadataRefreshOptions options, BaseItem[] collectionFolders, LibraryOptions libraryOptions, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	   at Emby.Providers.Manager.MetadataService`2.RunCustomProvider(ICustomMetadataProvider`1 provider, MetadataResult`1 itemResult, String logName, MetadataRefreshOptions options, BaseItem[] collectionFolders, LibraryOptions libraryOptions, RefreshResult refreshResult, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
	Source: Emby.Server.MediaEncoding
	TargetSite: Void MoveNext()

 

[Luke 42109]

Well YouTube is different. It shouldn’t be trying to probe it in the first place.

 That URL points to a web page, not to an actual video file.

[tOLJY 50]

Right, but this request is about adding a publicly accessible YouTube webpage URL not the URL of the video, which is not publicly accessible... easily...

[tOLJY 50]

If we are able to open the YouTube webpage from emby, won't it open the video in the app on that device? That is what is being requested.