404 error when I try to download tracks from a user using -l

[mirai941]

[soundcloud] Unable to download JSON metadata: HTTP Error 404: Not Found (caused by <HTTPError 404: Not Found>)

[gutenfries]

+1 on this issue. I've tried upgrading, upgrading other python stuff, and replacing my oauth_token with a more current one, and none of that changed anything. I was able to use the program normally, never having seen this error until several weeks ago.

I do no believe that the program updated, causing this. I've been using 3.0.3 (now updated to 3.0.4) for all of this.

[gutenfries]

example console out:

❯ scdl -l https://soundcloud.com/lambofgod/sets/wrath-811959298

[scdl] SCDL version 3.0.4
[soundcloud:set] Verifying login token...
[soundcloud:set] Logging in
[soundcloud:set] Extracting URL: https://soundcloud.com/lambofgod/sets/wrath-811959298
[soundcloud:set] lambofgod/sets/wrath-811959298: Downloading JSON metadata
[download] Downloading playlist: Wrath
[info] There are no playlist thumbnails to download
[soundcloud:set] Playlist Wrath: Downloading 14 items of 14
[download] Downloading item 1 of 14
[soundcloud] Extracting URL: https://soundcloud.com/lambofgod/the-passing
[soundcloud] lambofgod/the-passing: Downloading info JSON
[soundcloud] 257056412: Downloading hls_aac format info JSON
ERROR: [soundcloud] Unable to download JSON metadata: HTTP Error 404: Not Found (caused by <HTTPError 404: Not Found>)
[download] Downloading item 2 of 14
[soundcloud] Extracting URL: https://soundcloud.com/lambofgod/in-your-words-album-version
[soundcloud] lambofgod/in-your-words-album-version: Downloading info JSON
[soundcloud] 257056538: Downloading hls_aac format info JSON
ERROR: [soundcloud] Unable to download JSON metadata: HTTP Error 404: Not Found (caused by <HTTPError 404: Not Found>)

[gutenfries]

Update:

After poking through the commit history I was able to determine that this issue was introduced with commit 3821987 (release 3.0.3). If anyone found this thread becuase they can't figure out how to get scdl to work again, just downgrade to >=3.0.2 for until/unless this issue gets addressed.

(@mirai941)

[PaBox]

Update:

After poking through the commit history I was able to determine that this issue was introduced with commit 3821987 (release 3.0.3). If anyone found this thread becuase they can't figure out how to get scdl to work again, just downgrade to >=3.0.2 for until/unless this issue gets addressed.

(@mirai941)

This doesn't work for me :/ I tried 3.0.1 and 3.0.2 and both have the same problem as librewolf (btw I have DRM Option ON in LibreWolf)

[PaBox]

I seem to have a problem with Go+ Tracks in Librewolf(actually not in Firefox), in Chrome I can play them and on the phone as well, but soundcloud won't even let me play them in Firefox - At this point I don't understand the problem anymore

[PaBox]

Looks like a DRM problem :/

[gutenfries]

hey, so actually I can help you a little bit. Any Go+ track will either only download the first 15/30 seconds of the track, or refuse entirely, depending on how you (or, the program, rather) call the API unless you authenticate a user who does yes have a go+ subscription (oauth token is good enough for auth)

I'm not familiar with the other program you mentioned, but maybe check on your auth situation.

as far as scdl goes, it doesn't appear that the maintainers have time or care to help ppl out with stuff like this, so maybe try downloading the source, logging verbose, and seeing if you can diagnose what's happening for you. In my case, a previous version worked OK for me so that was not necessary.

If Firefox/Librewolf (/ your computer entirely?) is giving you grief, definitely wipe your browser data, including cookies, and log in again see if you can access the go+ stuff.

DRM is possible. soundcloud does NOT like weird api calls/unusual traffic. Maybe get rid of Librewolf and then change your IP address and reauth.

best of luck

[gutenfries]

Yet another update:

Word of the day is coincidence on getting it to work earlier. I am still having this issue and have not yet figured it out. Perhaps a change in the API?

[PaBox]

I tried to change to auth token and client id to the one from the chrome session, but it didnt change anything - how do you format your OAuth token?

Mine is:
auth_token = OAuth X-XXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[censfr]

bump, seems like everyone is having this issue...

[16steven98]

I've been experiencing the same issue, so I tried yt-dlp. I realized it wasn't downloading at 256kbps, so I tried scdl again, and it began working. I don't know how, but it seems like installing yt-dlp gave scdl something it needed to work. Just make sure you're updated to the master of yt-dlp.

[PaBox]

I've been experiencing the same issue, so I tried yt-dlp. I realized it wasn't downloading at 256kbps, so I tried scdl again, and it began working. I don't know how, but it seems like installing yt-dlp gave scdl something it needed to work. Just make sure you're updated to the master of yt-dlp.

Sadly even with updated yt-dlp it seems like I have still the same problem on scdl 3.0.4 and yt-dlp 2026.3.17.

[gutenfries]

Hello all. @cainky was able to determine that Sondcloud has made recent DRM changes to many (but not all!) tracks.
(refer to cainky/SoundcloudDownloader#55 (comment))

No solutions as far as I am aware of yet, but thought I'd share this to save others the time and effort of diagnosing and/or facing the same frustrations.